2 Samuel 13:37

ABSALOM FLEES TO TALMAI. (Sa2 13:37-39)

Absalom fled, and went to Talmai--The law as to premeditated murder (Num 35:21) gave him no hope of remaining with impunity in his own country. The cities of refuge could afford him no sanctuary, and he was compelled to leave the kingdom, taking refuge at the court of Geshur, with his maternal grandfather, who would, doubtless, approve of his conduct.

Next: 2 Samuel Chapter 14

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

2Sa 13:37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every day.

Ver. 37. And went to Talmai.] His grandfather by the mother’s side, to whom he was the welcomer, because he had slain Amnon, who had deflowered his niece Tamar.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Sa 13:37. David mourned for his son every day — Either for the murder of Amnon, or for Absalom, who was lost as to any comfort he could have from him. “Thus did God, by withdrawing his restraining grace from Amnon, and leaving him a prey to his own passions, raise up evil to David out of his own house; a daughter ravished by her own brother; that brother murdered by another brother; and that other in exile on that account; and soon to perish by a fate yet more deplorable, had it not been more deserved! And now began another and more dreadful prophecy of Nathan to be fulfilled upon David, before his eyes: the sword was now first brought in upon his house, attended with this dreadful assurance of never departing from it.” — Delaney.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

ABSALOM’S FLIGHT TO GESHUR, 2Sa_13:37-39.

37. Absalom fled — When the other sons of the king arose and fled, he took advantage of the confusion and escaped out of the land. 2Sa_13:29; 2Sa_13:34.

Went to Talmai — His maternal grandfather. 2Sa_3:3.

Geshur — A province belonging, at the time of Absalom’s flight, to Syria.

2Sa_15:8. It was on the northern border of Bashan, and adjoining the province of Argob. See Deu_3:14; Jos_12:5. “It is a remarkable fact — and it shows how little change three thousand years have produced on this eastern land — that Bashan is still the refuge of all offenders. If a man can only reach it, no matter what may have been his crimes or his failings, he is safe; the officers of government dare not follow him, and the avenger of blood even turns away in despair. During a short tour in Bashan, I met more than a dozen refugees, who, like Absalom in Geshur; awaited in security some favourable turn of events.” — Porter.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

13:37 fled to his grandfather: See 3:3. • Geshur was in Aram, northeast of Israel’s territory (see 15:8; Josh 13:13).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

For Maacah his mother was the daughter of this Talmai, 2 Sam. 3:3.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 37. Absalom fled] As he had committed wilful murder, he could not avail himself of a city of refuge, and was therefore obliged to leave the land of Israel, and take refuge with Talmai, king of Geshur, his grandfather by his mother's side. See 2Sa 3:3.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(37) Went to Talmai.—His maternal grandfather. (See Note on 2Sa_3:2-5.) This verse may be considered parenthetical:—The king’s sons came . . . and wept sore. (“Only Absalom fled and went to . . . Geshur.”) In this case the omission of “David” in the latter clause of the verse is explained, as the nominative is easily supplied from 2Sa_13:36.

For his son every day.—Amnon is certainly the son here meant, for whom David continually mourned until his grief was gradually assuaged by the lapse of time.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

37. But Absalom fled, &c.] Now Absalom had fled and gone to Talmai. The narrative goes back to 2Sa_13:34. Talmai was Absalom’s grandfather. See note on ch. 2Sa_3:3.

And David mourned] David has fallen out of the Heb. text, but is found in the Sept. and Vulg., and is clearly necessary to the sense.

for his son] Amnon, not Absalom, is meant. His first feeling towards Absalom was one of anger.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But Absalom fled,.... As before related, but here repeated for the sake of what follows:

and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur: his mother's father, see Sa2 3:3, where he might hope for protection and safety:

and David mourned for his son every day; or "all the days" (q), i.e. of the three years Absalom was in Geshur, about the end of which he was comforted concerning Amnon, as the following verses show. Some think it was for Absalom he mourned, but rather for Amnon. The reason why he mourned for him, when he did not for his child by Bathsheba, who died, because that was an infant, this a grown man, and heir to his crown, and was slain by the sword of his brother, and so fulfilled a threatening to himself on account of his own sin, which, hereby no doubt, was brought fresh to his mind.

(q) "cunctis diebus", V. L. "omnibus diebus", Pagninus, Montanus.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

See the marginal reference.

Ammihur (see the margin) is found as a Punic name.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Tholomai, or Tholmai, (Haydock; chap. iii. 3.) his maternal grandfather. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Talmai, the son of Ammihud; his mother’s father, 2Sa 3:3; that he might have present protection and sustenance from him; and that by his mediation he might obtain his father’s pardon and favour.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Vers. 37, 38. So Absalom fled. The triple repetition of these words, and the fragmentary style, make it probable that we have hero an abridgment of a longer narrative. So in ver. 35 the words probably are a summary of a more circumstantial account of Absalom"s doings after his young men had slain Amnon. (On Talmai and Geshur, see notes on 2Sa_3:3)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Talmai - His mother's father, that he might have present protection and sustenance from him; and that by his mediation he might obtain his father's pardon.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

"Only Absalom had fled and gone to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur." These words form a circumstantial clause, which the writer has inserted as a parenthesis, to define the expression "the king's sons" more particularly. If we take these words as a parenthesis, there will be no difficulty in explaining the following word "mourned," as the subject (David) may very easily be supplied from the preceding words "the king," etc. (Sa2 13:36). To the remark that David mourned all his life for his son (Amnon), there is attached, just as simply and quite in accordance with the facts, the more precise information concerning Absalom's flight, that he remained in Geshur three years. The repetition of the words "Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur" may be accounted for from the general diffuseness of the Hebrew style. Talmai the king of Geshur was the father of Maacah, Absalom's mother (Sa2 3:3). The lxx thought it necessary expressly to indicate this by inserting εἰς γῆν Χαμαχάαδ (al. γῆν Μαχάδ).

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai 1Sa 27:8. David, in the years of his wanderings, made a savage raid upon Geshur, and evidently bore away Maacah, daughter of the king of Geshur. Of her was born Absalom, and in him was her wild Bedouin blood, and the blood of a father who had been the reckless chief of a handful of desperate men.; 2Sa 3:3; 2Sa 23:8-39 and whom only the divine love could tame. 2Sa 22:36. In Absalom David reaped from his own sowing.

The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Talmai ... Ammihud

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

for his son

"for his son Amnon"

where he was for three years

"where he stayed for three years"

The mind of King David longed

Here David is referred to by his mind to emphasize his thoughts. AT: "King David longed" (See: Synecdoche)

for he was comforted concerning Amnon and his death

"because he was no longer grieving about Amnon being dead." This refers to three years after Absalom fled to Geshur.

translationWords

Geshur

mourn

mind

comfort

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.