2 Samuel 13:30
ESV
While they were on the way, news came to David, "Absalom has struck down all the king 's sons, and not one of them is left."
NIV
While they were on their way, the report came to David: "Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them is left."
NASB
Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, 'Absalom has struck and killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.'
CSB
While they were on the way, a report reached David: "Absalom struck down all the king’s sons; not even one of them survived!"
NLT
As they were on the way back to Jerusalem, this report reached David: 'Absalom has killed all the king’s sons; not one is left alive!'
KJV
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.
NKJV
And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left!”
What does 2 Samuel 13:30 mean?
Absalom, David's third son, has asked all his brothers to join him miles away from Jerusalem. This is supposedly for a feast in celebration for a successful sheep shearing (2 Samuel 13:24–27). But his intentions are sinister.Two years prior, David's oldest son, Amnon, raped Absalom's sister, Tamar. Absalom has carefully planned his vengeance ever since. With his brothers gathered around, Absalom's servants made sure Amnon was well-supplied with alcohol. When drink had dulled the victim's senses and suspicions, Absalom gave an order, and his servants killed Amnon (2 Samuel 13:23, 28–29).
Even with the instant communication options in the modern world, breaking news reports from the scenes of tragedy often get the facts wrong. The first message to reach David from the violence at Absalom's feast likely came from someone there, perhaps a servant, who ran for his life the moment the murder of Amnon occurred before seeing what happened next. Or a version of the events may have been passed between several people as it traveled from the hill country near Bethel to Jerusalem.
In any case, the news likely sounded plausible. Absalom certainly killed David's immediate heir. It's not a stretch to imagine that Absalom would want to eliminate all his potential rivals to become king. It's happened before (Judges 9:1–6), and it will happen again (2 Kings 11:1).
