¹⁸ On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”

¹⁹ David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.

“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

²⁰ Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed,^(A) put on lotions and changed his clothes,^(B) he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

²¹ His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept,^(C) but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

²² He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows?^(D) The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’^{(E) 23} But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him,^(F) but he will not return to me.”^(G)

³⁸ After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years.

³⁹ And King David longed to go to Absalom,^(A) for he was consoled^(B) concerning Amnon’s death.

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

14 Joab^(A) son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart longed for Absalom.

³³ So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed^(A) Absalom.

⁵ The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders.

¹² But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels^[a] were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.^[b]’

¹³ And if I had put my life in jeopardy^[a]—and nothing is hidden from the king^(A)—you would have kept your distance from me.”

³³ The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died^(A) instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”^[a](B)