Day 136 – 2 Samuel 13:34-39

Scripture Review

2 Samuel 13:34-39

"But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him."

(2 Samuel 13:34)

Absalom has killed his brother and is now running for his life. He does not stay to face his father. Then the watchman lifts up his eyes and sees many people coming by the hillside. These are the king's sons returning in fear after the feast turned into bloodshed. Absalom is gone, the guilty flee, and the wounded return in sorrow.

"And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is."

(2 Samuel 13:35)

Jonadab is speaking again. This is the same crafty man who helped Amnon form the wicked plan against Tamar. Now he tells David that the king's sons are coming, just as he had said. Jonadab understood more than he should have. He had helped begin the evil with his counsel, and now he is standing close enough to explain the result.

"And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore."

(2 Samuel 13:36)

Now the king's sons arrive, and the whole house breaks into weeping. They lift up their voice and cry. David weeps and his servants weep. The false report has been corrected, but the sorrow is still real. Amnon is dead, Absalom has fled, and Tamar is still desolate. David's family is torn apart.

"But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day."

(2 Samuel 13:37)

Absalom fled to Talmai, the king of Geshur. That makes sense because Absalom's mother was connected to Geshur, so he is running to protection on her side of the family. David mourns every day. He is mourning over Amnon's death, but he is also grieving over Absalom's flight. One son is dead. Another son is guilty and gone.

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

(2 Samuel 13:38)

The Holy Spirit tell us the length of the separation was three years. This is not a short trip it was exile. Absalom stays away from Jerusalem, away from David, and away from the house he has wounded. Three years is a long time for a father to carry grief. It is a long time for a family wound to remain open. A heart after God learns that sin can bring long seasons of distance, silence, and sorrow.

"And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead."

(2 Samuel 13:39)

David's heart turned toward Absalom. He has been comforted concerning Amnon because Amnon is dead and cannot return. But Absalom is still alive, still away, still unreconciled. It shows me the conflict in David's heart. Absalom is guilty of murder, but he is still David's son. David knows a thing or two about fleeing those you love.