Joab Arranges for Absalom’s Return

14 Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom.

³⁹ And King David,^[a] now reconciled to Amnon’s death, longed to be reunited with his son Absalom.^[b]

The Death of Asahel

¹⁸ Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle,

⁴ The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

² As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness.

^33 [a]The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.”