2 Samuel 18:33
ESV
And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
NIV
The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!"
NASB
Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And this is what he said as he walked: 'My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!'
CSB
The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber above the city gate and wept. As he walked, he cried, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"
NLT
The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, 'O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.'
KJV
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
NKJV
Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!”
What does 2 Samuel 18:33 mean?
Absalom is dead. The son who tried to win the people, kill his father David, and take the throne has died in battle. David is overcome with grief. He'd rather be dead. In a way, David should be dead. He took Bathsheba and murdered Uriah (2 Samuel 11:2–4, 14–17). Both crimes deserve execution. But when Nathan confronted him, David humbly repented and God promised he wouldn't die (2 Samuel 12:13).He would suffer, however, under God's curses. Bathsheba's baby died (2 Samuel 12:18). Violence and betrayal would arise from his own house (2 Samuel 12:10–12). First, he unwittingly sent his daughter Tamar to his oldest son, Amnon, not realizing Amnon planned to rape her (2 Samuel 13:7, 14). Two years later, Tamar's full brother Absalom took revenge and murdered Amnon (2 Samuel 13:28–29). Seven years after that, Absalom built a following, and then built an army, and went to war against David.
Now, Absalom is dead, and David is broken. David knows he deserved death. Instead, he's lost three sons. Perhaps because of his shame, he didn't discipline Amnon after his crime (2 Samuel 13:21). He neither disciplined nor fully reconciled with Absalom. Even now, he can't condemn the son who betrayed him.
David knows his sins and knows what judgment he deserves. That knowledge reminds him that God allowed his sons to bring such violence because of David's sin. He can't seem to accept they are still responsible for their own actions. He should have either forced Amnon to marry Tamar, like she wanted (2 Samuel 13:13), or perhaps banished him. He should have either left Absalom in exile, executed him for murder, or pardoned him for bringing justice on Amnon.
What David shouldn't do is make a dramatic public scene weeping over Absalom's death. Absalom committed treason against his father, the king. Thousands died because of Absalom's egotism (2 Samuel 18:7). Many others willingly followed David to exile and fought for his right to return to Jerusalem. He is shaming their honor and sacrifice. They know, now, David would rather see them dead and the son who wanted to kill his father the king to remain alive.
Joab arrives and rebukes David for this display. If David doesn't get up this moment and reassure his people, they will all abandon him (2 Samuel 19:1–8). Joab's words hit their mark. David returns to his place by the gate and meets his people (2 Samuel 19:8). He then takes it a step further: he forgives his enemies.
But David is not done with Joab. For ignoring David's direct command and killing Absalom (2 Samuel 18:5, 14), David removes him as general and replaces him with Amasa, Absalom's general (2 Samuel 19:13).
