27. But Absalom kept on insisting until David finally let Amnon and all his other sons go with Absalom.Absalom prepared a banquet fit for a king
28. and instructed his servants: “Notice when Amnon has had too much to drink, and then when I give the order, kill him. Don't be afraid. I will take the responsibility myself. Be brave and don't hesitate!”
29. So the servants followed Absalom's instructions and killed Amnon. All the rest of David's sons mounted their mules and fled.
30. While they were on their way home, David was told: “Absalom has killed all your sons — not one of them is left!”
31. The king stood up, tore his clothes in sorrow, and threw himself to the ground. The servants who were there with him tore their clothes also.
32. But Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shammah, said, “Your Majesty, they haven't killed all your sons. Only Amnon is dead. You could tell by looking at Absalom that he had made up his mind to do this from the time that Amnon raped his sister Tamar.
33. So don't believe the news that all your sons are dead; only Amnon was killed.”
34. In the meantime Absalom had fled.Just then the soldier on sentry duty saw a large crowd coming down the hill on the road from Horonaim. He went to the king and reported what he had seen.
35. Jonadab said to David, “Those are your sons coming, just as I said they would.”
36. As soon as he finished saying this, David's sons came in; they started crying, and David and his officials also wept bitterly.
37-38. Absalom fled and went to the king of Geshur, Talmai son of Ammihud, and stayed there three years. David mourned a long time for his son Amnon;
39. but when he got over Amnon's death, he was filled with longing for his son Absalom.