Then the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground. And all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
Here is, I. The fright that David was put into by a false report brought to Jerusalem that Absalom had slain all the king's sons, Sa2 13:30. It is common for fame to make bad worse; and the first news of such a thing as this represents it as more dreadful than afterwards it proves.
Commenting on 2 Samuel 13:30-39
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, Gen 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...
Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. (n) Lamenting, as he that felt the wrath of God on his house, .