2 Samuel 13:39

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

the soul of: Genesis 31:30, Deuteronomy 28:32, Philippians 2:26

longed: or, was consumed, Psalms 84:2, Psalms 119:20

comforted: 2 Samuel 12:23, Genesis 24:67, Genesis 37:35, Genesis 38:12

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 12:20 - I will 2 Samuel 14:1 - toward Absalom Psalms 109:4 - For my Romans 1:11 - I long 2 Corinthians 12:15 - though 1 Thessalonians 2:17 - endeavoured

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 by her importunity to him she stirred up a longing desire in David after him. Abarbinel observes, from another writer of theirs, that all the three years David was mourning for his son, he went out continually to seek to take vengeance on Absalom; but after that time, the mother of Absalom, or Tamar his sister, or his daughter, was importunate with the king, and restrained him from going forth to seek vengeance on Absalom; and when he was comforted concerning Amnon, that woman found means to restrain him from going out, and he restrained his servants from going forth against Absalom; and so he observes the word is used for withholding or restraining in

Psalms 40:10; and this agrees with several ancient versions, as the Vulgate Latin,

"King David ceased to persecute Absalom;''

and the Septuagint,

"King David ceased to go out to Absalom;''

and the Syriac version,

"and King David abstained from going out after Absalom:''

for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead; and could not be brought back from the grave, though Absalom might be from his exile, to which he had an inclination; but he knew not how to do it, consistent with justice and his own honour.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Longed to go forth - Rather, “longed after Absalom,” literally, was consumed in going forth, with a sense of disappointed hope.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 13:39. David longed to go forth unto Absalom — We find that he had a very strong paternal affection for this young man, who appears to have had little to commend him but the beauty of his person. David wished either to go to him, or to bring him back; for the hand of time had now wiped off his tears for the death of his son Amnon. Joab had marked this disposition, and took care to work on it, in order to procure the return of Absalom. It would have been well for all parties had Absalom ended his days at Geshur. His return brought increasing wretchedness to his unfortunate father. And it may be generally observed that those undue, unreasonable paternal attachments are thus rewarded.