2 Samuel 13:34-39·~1 min

Absalom Flees to Geshur

While Absalom escapes, the watchman sees the king’s sons returning. Their arrival confirms Jonadab’s report, and the house breaks into bitter weeping.

M³⁴eanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man standing watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road west of him, along the side of the hill. And the watchman went and reported to the king, “I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill.” ³⁵So Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the sons of the king have arrived! It is just as your servant said.” ³⁶And as he finished speaking, the sons of the king came in, wailing loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.

Absalom flees to Talmai in Geshur and stays there three years while David mourns daily for Amnon. In time, David’s grief over Amnon settles into longing for Absalom.

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.

Section summaryAs the surviving sons return in grief, Absalom escapes to Geshur and remains there for years. The chapter closes not with resolution but with David’s mourning for Amnon and his longing toward the son who has fled.

Role in the chapterThis final section gathers the aftermath of Absalom’s revenge. It leaves David’s house divided between loss and desire, carrying the chapter’s damage forward instead of settling it.