2 Samuel 13:37 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day.

NIV: Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned many days for his son.

NASB: Now Absalom had fled and gone to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

CSB: But Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

NLT: And David mourned many days for his son Amnon. Absalom fled to his grandfather, Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur.

KJV: But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

NKJV: But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

Absalom tricked his brothers, his father: everyone. He invited his brothers to a feast to cover the fact that he wanted access to his eldest brother, Amnon. While Amnon drank, Absalom gave a signal, and his servants killed him. Terrified, the other brothers fled home to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 13:23–29).

Absalom can't go back. He hurries to the home of his grandfather on his mother's side (1 Chronicles 3:2). Talmai is the king of the nation of Geshur. David married Talmai's daughter Maacah many years earlier, likely for an alliance or peace treaty between the two nations. The territory of Geshur is located to the east of the Sea of Galilee.

The descriptions about David's emotions are confusing, especially in comparison to his actions. After Amnon raped Tamar, David was "very angry," but did nothing to discipline Amnon (2 Samuel 13:21). Now, Absalom has killed Amnon, and David mourns, but we don't know which son he's mourning for. Second Samuel 13:39 says that David longs for Absalom because he's consoled regarding Amnon. So, it seems that at this point, he mourns Amnon, and after a while, he'll long for Absalom.

Even so, David won't invite Absalom back home until Joab pushes him to, three years later. And when Absalom returns, David won't see him (2 Samuel 14:1–24). David is a very emotional person. When he pours his heart out in songs to God, it's a gift to all Bible readers. When it comes to his children, he lets his emotions keep him from proper fathering.

Second Samuel 13:37–39 describes Absalom in exile. He has fulfilled a two-year plan of revenge against his half-brother Amnon, killed for raping Absalom's sister Tamar. Knowing he can't go home, Absalom flees to Geshur where his grandfather is king. Three years later, David has mourned sufficiently to invite him back. When Absalom doesn't get the welcome from David he seeks, he plots his revenge against his father.

In this chapter, God's curse that the sword will strike David's house (2 Samuel 12:10) begins to emerge. David's firstborn son Amnon lusts over half-sister Tamar. Tamar fights back, but Amnon first rapes her and then rejects her. David is angry but does nothing. Two years later, Tamar's full brother Absalom murders Amnon. Three years after that, Absalom returns and becomes the enemy in David's house who takes his wives in public (2 Samuel 12:11–12; 15:1–16; 16:21–23).

This begins fulfillment of some of God's curses against David (2 Samuel 12:10), and sets the scene for others (2 Samuel 12:11–12). David's oldest son, Amnon, rapes his own half-sister, Tamar. Her full brother Absalom murders Amnon, starting a five-year campaign of vengeance against David. By the end, two of David's sons will be dead, his daughter will be desolate, and David will be deeply humbled (2 Samuel 14—19).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.