23 Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor , which is near Ephraim , and Absalom invited all the king's sons . 24 Absalom came to the king and said , "Behold now , your servant has sheepshearers ; please let the king and his servants go with your servant ." 25 But the king said to Absalom , "No , my son , we should not all go , for we will be burdensome to you." Although he urged him, he would not go , but blessed him. 26 Then Absalom said , "If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?" 27 But when Absalom urged him, he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Absalom commanded his servants , saying , "See now , when Amnon's heart is merry with wine , and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon ,' then put him to death . Do not fear ; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant e ." 29 The servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded . Then all the king's sons arose and each mounted his mule and fled .
30 Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David , saying , "Absalom has struck down all the king's sons , and not one of them is left ." 31 Then the king arose , tore his clothes and lay on the ground ; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn . 32 Jonadab , the son of Shimeah , David's brother , responded e , "Do not let my lord suppose they have put to death all the young men , the king's sons , for Amnon alone is dead ; because by the intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar . 33 "Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take the report to heart , namely , 'all the king's sons are dead ,' for only Amnon is dead ." 34 Now Absalom had fled . And the young man who was the watchman raised his eyes and looked , and behold , many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain . 35 Jonadab said to the king , "Behold , the king's sons have come ; according to your servant's word , so it happened ." 36 As soon as he had finished speaking , behold , the king's sons came and lifted their voices and wept ; and also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly e . 37 Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud , the king of Geshur . And David mourned for his son every day . 38 So Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur , and was there three years .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 13:23-38
Commentary on 2 Samuel 13:21-29
(Read 2 Samuel 13:21-29)
Observe the aggravations of Absalom's sin: he would have Ammon slain, when least fit to go out of the world. He engaged his servants in the guilt. Those servants are ill-taught who obey wicked masters, against God's commands. Indulged children always prove crosses to godly parents, whose foolish love leads them to neglect their duty to God.
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.