And King David longed to go to AbsalomDavid's longing to go to Absalom reflects the deep familial bonds and the complexity of his emotions as a father. Despite Absalom's actions, which included the murder of his brother Amnon, David's paternal instincts and love for his son remain strong. This longing can be seen as a reflection of God's enduring love for His children, even when they stray. The tension between justice and mercy is a recurring theme in David's life, mirroring the divine balance God maintains with humanity. David's desire to reconcile with Absalom also highlights the importance of forgiveness and restoration in relationships, a theme echoed in the New Testament with the parable of the Prodigal Son (
Luke 15:11-32).
for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death
David's consolation over Amnon's death suggests a passage of time and a process of grieving. In the ancient Near Eastern context, mourning was a significant cultural practice, often involving specific rituals and periods of lamentation. The fact that David had been consoled indicates that he had moved through the stages of grief and was now in a place where he could consider reconciliation with Absalom. This phrase also underscores the inevitability of healing and the human capacity to move forward after loss. The death of Amnon, while tragic, was a consequence of the sin and dysfunction within David's family, a reminder of the prophetic words spoken by Nathan in2 Samuel 12:10-12 regarding the sword never departing from David's house. This context highlights the ongoing consequences of sin and the need for divine grace and redemption.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
King DavidThe second king of Israel, a man after God's own heart, who is dealing with the aftermath of family tragedy and conflict.
2.
AbsalomDavid's son, who fled after avenging his sister Tamar by killing his half-brother Amnon.
3.
AmnonDavid's firstborn son, who committed a grievous sin against his half-sister Tamar, leading to his death at the hands of Absalom.
4.
TamarDavid's daughter and Absalom's sister, who was wronged by Amnon, setting off a chain of tragic events.
5.
GeshurThe place where Absalom fled to after killing Amnon, seeking refuge with his maternal grandfather.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of SinThe account of David's family illustrates how sin can have far-reaching and devastating effects on relationships and communities.
The Complexity of ForgivenessDavid's longing for Absalom shows the struggle between justice and mercy, and the difficulty of forgiving those who have wronged us or others.
The Importance of ReconciliationThe account encourages believers to seek reconciliation and healing in broken relationships, reflecting God's desire for unity and peace.
Parental ResponsibilityDavid's passive response to Amnon's sin and Absalom's actions highlights the need for parents to address wrongdoing and guide their children in righteousness.
God's Sovereignty in Family DynamicsDespite human failures, God's purposes prevail, and He can bring redemption and restoration even in the most broken situations.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 13:39?
2.How does David's longing for Absalom reflect God's forgiveness towards us?
3.What can we learn about reconciliation from David's feelings in 2 Samuel 13:39?
4.How does David's response connect with Jesus' teachings on forgiveness?
5.In what ways can we apply David's longing for Absalom in our lives?
6.How does 2 Samuel 13:39 illustrate the complexity of familial relationships in Scripture?
7.Why did King David long for Absalom despite his actions in 2 Samuel 13:39?
8.How does 2 Samuel 13:39 reflect on forgiveness and justice in the Bible?
9.What does 2 Samuel 13:39 reveal about familial relationships in biblical times?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 13?
11.Are there any archaeological discoveries or historical records supporting the events in 2 Samuel 13?
12.How could Absalom have turned the hearts of all Israel against David so quickly (2 Samuel 15:6, 13)?
13.Why is Tamar's fate largely unaddressed after her assault in 2 Samuel 13:19-20?
14.What is the essence of Absalom's Spirit?What Does 2 Samuel 13:39 Mean
And King David longed- The verb “longed” paints a picture of deep, persistent yearning, not a passing wish (compare2 Samuel 18:33, where David mourns Absalom).
- David’s heart still beats as a father’s heart, even after the bitter events of 13:1-33.
- Cross reference: InGenesis 43:30 Joseph “longed” for his brother—showing that godly leaders can feel intense family affection even when relationships are complicated.
to go to Absalom- David’s desire is not abstract; he wants personal contact, face-to-face reconciliation (see2 Samuel 14:21-23 where he eventually allows Absalom to return).
- The king’s longing points to a readiness to forgive, even though civil justice has not fully run its course (contrastRomans 13:4, which affirms the ruler’s duty to bear the sword).
