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.
NIV
And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon’s death.
NASB
And the heart of King David longed to go out to Absalom; for he was comforted regarding Amnon, since he was dead.
CSB
King David longed to go to Absalom, for David had finished grieving over Amnon’s death.
NLT
And King David, now reconciled to Amnon’s death, longed to be reunited with his son Absalom.
KJV
And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
NKJV
And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.
What does 2 Samuel 13:39 mean?
David has grieved the loss of his firstborn, Amnon, and has come to a measure of peace. "Comforted" is a complicated word that includes the ideas of regret, compassion, and comfort. David begins to miss his son Absalom. The problem is, Absalom's the one who murdered Amnon.Unlike most Bible stories, the account of God's curses on David is carefully delineated by time.
Amnon, David's oldest, lusts after his sister Tamar. With the help of his cousin Jonadab's plan, he manages to get Tamar alone and rape her (2 Samuel 13:1–14).
Two years later, after David has done nothing to hold Amnon responsible, Absalom takes action. He invites all of his brothers to a celebration for the wool harvesting. In the middle of the festivities, he signals his servants kill Amnon (2 Samuel 13:23–33.
For the next three years, David mourns Amnon while Absalom exiles himself to Geshur where his grandfather is king (2 Samuel 13:37–39). At the end of the three years, Joab convinces David to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 14:1–23).
Another two years pass. David refuses to see Absalom or forgive him. After Absalom sets Joab's fields on fire, David agrees to meet and to reconcile (2 Samuel 14:28–33).
For four years, Absalom woos the hearts of the people. He makes grand gestures and pronounces judgment at the gates. When he can rule in someone's favor, he does. When he can't, he tells them he would: if he had the power (2 Samuel 15:1–6).
At the end of those four years, Absalom completes God's curses against David:"Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do t his thing before all Israel and before the sun."
2 Samuel 12:11–12David took Bathsheba in secret (2 Samuel 11:2–4) and killed Uriah in a way no one would connect him with (2 Samuel 11:14–15). Absalom killed Amnon in front of his brothers and servants (2 Samuel 13:28–29) and will sleep with David's concubines in a tent on David's roof (2 Samuel 16:20–22).
