Daily Tanach Thursday Shmuel 2 Chapter 13: Dovid is informed of the death of his son

1. Dovid is informed of the death of his son:

• Dovid is told that all of his sons were killed by Avshalom: While they [the sons who ran away] were on the road, a rumor reached the ears of Dovid saying that Avshalom had killed all the sons of the king and not one of them had survived.
• Dovid mourns the death of his sons: Dovid stood up and tore his clothing and lied on the ground and all of his servants which stood over him tore their clothing as well.
• Dovid is informed the truth that only Amnon was killed: Yonadav, the son of Shima who was the brother of Dovid, said to Dovid “Do not think that all of the lads, the sons of the king, were killed, as Amnon alone had died, as Avshalom had a vendetta against him from the day that he had oppressed his sister Tamar and therefore ordered his assassination. Now, let the king not accept in his heart this rumor saying that all the sons of the king had died as in truth Amnon alone is dead.”
• The sons of the King return unharmed: Avshalom ran away and the lad [of Dovid] who was on the lookout [from the castle in the city of Dovid] raised his eyes and saw a large group of people [i.e. the sons of the King] coming from behind him in an abnormal direction from the edge of the mountain [as they were running away from Avshalom, thinking that he would try to kill them as well, and therefore they returned back home from an abnormal direction]. Yonadav then said to the king that the sons of the King have arrived and that he should see that what he had said is indeed true.
• The king and his sons mourn the murder of Amnon: As he finished speaking, the sons of the king arrived and they all raised their voice and cried and also the king’s servants cried a very great cry.

2.      Avshalom runs away from his father:

• Avshalom ran away to [his grandfather[1]] Talmaiy the son of Amichur the king of Geshur.
• Dovid mourned his son throughout all the days that Avshalom had fled to Geshur. Avshalom remained there for three years.
• Dovid decides to reconcile with Avshalom: Dovid [had a great longing for Avshalom and thus] decided to go out and greet Avshalom as he had already been comforted on the death of Amnon.

[1] Metzudos Dovid 13:37