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Pentecost Season · Proper 14 · Year B

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

The Death of Absalom

August 8, 2027

David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Willem van Herp (I)
David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Willem van Herp (I), c. 1633–1675Private collection, via Wikimedia
A small Antwerp painting of the king collapsed with grief while his officers stand back, uncertain what to do.O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you. Psalm 3 is headed as David's prayer when fleeing this same son.Private collection, via WikimediaIn private hands; the painting is known from the public domain reproduction rather than from a wall.Private collection, via Wikimedia
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelJohn 6:35, 41-51Jn 6:35, 41-51
EpistleEph. 4:25-5:2Eph 4:25-5:2
Old Testament2 Sam. 18:5-9, 15, 31-332 Sm 18:5-9, 15, 31-33Alt. OT1 Kings 19:4-81 Kgs 19:4-8
PsalterPs. 130Ps 130Alt. PsalmPs. 34:1-8Ps 34:1-8

Overview & Insights

"O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you." (2 Samuel 18:33)

Absalom's rebellion ends when he is caught in an oak and killed against David's orders; word reaches the king, who breaks down in grief over the death of his son.

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Take it further: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33Working Preacher: Commentary on 2 Sm 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 Working Preacher

Lutheran lectionary commentary on David's grief for the complementary track.

Enduring Word: 2 Samuel 18Enduring Word: 2 Sm 18 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the whole chapter.

Precept Austin: 2 Samuel 18 CommentaryPrecept Austin: 2 Sm 18 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed study gathering many commentators on Absalom's death and David's mourning.

BibleHub: Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:5BibleHub: Commentaries on 2 Sm 18:5 BibleHub

Parallel classic commentaries keyed to the reading's opening verse.

CEP: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 CommentaryCEP: 2 Sm 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on a father's grief over a lost son.

Background & Word Study

BibleProject: 2 Samuel OverviewBibleProject: 2 Sm Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the story and themes of 2 Samuel.

Sefaria: II Samuel 18 (Hebrew) Sefaria

Hebrew text with English and classical Jewish commentary on the chapter.

BibleHub: 2 Samuel 18 InterlinearBibleHub: 2 Sm 18 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew-English interlinear for word-level study of the chapter.

The Church Fathers

Catena: 2 Samuel 18Catena: 2 Sm 18 Catena

Patristic comments gathered verse by verse on 2 Samuel 18.

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