2 Samuel 13:31

31 The king got up, tore his clothes and lay on the ground, while all his servants stood by with their clothes torn too.

2 Samuel 13:31 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 13:31

Then the king arose, and tore his garments
In token of extreme grief and sorrow, as Jacob did when he was shown the coat of Joseph, supposing him to have been slain, as David thought all his sons were, ( Genesis 37:34 ) ;

and lay on the earth;
on the bare ground, another token of mourning; so Job did on hearing the death of his sons, ( Job 1:20 ) ;

and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent:
did as David did, in imitation of him, joining with him in expressions of sorrow; these were his courtiers, ministers of state, and principal officers in his household.

2 Samuel 13:31 In-Context

29 Avshalom's servants did to Amnon as Avshalom had ordered. At this, all the king's sons jumped up, mounted their mules and fled.

30 While they were on their way, the news came to David that Avshalom had killed all the king's sons, and not one of them was left alive.

31 The king got up, tore his clothes and lay on the ground, while all his servants stood by with their clothes torn too.

32 But then Yonadav, the son of Shim'ah, David's brother, spoke up; he said, "My lord shouldn't think they have killed all the young men, the king's sons. Only Amnon is dead; for Avshalom has meant to do this ever since the day he raped his sister Tamar.

33 So my lord the king shouldn't take it as seriously as if all the king's sons are dead; only Amnon is dead."