2 Samuel 13 39

2 Samuel 13:39 kjv

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 nkjv

And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.

2 Samuel 13:39 niv

And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon's death.

2 Samuel 13:39 esv

And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.

2 Samuel 13:39 nlt

And King David, now reconciled to Amnon's death, longed to be reunited with his son Absalom.

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 39 Meaning

King David's deep, consuming sorrow for his murdered son Amnon had finally subsided. This shift in his grief allowed another powerful emotion to rise: an intense longing to be reunited with his exiled son, Absalom, who had orchestrated Amnon's death. This verse marks a turning point in David's emotional state regarding the tragic events within his family, moving him from a state of incapacitating mourning to a desire for reconciliation.

2 Samuel 13 39 Context

The preceding chapters of 2 Samuel 13 detail a series of catastrophic events within King David's family. It begins with the rape of Tamar, Absalom's full sister, by their half-brother Amnon. David is angry but takes no immediate action. Absalom, harboring a deep and patient resentment, orchestrates Amnon's murder two years later during a sheep-shearing feast (2 Sam 13:23-29). David's grief over Amnon is profound, lasting for an extended period, reflecting the horror of fratricide within his own household and perhaps the lingering consequences of his own previous sins that fractured his family. After the murder, Absalom flees to Geshur, his mother's homeland, where he remains for three years (2 Sam 13:37-38). Verse 39 indicates a shift from David's active mourning for Amnon to a new phase where his fatherly affection and longing for Absalom, the killer, resurface. This period of waiting and inner turmoil sets the stage for Joab's intervention in the next chapter, aiming to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem. The verse highlights the complexity of David's emotions and the painful, drawn-out consequences of the moral failures within his royal family.

2 Samuel 13 39 Word analysis

• And the soul of King David (וְנֶפֶשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד – wənefesh hammelk davīd):
  • "Soul" (נֶפֶשׁ – nefesh): This Hebrew word refers not merely to the spiritual part but the whole being, including emotions, will, and vitality. It emphasizes the depth and sincerity of David's internal state. It's a deep, core desire from his very being.
• longed to go forth (כָּלְתָה לָלֶכֶת – kālĕṯāh lālĕḵeṯ):
  • "longed" (כָּלְתָה – kālĕṯāh from kalah (כָּלָה)): This verb means to be completed, to come to an end, to pine away, or to yearn intensely. Here, it denotes an overwhelming, almost consuming desire or yearning that has finally matured or peaked. It's a yearning that could lead to exhaustion if unfulfilled.
  • "to go forth" (לָלֶכֶת – lālĕḵeṯ): Literally "to go." In this context, it implies a physical movement towards, and by extension, a desire for direct contact or reconciliation. It's not just a wish but a readiness to move or act.
• unto Absalom (אֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹם – ’el-’avshālōm):
  • "Absalom" (אַבְשָׁלוֹם – ’avshālōm): "Father of peace." Ironically, his actions brought anything but peace to David's house. Despite his heinous act of murder, he remains David's son, evoking paternal affection.
• for he was comforted concerning Amnon (כִּי־נִחַם עַל־אַמְנוֹן – kī niḥam ‘al-Amnon):
  • "for he was comforted" (כִּי־נִחַם – kī niḥam from naḥam (נָחַם)): "For he was brought solace," "he felt relieved," "he ceased grieving." This does not imply happiness or forgetfulness, but rather a move from intense, active mourning to a state where the initial shock and crushing grief have subsided, allowing him to process the death. The bitterness of mourning lessened.
  • "concerning Amnon" (עַל־אַמְנוֹן – ‘al-Amnon): "About Amnon" or "over Amnon." The subject of his prior profound grief.
• seeing he was dead (כִּי־מֵת – kī mēṯ):
  • "seeing he was dead" (כִּי־מֵת – kī mēṯ): "Because he was dead." The finality of Amnon's death meant that the process of grief, while lengthy, eventually reached a point of acceptance. The knowledge that Amnon would not return, in a paradoxical way, brought an end to the active mourning period and allowed other concerns and emotions to surface.

• "And the soul of King David longed to go forth unto Absalom": This phrase conveys a powerful inner yearning from the entirety of David's being. It's not a superficial wish but a profound parental longing for his exiled son, despite Absalom's grave sin. This shows the depth of human emotion, even in divinely chosen leaders, and the enduring nature of familial bonds.
• "for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead": This clause explains why the longing for Absalom could now emerge. David's grief over Amnon had run its course. The painful reality of Amnon's permanent absence had finally settled, bringing a degree of emotional release, not of joy, but of a cessation of intense sorrow. This progression is a common psychological pattern in human grief – the acceptance of loss, however painful, eventually allows one to move forward. The implication is that intense grief for one son had effectively overshadowed all other concerns, including the fate of the other, but once that specific grief ebbed, parental love for Absalom reasserted itself.

2 Samuel 13 39 Bonus section

This verse subtly reveals the lingering spiritual and practical consequences of David's own earlier sins (e.g., the Bathsheba affair and Uriah's murder), which Nathan had prophesied would bring "the sword" and discord upon his household (2 Sam 12:10-11). David's personal anguish and delayed reconciliation with Absalom can be seen as part of that tragic unfolding. His prolonged inaction and then subsequent, almost overwhelming, yearning highlight the tension between divine judgment and the deeply human responses of a father. Furthermore, this verse also provides a powerful human analogue to divine long-suffering and patient waiting for His children to return, echoing God's character as One who yearns for His people's repentance and restoration, even when they have sinned gravely against Him. However, unlike God's perfect patience, David's response here is still deeply flawed, setting the stage for more family turmoil.

2 Samuel 13 39 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:39 offers a poignant insight into King David's deeply complex emotional state. His intense, protracted grief over Amnon's murder had finally exhausted itself, leading to a natural easing of mourning. This emotional release was not a dismissal of Amnon's death, but an acceptance of its irreversible finality. With that profound sorrow no longer overwhelming his heart, David’s core paternal affection for Absalom, the fratricide, resurfaced powerfully. This verse is pivotal; it signifies a shift from a paralyzed, grieving king to one whose heart yearns for the possibility of family reunion, albeit with a son who had committed an egregious act. It sets the stage for future attempts at reconciliation, illustrating that even kings, with all their authority and responsibilities, are subject to deep personal sorrow and complicated human relationships. David's experience reminds us that grief is a process, and time can eventually allow for the re-emergence of other affections and concerns, even in the most painful of circumstances.