2 Samuel 13:38

³⁷Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But David mourned for his son every day.³⁸After Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, he stayed there three years. ³⁹And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.

Summary

After Absalom fled to Geshur and stayed there for three years, King David's heart longed to go out to him. This verse reflects the deep love and forgiveness in David's heart towards his son, despite Absalom's previous actions. It shows the complexity of family relationships and the enduring bond between a father and his child. David's desire to reconcile with Absalom demonstrates the power of forgiveness and the hope for restoration even in the midst of betrayal and conflict.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

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 went and abode in Geshur always, which was a fortified city, as it follows: and went to Geshur, and was there three years: and never went out of it, until he was fetched by Joab, as Sa2 14:23 relates; nor is there anything in Sa2 13:37 disturbed and mutilated, as Spinosa (r) intimates, but the whole is very expressive and emphatic. (r) Tractat. Theolog. Politic. c. 9. p. 176.