2 Samuel 13:23-39

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:32

And Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother ,.... The same that advised Amnon to feign himself sick, to get Tamar sent to him, that he might enjoy her, 2 Samuel 13:3 , answered and said ; said in answer to the report brought to the king, which threw him into such an agony: let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons ; he did not believe it himself, and would not have the king entertain such a thought, and distress himself with it: for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:33

Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart ,.... Neither suppose it, nor be troubled for it: to think that all the king's sons are dead : which was not to be thought, nor could any good reason be given for such a supposition for Amnon only is dead ; he repeats it again with great assurance, which seems to confirm the suspicion of him before suggested; though some think he said this not from certain knowledge, but by conjecture. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:34

But Absalom fled ,.... He who promised his servants protection could not protect himself, and who no doubt fled with him; he knew what he had done was death by law, and that there was no city of refuge for such sort of murder as this, and he had no reason to hope the king would suffer so foul a crime as this to pass unpunished: and the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked : to the way that led from Absalom's house to Jerusalem, to see if he could spy any other... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:35

And Jonadab said to the king, behold, the king's sons come ,.... For as they came nearer, it was plainly discovered that they were the king's sons, seen on the side of the hill: as thy servant said, so it is ; he seems to applaud himself, and exult at his penetration and foresight. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:36

And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking ,.... As soon as the above words were out of his mouth: that, behold, the king's sons came : into the palace, and into the apartment where the king was: and lifted up their voice and wept ; not being able to tell the sorrowful news with their mouths, but declared it by gestures: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore ; they joined the king's sons in weeping, and were the more moved to it by their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:37

But Absalom fled ,.... As before related, but here repeated for the sake of what follows: and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur : his mother's father, see 2 Samuel 3:3 , where he might hope for protection and safety: and David mourned for his son every day ; or "all the days" F17 כל הימים "cunctis diebus", V. L. "omnibus diebus", Pagninus, Montanus. , i.e. of the three years Absalom was in Geshur, about the end of which he was comforted concerning... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:39

And the soul of King David longed to go forth unto Absalom ,.... In like manner it is supplied and paraphrased in the Targum, because the word rendered "longed" is feminine; though it may be used to denote the effeminateness of David's disposition and carriage on this occasion. Aben Ezra thinks the word "wife", should be supplied, and then the sense is, that the wife of King David, the mother of Absalom, made supplication to him to send forth one of the young men to fetch Absalom, and that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 13:23

Absalom had sheep-shearers - These were times in which feasts were made, to which the neighbors and relatives of the family were invited. read more

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