The Second Book of Samuel, otherwise called the Second Book of the Kings
2 Samuel 19
Chapter XIX · Vol. II, pp. 704–705
1 Joab causeth the king to cease his mourning. 9 The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back. 11 David sendeth to the priests to incite the men of Judah. 16 Shimei is pardoned. 24 Mephibosheth excused. 32 Barzillai dismissed; Chimham his son is taken into the king's family. 41 The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them.
1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
2 And the avictory that day was bturned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4 But the king ccovered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!1
c ch.15.30; 1.2; 18.33. 1 Sa.4.12. Pr.10.1; 17.25.
1 Why is the conduct of David, in the case of Bathsheba's child, ch.12.23, and in the case of Absalom, so different? There are two reasons for the difference. (1) Young children are less endeared to parents than they afterwards, by association, generally become. (2) David was lamenting Absalom, not merely as a rebel son, but a lost sinner; a thought, of all thoughts, the most grievous to a parent's heart.—C.
5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast dshamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;
d ch.18.33.
6 In that thou lovest2 thine enemies, and hatest thy friends: for thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants:3 for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, ethen it had pleased thee well.
7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and fspeak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there gwill not tarry one with thee this night;4 and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
f Heb. to the heart of thy servants, Ge.34.3. Ho.2.14.
4 The advice was wise, the manner cruel. David, who was willing to have headed his own army against Absalom, could not have felt as Joab alleges. He merely wished, what was perfectly practicable, to have his rebellious and wicked son spared, to afford him space for repentance.—C.
8 Then the king arose, and hsat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king; for iIsrael had fled every man to his tent.
h Ru.4.1. ch.18.4,24.
i 2 Ki.14.12. 1 Ki.12.16. ch.18.7.
9 And all the people were at kstrife throughout all the tribes of Israel,5 saying, The king lsaved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines, and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.
k Ge.3.12,13. Is.8.21. Ro.6.21.
5 They were divided into two great political parties, one anxious for the restoration of David, the other, in sullen silence, ver.10, brooding over their discomfited rebellion.—C.
A.M. 2983. B.C. 1021.
l ch.v. viii. x. 1 Sa.xvii. xviii.
10 And Absalom, whom we manointed over us, is dead in battle: now therefore why nspeak ye not a word of bringing the king back?5
m ch.15.12,13; 18.14,15. Ho.3.4; 13.10.
n Heb. are ye silent, Ju.18.9. Ro.12.11.
5 'It might seem the obvious consequence of his victory, that David should repass the Jordan at the head of his conquering army, and resume his throne at Jerusalem. But the mass of the people had chosen another for their king, and by that act had virtually, to the extent of their power, deposed David; and it would appear that the civil principles of the constitution required that he should, in a certain sense, be re-elected to the crown.'—Kitto.
11 And king David sent to oZadok and to Abiathar the priests,6 saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the plast to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
o ch.8.17; 15.24,29,35. 2 Co.5.20.
6 David was still at Mahanaim, on the east of Jordan, Zadok and Abiathar in Jerusalem, on the west. But the presence of Amasa, ver.13, whom Absalom had made general of his army, ch.17.25, prevented an expression of public opinion in the capital in favour of David's return. Amasa was nephew to David, by his sister Abigail, as Joab was by Zeruiah. Amasa's advancement was therefore well calculated to bring back the discontented of Judah.—C.
p Mat.5.16. 1 Co.10.11. Phi.3.17. 2 Th.3.9. 1 Pe.2.21.
12 Ye are qmy brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
q ch.5.1; ver.13. Ge.2.23. Ju.9.2. Ep.5.29,30.
13 And say ye rto Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? sGod do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually tin the room of Joab.
r ch.17.25. 1 Ch.2.16,17; 12.18.
s Ru.1.17. 1 Ki.19.2. Ac.23.12.
t ver.5,6; ch.3.29,39; 18.14, with 8.16; 20.23.
14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah,7 even uas the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.
15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to xGilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
x Jos.4.19; 5.9. 1 Sa.11.14,15.
16 And yShimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted, and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
y ch.16.5-9. 1 Ki.2.8,36-46. Job 2.4. Mat.5.25.
17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and zZiba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.
z ch.16.1-4; 9.2,10,11; ver.26,27.
18 And there went over a ferry-boat8 to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good.9 And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
8 Josephus says they prepared a bridge. The true meaning of the original is doubtful. Boothroyd translates it, 'And there went over and performed the service of bringing over the king's household'—which the rabbins understand of carrying them over.—C.
9 Heb. the good in his eyes.
19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember athat which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.
20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come bthe first this day of all the house of Joseph1 to go down to meet my lord the king.
b Mat.5.25. Ho.5.15. Ps.78.34-37. Is.7.2. Je.22.23; 31.9.
