2 Samuel 13:39

Andthe soul of king David, &c. The Heb. of this verse is obscure, and has been made to bear almost opposite meanings. (1) The E. V., following the Jewish commentators, supplies the soulas the subject of the verb, which is feminine. It describes David as pining for the return of Absalom, after his sorrow for Amnon's death had abated. To this interpretation it may be objected, (a) that the verb, in the voice used here, does not mean longed: (b) that if David had been anxious for Absalom's return, he might have recalled him at once, whereas even when by Joab's instrumentality he had been brought back to Jerusalem, he was not admitted to the royal presence. (2) By taking the verb impersonally we may obtain the sense, David desisted from going forth against Absalom(so the Vulg. "cessavitque rex David persequi Absalom;" and probably the Sept.), i.e. he gave up plans of pursuit and revenge; or by emending the text according to a very probable conjecture, the king's wrath ceased to go forth against Absalom. Either of these renderings gives the general sense which seems to be required by the context, that David's active hostility towards Absalom was mitigated by the lapse of time.