וְלֹֽא־עֲצָב֨וֹ אָבִ֤יו מִיָּמָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַדּ֖וּעַ כָּ֣כָה עָשִׂ֑יתָ וְגַם־ה֤וּא טֽוֹב־תֹּ֙אַר֙ מְאֹ֔ד וְאֹת֥וֹ יָלְדָ֖ה אַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃
And his father had not grieved him all his life in saying: ‘Why hast thou done so?’ and he was also a very goodly man; and he was born after Absalom.
Guide for the Perplexed
THE term ‘eẓeb is homonymous, denoting, in the first place, pain and trembling; comp. “In sorrow (be-‘eẓeb) thou shalt bring forth children” (Gen. 3:16). Next it denotes anger; comp. “And his father had not made him angry (‘aẓabo) at any time” (1 Kings 1:6); “for he was angry (ne‘eẓab) for the sake of David” (1 Sam. 20:34). The term signifies also provocation: comp. “They rebelled, and vexed (‘iẓẓebu) his holy spirit” (Isa. 63:10); “and provoked (ya‘aẓibahu) him in the desert” (Ps. 78:40); “If there be any way of provocation (‘oẓeb) in me” (ib. 139:24); “Every day they rebel (ye‘aẓẓebu) against my words” (ib. 56:6).