2 Samuel 13:9 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

She took a pan, &c.— Tamar came and prepared food at Amnon's desire, with all the housewifely skill of those simple ages, when an utter inattention to all the purposes of domestic life made no part even of a princess's praise. See Genesis 18:6 and Herodot. lib. 8: cap. 137. After having baked the cakes, it is said, she took a pan, and poured them out; which makes it probable that she fried them in oil, according to the custom of that country. But he refused to eat. The insinuation was, that he was grown worse; and, to cover the deceit the better, he ordered every body to go out of his room, as if he could neither bear the sight nor the noise of company. And when they were gone, he desired his sister to bring the victuals into an inner chamber, 2 Samuel 13:10. She, suspecting no evil, did as he desired.