2 Samuel 13:39

13:39 The king longed ¹  to go to Absalom, for he had since been consoled over the death of Amnon. ² 

2 Samuel 14:3

14:3 Go to the king and speak to him in the following fashion.” Then Joab told her what to say. ³ 

2 Samuel 14:8

14:8 Then the king told the woman, “Go to your home. I will give instructions concerning your situation.” ⁴ 

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¹ tc The translation follows 4QSam^a in reading רוּחַ הַמֶּלֶךְ (ruakh hammelekh, “the spirit of the king”) rather than the MT דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ (david hammelekh, “David the king”). The understanding reflected in the translation above is that David, though alienated during this time from his son Absalom, still had an abiding love and concern for him. He longed for reconciliation with him. A rather different interpretation of the verse supposes that David’s interest in taking military action against Absalom grew slack with the passing of time, and this in turn enabled David’s advisers to encourage him toward reconciliation with Absalom. For the latter view, see P. K. McCarter, II Samuel (AB), 344, and cf. CEV.

² tn Heb “was consoled over Amnon, because he was dead.”

³ tn Heb “put the words in her mouth” (so NASB, NIV).

⁴ tn Heb “concerning you.”