2 Samuel 13:38 kjv
So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
2 Samuel 13:38 nkjv
So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
2 Samuel 13:38 niv
After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years.
2 Samuel 13:38 esv
So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
2 Samuel 13:38 nlt
He stayed there in Geshur for three years.
2 Samuel 13 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|| 2 Sam 12:10 | "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house..."| Nathan's prophecy against David's house. || 2 Sam 13:29 | "...all the king's sons rose and mounted, each on his mule..." | Absalom's murderous act and their escape. || Gen 4:12 | "...a fugitive and a wanderer you shall be on the earth." | Cain's curse as a fugitive. || Psa 39:12 | "...For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers."| Sojourning, being an outsider. || 1 Kgs 11:17 | "...Hadad fled to Egypt..." | Seeking refuge in a foreign land. || Gen 47:9 | "The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years..." | Life as a sojourn/pilgrimage. || Exod 2:15 | "...Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian."| Flight to a foreign land for refuge. || 2 Sam 14:21 | "Then the king said to Joab, 'Behold now, I grant this thing...'"| David's eventual consent to Absalom's return.|| 2 Sam 14:24 | "...Let him live in his own house; he shall not come into my presence."| Absalom's initial isolation upon return. || 2 Sam 14:28 | "So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king's presence."| Duration of Absalom's continued separation.|| Num 32:23 | "...be sure your sin will find you out." | Consequences of hidden sin. || Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap."| The principle of sowing and reaping. || Deut 3:14 | "Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob..." | Mention of Geshur as an unconquered land. || Josh 13:13 | "Nevertheless, the people of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites..."| Geshur's independence from Israel. || 2 Sam 3:3 | "...the third Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;"| Establishes Absalom's connection to Geshur.|| Psa 55:6-8 | "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest..."| Desire to flee from distress. || Prov 28:1 | "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion."| The flight of the guilty. || 1 Sam 22:3-4 | "...David went to Mizpeh of Moab...he stayed with them as long as David was in the stronghold."| David's own exile for safety. || Acts 7:29 | "At this word Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons."| Moses' prolonged exile. || Heb 11:37-38 | "...they went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts and mountains..."| Biblical figures in exile or wandering. || Matt 2:13-15 | "...Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod."| Holy Family's exile to Egypt. |
2 Samuel 13 verses
2 Samuel 13 38 Meaning
This verse details Absalom's immediate response after orchestrating the murder of his half-brother Amnon. It signifies his desperate flight and self-imposed exile to a foreign land for a substantial period of three years, seeking refuge with his maternal grandfather, the King of Geshur. This act directly introduces a prolonged period of separation, tension, and unrest within King David's household and kingdom, furthering the tragic consequences foretold by the prophet Nathan.
2 Samuel 13 38 Context
This verse appears directly after Absalom has executed Amnon for the rape of Tamar, their sister (2 Sam 13:28-29). The immediate aftermath sees all of David's sons fleeing in fear. News of Amnon's death reaches David, causing him great distress, especially as he is initially led to believe all his sons have been killed (2 Sam 13:30-32). Jonadab, Amnon's cousin and accomplice in the rape scheme, clarifies to David that only Amnon is dead and that Absalom has fled (2 Sam 13:32-37). Thus, 2 Samuel 13:38 describes Absalom's calculated move to secure safety from his father's wrath and potential retribution. This event is a critical turning point in David's family and reign, demonstrating the unfolding consequences of David's own past sins (2 Sam 11-12), as the prophet Nathan foretold that the sword would never depart from his house (2 Sam 12:10).
2 Samuel 13 38 Word analysis
- But Absalom: The Hebrew w’Absalom (וְאַבְשָׁלוֹם) connects to the preceding narrative but shifts focus to Absalom's specific action. Absalom, whose name means "father of peace," acts completely contrary to his name, becoming a source of intense family strife. His flight indicates not only fear of retribution but also a strategic retreat to a place of guaranteed safety.
- fled: The Hebrew verb vayyivraḥ (וַיִּבְרַח) means "to escape," "to run away," "to take flight." It implies a hasty and deliberate action, driven by fear of punishment for his crime. This is a purposeful and desperate escape rather than a casual departure.
- and went to Talmai: The Hebrew vayyelek el Talmay (וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל־תַּלְמַי) specifies his destination and host. Talmai was Absalom's maternal grandfather, king of Geshur (2 Sam 3:3). This familial connection provided a legitimate and politically safe asylum, as Absalom would be sheltered by his mother's powerful and independent father.
- the son of Ammihud: The Hebrew ben-‘Ammiḥud (בֶּן־עַמִּיהוּד) further identifies Talmai through his lineage. This detail emphasizes Talmai's identity as a legitimate monarch, giving weight to the refuge Absalom found.
- king of Geshur: The Hebrew melek Geshur (מֶלֶךְ גְּשׁוּר) defines Talmai's position. Geshur was a small Aramean kingdom east of the Jordan, strategically located between Bashan and the Syrian desert. It had resisted conquest by Israel (Deut 3:14, Josh 13:13). David's marriage to Talmai's daughter, Maacah, had formed a diplomatic alliance (2 Sam 3:3), making Geshur an ideal and secure place for Absalom to flee. Its independent status meant David had no jurisdiction there to reclaim him forcibly.
- and he was there three years: The Hebrew vayehi-sham shaloš šanim (וַיְהִי־שָׁם שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים) indicates a significant period of exile. This was not a temporary hiding place but an extended refuge. This prolonged absence reflects the gravity of Absalom's crime and David's initial reluctance or inability to act. It also provides time for the events to settle and for Absalom to perhaps consolidate his own thoughts and plans, away from David's court, foreshadowing his later rebellion.
2 Samuel 13 38 Bonus section
The extended three-year period of Absalom's exile can be seen from several perspectives. For David, it represents a period of unresolved grief and perhaps conflicted parental feelings—his son committed murder, but he is still his son. For Absalom, it might have been a time of waiting for an opportunity, and possibly fostering resentment due to his prolonged absence and David's perceived inaction or delay in recalling him. From a divine perspective, this delay allowed for human actors to maneuver, setting the stage for future events, yet the consequences of sin were already firmly established in the lineage of David. The existence of an independent Geshur demonstrates the fragmented political landscape of the time and David's pragmatic diplomatic marriage, which ironically, created a refuge for the murderer of his firstborn.
2 Samuel 13 38 Commentary
2 Samuel 13:38 marks the beginning of Absalom's three-year exile to Geshur, a direct consequence of his brutal murder of Amnon. This flight is a pivotal moment in the unfolding tragedy within David's household, fulfilling Nathan's prophecy that the sword would not depart from David's house. Absalom's choice of Geshur highlights the power of familial and diplomatic ties, providing a safe haven outside the jurisdiction of David's kingdom. His extended stay signifies a prolonged period of grief for David and a festering period for Absalom's ambition. This exile allows time for the initial shock of Amnon's death to subside, setting the stage for Joab's intervention and Absalom's eventual return, which ironically leads to even greater unrest and rebellion.