2 Samuel 13:38 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

NIV: After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years.

NASB: So Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, and was there for three years.

CSB: After Absalom had fled to Geshur and had been there three years,

NLT: He stayed there in Geshur for three years.

KJV: So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

NKJV: So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

Five years have passed since Amnon foolishly and selfishly raped his half-sister Tamar, believing himself to be lovesick for her. When David does nothing to hold his firstborn son accountable for that crime, Tamar's full-brother Absalom murders Amnon. Absalom flees to the home of his mother's father, the king of Geshur, to avoid being captured for his act of revenge.

Although Amnon is David's firstborn and Absalom is the thirdborn, there's no indication that Absalom kills Amnon to get a better position to succeed David as king. It's for the honor of Tamar and, by association, his own honor.

After three years, Joab, David's nephew and military commander, sees that David has sufficiently mourned for Amnon, and his heart is softening toward Absalom. Joab convinces a wise woman to tell David a real-sounding story that convinces him to invite Absalom to come home (2 Samuel 14:1–21).

Even so, David refuses to see him. He puts Absalom up in his own house for two years without reconciling. Absalom has to set Joab's fields on fire just to get David's attention. Finally, they meet again (2 Samuel 14:28–33).

For reasons only known to Absalom, he decides that reconciliation with his father isn't enough. He spends another four years winning the hearts of the people, giving them what they want when he can, and lamenting that he doesn't have enough power when he can't. Before David even knows what's happened, he's fleeing Jerusalem and his son is sitting on his throne (2 Samuel 15:1–17).

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.