2 Samuel 13:29-39

29 Absalom's servants did to Amnon as Absalom had ordered. Then all the king's sons got up, mounted their mules, and fled.

30 While they were on their way, David heard this rumor: "Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and not a single one is left."

31 The king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground. All his servants were standing beside him with their clothes torn [to show their grief].

32 Then Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimea, said, "Sir, don't think that all the young men, all the king's sons, have been killed. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom decided to do this the day his half brother raped his sister Tamar.

33 You shouldn't burden your heart with the idea that all the king's sons are dead, Your Majesty. Only Amnon is dead.

34 Absalom has fled." When the servant who kept watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road beside the mountain west of him.

35 Then Jonadab told the king, "The king's sons have come. It's just as I said."

36 When he finished speaking, the king's sons arrived and cried loudly. The king and all his men also cried very bitterly.

37 Absalom, however, fled to Geshur's King Talmai, Ammihud's son. But the king mourned for his son Amnon every day.

38 Absalom, having fled to Geshur, stayed there three years.

39 King David began to long for Absalom once people had consoled him over Amnon's death.

2 Samuel 13:29-39 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 13

This chapter relates some of the evils that were to arise out of David's house, and which were similar to the evils committed by him; the deflowering of his daughter, and the murder of his eldest son: the story is this; Amnon falls in love with Tamar, his sister, and grew thin upon it, which being observed by a friend of his, inquires the reason of it, which having got out of him, forms a scheme for obtaining his desire, and which succeeded; for by it he had the opportunity of ravishing his sister, 2Sa 13:1-14; the consequences of which were extreme hatred of her, hurrying her out of doors, lamentation and mourning on her part, grief to David, and enmity in the heart of Absalom to Amnon, which put him upon meditating his death, 2Sa 13:15-22; and which was brought about after this manner. Absalom had a sheep shearing, to which he invited the king and all his sons, and to which they all came excepting the king, 2Sa 13:23-27; when Absalom gave orders to his servants to observe Amnon when he was merry, and at his word smite him and kill him, as they did, 2Sa 13:28,29; tidings of which soon came to the ears of David, and these aggravated, that all the king's sons were killed, which threw the king into an agony; but Jonadab endeavoured to pacify him, by assuring him that only Amnon was dead, the truth of which soon appeared by the coming of the king's sons, 2Sa 13:30-36; but Absalom fled to Geshur, where he remained three years, when David's heart began to be towards him, and to long for him, who was to bring more evil against him, 2Sa 13:37-39.