2 Samuel 13:31

31 The king stood up, tore his clothes in sorrow, and threw himself to the ground. The servants who were there with him tore their clothes also.

2 Samuel 13:31 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 13:31

Then the king arose, and tore his garments
In token of extreme grief and sorrow, as Jacob did when he was shown the coat of Joseph, supposing him to have been slain, as David thought all his sons were, ( Genesis 37:34 ) ;

and lay on the earth;
on the bare ground, another token of mourning; so Job did on hearing the death of his sons, ( Job 1:20 ) ;

and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent:
did as David did, in imitation of him, joining with him in expressions of sorrow; these were his courtiers, ministers of state, and principal officers in his household.

2 Samuel 13:31 In-Context

29 So the servants followed Absalom's instructions and killed Amnon. All the rest of David's sons mounted their mules and fled.

30 While they were on their way home, David was told: "Absalom has killed all your sons - not one of them is left!"

31 The king stood up, tore his clothes in sorrow, and threw himself to the ground. The servants who were there with him tore their clothes also.

32 But Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shammah, said, "Your Majesty, they haven't killed all your sons. Only Amnon is dead. You could tell by looking at Absalom that he had made up his mind to do this from the time that Amnon raped his sister Tamar.

33 So don't believe the news that all your sons are dead; only Amnon was killed."