So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
Read Chapter 13
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Ceased. We do not read that he had pursued Absalom before. (Calmet)
Now he laid aside all thoughts of punishing him, as he began even to desire to see him again, when he reflected that Amnon had deserved death. (Haydock)
Hebrew also, "he burnt with a secret desire to receive Absalom "chap. xiv. 1. (Jonathan; Vatable) (Calmet)
Protestants, "the soul of king David longed to go forth unto "(Haydock)
This is the first introduction of divine punishment; the first but not the only one. A long series of great tribulations followed, and an almost unending succession of misfortunes scarcely left his house. Tamar was corrupted by the madness of Amnon, and Amnon was slain by Absalom. A grave crime was committed by one brother, but it was avenged more grievously by the other. In this way David, the father, was punished for the crimes of both. Two sons sinned, but three suffered for the crime of two; Tamar lost her virginity, and the loss of Absalom was mourned in Amnon. Indeed, you cannot tell for which of these two sons the loving father mourned more grievously: for him who was slain in this world by his brother’s hand [Amnon] or for him who perished in the next because of killing by his own hand [Absalom]. - "The Governance of God 2.5"
