2 Samuel 13:38

38 And Absalom hath fled, and goeth to Geshur, and is there three years;

2 Samuel 13:38 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 13:38

So Absalom fled
This is the third time it is mentioned, and the reason of it here Abarbinel thinks is, that when he first fled to his grandfather, he used to stand openly in the court of his palace, and go with him wherever he went from place to place; but when he understood that his father mourned so for the death of Amnon, he was afraid he would send some person to lay hold on him, and take vengeance on him; and therefore he would go no more with the king from place to place, but went and abode in Geshur always, which was a fortified city, as it follows:

and went to Geshur, and was there three years:
and never went out of it, until he was fetched by Joab, as ( 2 Samuel 14:23 ) relates; nor is there anything in ( 2 Samuel 13:37 2 Samuel 13:38 ) disturbed and mutilated, as Spinosa ^F18 intimates, but the whole is very expressive and emphatic.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Tractat. Theolog. Politic. c. 9. p. 176.

2 Samuel 13:38 In-Context

36 And it cometh to pass at his finishing to speak, that lo, the sons of the king have come, and they lift up their voice, and weep, and also the king and all his servants have wept -- a very great weeping.

37 And Absalom hath fled, and goeth unto Talmai, son of Ammihud, king of Geshur, and [David] mourneth for his son all the days.

38 And Absalom hath fled, and goeth to Geshur, and is there three years;

39 and [the soul of] king David determineth to go out unto Absalom, for he hath been comforted for Amnon, for [he is] dead.