But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
All Commentaries on 2 Samuel 12:23 Go To 2 Samuel 12
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
Thus David wept for his son who was about to die; he did not grieve for him when dead. He wept that he might not be snatched from him, but he ceased to weep when he was snatched away, for he knew that he was with Christ. And that you may know what I declare is true, he wept for his incestuous son Amnon when he was killed, and he mourned for the parricide Absalom when he perished, saying, “My son Absalom, my son Absalom!” He did not think the innocent son should be mourned, because he believed that the others had perished for their crime but that the latter would live on account of his innocence.
Therefore, you have no reason for grieving excessively over your brother. He was born a man, he was subject to human frailty.
