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

¹² After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua,^(A) died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah,^(B) to the men who were shearing his sheep,^(C) and his friend Hirah the Adullamite^(D) went with him.

³⁵ All his sons and daughters came to comfort him,^(A) but he refused to be comforted.^(B) “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son^(C) in the grave.^(D)” So his father wept for him.

⁶⁷ Isaac brought her into the tent^(A) of his mother Sarah,^(B) and he married Rebekah.^(C) So she became his wife, and he loved her;^(D) and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.^(E)

²⁶ For he longs for all of you^(A) and is distressed because you heard he was ill.

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)

³² Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation,^(A) and you will wear out your eyes watching for them day after day, powerless to lift a hand.