Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 13:39

39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom : for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

To wit, to visit him, or to send for him. And thus this word, the Soul, is here understood, partly, from the Hebrew Verb, which being of the Feminine Gender, agrees not with David, but with David's Soul; and partly, by comparing this with other places, where the same Verb is used, and the Soul expressed, as Psal. 84. 3. and 119. 81. But as this supplement may seem too bold, so this version seems not so well to agree with that Phrase of going out to Absalom; for David neither desired nor intended to go out to Absalom, but that Absalom should come home to him. And these words may be, and are otherwise rendred, by the most ancient and remarkable Interpreters to this purpose, And King David made an end of going out (to wit, in an Hostile manner, as that Verb is oft used, Gen. 14. 18. 2 Sam. 11. 1.) against (for so the Hebrew Particle, El, is oft used, as Ior. 34. 7. Ezek. 13. 9, 20. Amos 7. 15.) Absalom: i e. having used some, though it is probable, but cold and remiss endeavours to pursue after Absalom, and to fetch him from his Grandfathers to receive condign punishment, he now gave over thoughts of it. Thus the same Verb, and that in the same conjugation, is used in the same manner, 1 King. 3. 1. he made an end of building. It is to be Objected, That the Hebrew Verb is of the Feminine Gender, and therefore doth not agree with King David, which is Masculine. It may be Answered, That Enallage of Genders is a most frequent Figure; and as the Masculine Gender is sometimes applied to Women when they do some manly and gallant Action, as Exod. 1. 21. So the Feminine Gender is sometimes used of Men when they shew an effeminate tenderness in their disposition; which is the case here, as some Learned Hebricians have noted.

Marginal references: 1 Sam. 24. 10.; Or, was consumed.