But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! The king covered his face - This was the custom of mourners.
O my son Absalom - Calmet has properly remarked that the frequent repetition of the name of the defunct, is common in the language of lamentation. Thus Virgil, act. v., ver. 51: -
- Daphnin que team tollemus ad astra;
Daphnin ad astra feremus: amavit nos quoque Daphnis.
"With yours, my song I cheerfully shall join,
To raise your Daphnis to the powers Divine.
Daphnis I'll raise unto the powers above,
For dear to me was Daphnis' well tried love."
See the notes on the preceding chapter, 2 Samuel 18 (note).