- Parents may wrestle with balancing love and discipline; David leans heavily toward love here.
for he had been consoled- Time has soothed the sharpest edge of grief, allowing other emotions to surface (Ecclesiastes 3:4, “a time to weep and a time to laugh”).
- Comfort often opens the door to restoration; once David’s sorrow abates, he can think about Absalom instead of Amnon (compareGenesis 24:67, where Isaac is “comforted” after his mother’s death and can move forward).
- God sometimes uses the passing of time to heal wounds we cannot fix overnight.
over Amnon’s death- Amnon’s murder (2 Samuel 13:28-29) was a consequence of David’s own earlier sins (12:10-12). Yet David has now accepted that Amnon is gone.
- The phrase underscores that David’s consolation is specific: he is no longer paralyzed by mourning for Amnon, freeing him to address the estrangement with Absalom.
- Cross reference:2 Samuel 12:23, where David accepted the death of his infant son and moved forward in faith; a similar acceptance is seen here.
summary2 Samuel 13:39 shows a father-king whose intense mourning for one son has subsided enough to awaken a longing for reconciliation with another. David’s heart, no longer dominated by grief, yearns to bridge the gap with Absalom, illustrating both the powerful pull of parental love and the possibility of renewed relationship after tragedy.
(39)
The soul of King David.--The words, "the soul of," are not in the original, and the most opposite interpretations have been given of the rest of the sentence. The sense of the English is that of the Chaldee and of the Jewish commentators--that David, after his grief for Amnon had abated, longed after Absalom and pined for his return. But it may be objected to this view, (1) that there is no ground for supplying the ellipsis in this way; (2) that the verb (which is a common one) never has elsewhere the sense given to it; and (3) that the representation thus made is contrary to fact, since David could easily have recalled Absalom had he chosen to do so, and when he actually was brought back, through Joab's stratagem, the king refused to see him (
2Samuel 14:24), and only after two years more (
2Samuel 14:28), reluctantly admitted him to his presence. The other interpretation is better, which takes the verb impersonally, and gives the sense,
David desisted from going forth against Absalom.He ought to have arrested and punished him for a murder, which was at once fratricide and high treason, as being the assassination of the heir-apparent; but the flight to Geshur made this difficult, and as time went by David "was comforted concerning Amnon," and gradually gave up the thought of punishing Absalom.
Verse 39. -And (the soul of)king David longed to go forth unto Absalom. This translation has the support of the Jewish Targum, and, as the verb is feminine, the insertion of the added word is possible, though the sense seems to require "anger" instead of "the soul." But the versions (Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate) all give the verb its ordinary meaning of "ceasing," and, though there is something harsh in taking it impersonally, yet their authority is too great for us to say that such a mode of rendering it must be wrong. And if the grammar be difficult, the sense put upon the words by the versions is excellent. Literally they are,As to King David, there. was a ceasing to go forth after Absalom;for he was comforted, etc. At first he had demanded of Talmai the surrender of the offender, and, when Talmai refused, David tried other means; but in time, when his grief for Amnon was assuaged, he desisted from his efforts. But even so it required much subtlety on Joab's part to obtain Absalom's recall, which would scarcely have been the case if David's soul was longing for his son's return; and, even after his coming, David long maintained an unfriendly attitude. Amnon was his firstborn, and evidently dearly loved, but David's culpable leniency had borne bitter fruit. And again he acts without thoughtful sense of justice, and though at first he would have given Absalom merited punishment, yet gradually paternal feeling resumed its sway, unhappily only to be miserably abused.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Then the spirit
דָּוִ֣ד(dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732:David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse
of the king
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ(ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428:A king
longed
וַתְּכַל֙(wat·tə·ḵal)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3615:To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent
to go
לָצֵ֖את(lā·ṣêṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3318:To go, bring, out, direct and proxim
to
אֶל־(’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, to
Absalom,
אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם(’aḇ·šā·lō·wm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 53:Absalom -- 'my father is peace', two Israelites
for
כִּֽי־(kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunction
he had been consoled
נִחַ֥ם(ni·ḥam)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5162:To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avenge
over
עַל־(‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, against
Amnon’s
אַמְנ֖וֹן(’am·nō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 550:Amnon -- 'faithful', two Israelites
death.
מֵֽת׃(mêṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191:To die, to kill
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OT History: 2 Samuel 13:39 The soul of king David longed (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
