Twofold judgment had been meted out to David. The terrible message was carried to him, "Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left. Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent." The king's sons, returning in alarm to Jerusalem, revealed to their father the truth; Amnon alone had been slain; and they "lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore." But Absalom fled to Talmai, the king of Geshur, his mother's father.

David var nu blevet straffet tvefold. Han modtog denne frygtelig meddelelse: ""Absalom har hugget alle kongesønnerne ned, ikke en eneste er tilbage af dem!" Da stod kongen op, sønderrev sine klæder og lagde sig på jorden; også alle hans folk, som stod hos, sønderrev deres klæder." Kongens sønner red rædselsslagne tilbage til Jerusalem og fortalte deres fader sandheden. Amnon var blevet dræbt. "Og de brast i gråd; også kongen og alle hans folk brast i heftig gråd." Men Absalom flygtede til sin morfader, kong Talmaj af Gesjur.