Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
Then the king got up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood nearby with their clothes torn too.
The writer is showing King David's intense grief and despair, expressed through the ancient custom of tearing clothes and lying on the ground, with his servants joining in mourning.
📚 Historical Context
This verse describes King David's reaction upon hearing (false) news that his son Absalom had killed all of his brothers, including Amnon who had assaulted their sister Tamar. In ancient Near Eastern culture, tearing one's garments and lying on the ground were traditional expressions of extreme grief, mourning, or distress. David's servants following this same behavior shows how deeply the royal household was affected by this family tragedy.
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