2 Samuel 13:38

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:30-39

Here is, I. The fright that David was put into by a false report brought to Jerusalem that Absalom had slain all the king's sons, 2 Sam. 13:30. It is common for fame to make bad worse; and the first news of such a thing as this represents it as more dreadful than afterwards it proves. Let us not therefore be afraid of evil tidings, while they want confirmation, but, when we hear the worst, hope the best, at least hope better. However, this false news gave as much affliction to David, for the... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:23-39

The facts are: 1 . Absalom, holding a sheep shearing festival at Baal-hazor, invites the king and his sons. 2 . The king, declining to go on account of being unnecessarily burdensome, gets rid of Absalom's entreaty, and bestows on him a parting blessing. 3 . After some persuasion, Absalom obtains permission for all the king's sons to accompany him. 4 . During the festivities the servants of Absalom, in obedience to their master, smite Amnon, whereupon all the other of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:30-39

( JERUSALEM ) Parental sorrows. "And the king also and all his servants wept very sore" ( 2 Samuel 13:36 ). David's intense feeling appears in his affection ( 2 Samuel 13:6 , 2 Samuel 13:25 , 2 Samuel 13:39 ), his wrath ( 2 Samuel 13:21 ), and his grief ( 2 Samuel 13:31 ). The delight which a father finds in his children is seldom unalloyed. His sorrows, on their account, are— I. OFTTIMES PECULIARLY SEVERE . 1 . Their misbehaviour. "A 'house cross' is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:37-38

So Absalom fled. The triple repetition of these words, and the fragmentary style, make it probable that we have hero an abridgment of a longer narrative. So in 2 Samuel 13:35 the words probably are a summary of a more circumstantial account of Absalom's doings after his young men had slain Amnon. (On Talmai and Geshur, see notes on 2 Samuel 3:3 .) read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:1-39

David’s family troubles begin (13:1-14:33)The first of the foretold disgraces that fell on David’s family followed the same pattern as David’s own sin: sexual immorality followed by murder, with the murderer carefully plotting how to get rid of his victim.Amnon, David’s eldest son, tried to seduce his half-sister Tamar, but when Tamar resisted him he raped her (13:1-14). Cruelly, Amnon then drove Tamar away, and the young princess cried bitterly at the loss of her virginity in such... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 13:23-39

Absalom’s murder of Amnon 13:23-39References to two years (2 Samuel 13:23) and three years (2 Samuel 13:38) bracket this literary unit. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 13:30-39

The aftermath of Amnon’s murder 13:30-39The writer may have devoted so much text to straightening out the rumor that Absalom had killed all the king’s sons in order to stress God’s mercy in not cutting off all of them. At first report, David probably thought God had judged him severely, but it became clear that God had been merciful. Jonadab may have been a member of David’s cabinet (2 Samuel 13:3). Evidently he and Absalom had hatched the conspiracy against Amnon to remove the heir apparent to... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 13:1-39

The Crime of Amnon, and Absalom’s VengeanceThis narrative and the history of Absalom’s rebellion is omitted in Chronicles.2. Tamar was in the women’s apartments, and, therefore, safe. She was his half-sister and Absalom’s sister: see 2 Samuel 3:2, 2 Samuel 3:3.4. Lean from day to day] i.e. getting thinner and paler every morning. 5. Make thyself sick] RV ’feign thyself sick.’13. He will not withhold me] Tamar said this as a last, desperate expedient, for such marriages were unlawful (Leviticus... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 13:38

(38) Was there three years.—This is the third time the flight of Absalom has been mentioned; but, after the custom of Scripture narrative, each repetition has been for the purpose of introducing some additional fact. In 2 Samuel 13:34 the simple fact of his flight is stated; in 2 Samuel 13:37 it is added that he went to his grandfather, and here that he remained with him three years. read more

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