30 Now while they were on their way, news was given to David that Absalom had put to death all the sons of the king and that not one of them was still living. 31 Then the king got up in great grief, stretching himself out on the earth: and all his servants were by his side, with their clothing parted. 32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, Let not my lord have the idea that all the sons of the king have been put to death; for only Amnon is dead: this has been purposed by Absalom from the day when he took his sister Tamar by force. 33 So now, let not my lord the king take this thing to heart, with the idea that all the king's sons are dead: for only Amnon is dead. 34 But Absalom went in flight. And the young man who kept the watch, lifting up his eyes, saw that a great band of people was coming down the slope by the way of the Horons; and the watchman came and gave word to the king, saying, I saw men coming down by the way of the Horons, from the hillside. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, See, the king's sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is. 36 And while he was talking, the king's sons came, with weeping and loud cries: and the king and all his servants were weeping bitterly. 37 So Absalom went in flight and came to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur, where he was for three years. 38 And the king was sorrowing for his son all the time. 39 And the heart of David was wasted with desire for Absalom: for he was comforted for the death of Amnon.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 13:30-39
Commentary on 2 Samuel 13:30-39
(Read 2 Samuel 13:30-39)
Jonadab was as guilty of Ammon's death, as of his sin; such false friends do they prove, who counsel us to do wickedly. Instead of loathing Absalom as a murderer, David, after a time, longed to go forth to him. This was David's infirmity: God saw something in his heart that made a difference, else we should have thought that he, as much as Eli, honoured his sons more than God.