When the rest of the king's sons saw this dreadful deed, they all fled on their mules in hot haste; but while they were on their way back to Jerusalem, the tidings reached David that all his sons were dead!
The sorrowful king tore his clothes, and lay upon the earth, and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
But Jonadab, David's nephew, tried to comfort the king, by assuring him that only Amnon was dead.
While Jonadab was persuading the king that it was not as bad as had first been told him, they saw a great company coming down the hillside, and Jonadab said to the king:
"See, it is as I said; there are the king's sons!"
Then all David's sons wept for the sad thing which had happened, and David and his servants wept very much.
But Absalom had fled, and had gone to his mother's relatives at Geshur, where he stayed three years. And David mourned for his son every day.
At length Joab, the captain of the host, saw that David's heart was bound up in Absalom, and he persuaded David to send for him to Jerusalem. But though David allowed him to return, he did not see his face for two whole years.
This made Absalom very angry, and because Joab would not carry his messages to the king, Absalom told his servants to set fire to a whole field of Joab's wheat: at last Joab consented to speak to the king, and finally Absalom was allowed to see his father: and David kissed him.
But what do you think Absalom did to that loving, devoted father?