2 Samuel 13:34

Contextual Overview

³⁰ And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the tidings came to David, saying, Absalom has slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left. ³⁰ As they were on the way back to Jerusalem, this report reached David: "Absalom has killed all the king's sons; not one is left alive!" ³⁰ And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the tidings came to David saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left. ³⁰ While the king's sons were on their way, the news came to David, "Absalom has killed all of the king's sons! Not one of them is left alive!" ³⁰ While they were still on their way, the following report reached David: "Absalom has killed all the king's sons; not one of them is left!" ³⁰ And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that information came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left. ³⁰ It happened, while they were in the way, that the news came to David, saying, Absalom has slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left. ³⁰Now it happened while they were on the way [back home], that the [exaggerated] report came to David, "Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and not one of them is left." ³⁰ While they were on the way, news came to David, "Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left." ³⁰ And whanne thei yeden yit in the weie, fame cam to the kyng, and seide, Absolon hath kild alle the sones of the king, and `nameli not oon lefte of hem.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Absalom fled: 2 Samuel 13:38, Genesis 4:8-14, Proverbs 28:17, Amos 5:19

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 9:17 - a watchman

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 messenger on the road from thence:

and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him; that is, behind the watchman, who, looking round him, saw them; these people were the king's sons and their attendants, who, being at some distance, the young man could not discern who they were; they did not come the direct road from Absalom's house, but came a round about way, for fear, as R. Isaiah rightly conjectures, lest Absalom should pursue, or send pursuers after them, and slay them; though others, as Kimchi, think this refers to the hill, and that the sense is, that the watchman saw them coming from the way which was behind the hill, and began to see them when they came to the side of it, which was the way that led to the city, surrounded by mountains, see Psalms 125:2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Absalom fled - This is the sequel to 2 Samuel 13:29. The king’s sons rose from table and fled, and Absalom taking advantage of the confusion, also escaped and fled. This information is inserted here to account for the king’s sons returning unmolested.