1 The house of Joseph were Ephraim and Manasseh—why then does not Shimei rather speak of Benjamin to which he belonged? The reference is most ingenious. He calls up to David's mind the tenderness of Joseph to his unkind and cruel brethren, and by his example inculcates forgiveness of his late offence.—C.
21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, cShall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?
c Ex.21.17; 22.28. 1 Ki.21.10,11.
22 And David said, dWhat have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? eshall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
23 Therefore the king said unto fShimei, Thou shalt not die: and the king gsware unto him.
f At this time, 1 Ki.2.9,10.
g Ge.14.22. He.6.16. 1 Sa.30.15.
24 And hMephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressedi his feet, nor trimmed his beard,1 nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.
h ch.4.4; ix.; 16.3. 1 Ch.9.40-44.
i De.21.12. Ro.12.15. He.13.3.
1 The dressing of the feet, in a country where they were usually bare, was as common as washing the hands. The trimming of the beard may refer either to combing, clipping, or perfuming.—The déshabillé of Mephibosheth was emblematic of deep mourning.—C.
25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?
26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.
27 And khe hath slandered2 thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an langel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.
k ch.16.3. Ps.15.3.
2 As a proof of the sincerity of Mephibosheth's joy at the king's return, we are told (ver. 24) how he mourned for the king's banishment. He now complains of Ziba his servant, who should have been his friend, but had been his enemy. How much mischief is it in the power of a wicked servant to do to the best of masters, more especially in the way of defaming their characters!—I.
l ch.14.17,20. 1 Sa.29.9.
28 For mall of my father's house were but dead men3 before my lord the king; yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table: what right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?
29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thoun and Ziba divide the land.4
n De.19.19. Ps.82.2; 101.5. Pr.29.4.
4 Some think the decision signifies—divide the land, as directed, ch.9.10, Mephibosheth (to speak in modern terms) holding as landlord, Ziba as tenant; others think both title and occupancy were divided between the parties. The former seems more consonant with justice, as Mephibosheth had committed no fault. But if so, why is Ziba continued in office? David had purposed not to give cause of sorrow on the day of his joyous restoration, ver.22. Besides Ziba had been an active, though not the most faithful servant—he had also aided David in his difficulties; and to offend a man with such a family and connection would have been very imprudent.—Note, Extremity of deserved punishment is seldom wise; and where mercy can be exercised with safety, it is always the best policy.—C.
30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea,o let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.
o 1 Sa.18.1,3. ch.1.26.
31 And pBarzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.
32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and qhe had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.
q ch.17.27, with Job 1.3.
33 And the king said unto Barzillai, rCome thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
r With Mat.25.34,35. Lu.22.28,30.
34 And Barzillai said unto the king, sHow long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
35 I am this day tfourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? ucan thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing-men and singing-women?5 wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
t Ps.90.10,12.
u Ec.12.1,3,4.
5 David being himself an adept in music, had rendered his court in Jerusalem celebrated for that accomplishment. He had, however, employed its attractions not for the banquet, or the revel of luxury, but for the service of God.—Note, Satan, the world, and the flesh have hitherto nearly monopolized music—John saw it otherwise in glory, Re.4.1,8; 5.9. Hasten, Lord, the time when every heart shall be love and every voice praise!—C.
36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother: but behold thy servant xChimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require6 of me, that will I do for thee.
6 Heb. choose.
39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king ykissed Barzillai, zand blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.
40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and aall the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.7
a ver.12,14,15. Mat.21.9. Ac.2.41,47; 6.7.
7 Most probably those who had gathered around him before the battle in the wood, and since his victory; the other half were the adverse party who still adhered to the ruined cause of Absalom.—C.
41 And, behold, ball the men of 8Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah9 stolen thee away, and have brought the king and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?
b Ju.8.1; 12.1. Ge.31.26,27.
8 The whole of the ten tribes now coalesce, evidently offended at the exclusive claims of loyalty exhibited by Judah, and probably at some presuming arrogance of manner founded on their relation to the king.—Note, David is here more endangered by his friends than by his enemies—a point upon which all successful men need to be watchful and prayerful. Even in spiritual enjoyments we are often in more danger than in desertions. Lest Paul should be 'exalted,' God required in wisdom to allow a 'messenger of Satan to buffet him.'—C.
9 By comparing men in this verse with people in ver. 39, 40, it will be seen that they are equivalent terms for the same parties.—C.
42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, cBecause the king is near of kin to us:1 wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?
c ver.12. 1 Ch.2.3-17. Mat.1.3-6. Lu.3.31-33.
1 A bad reason—because a king should be a common father to all his subjects, and not the patron of a favourite few, claiming no merit but kindred origin.—C.
43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, dWe have ten parts2 in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us,3 that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And ethe words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.4
d ch.5.1. Mat.21.9, with 27.23. Ju.12.1. Pr.13.10; 15.1.
2 It therefore seems most probable that Benjamin, swayed by David's kindness to Mephibosheth, and mercy to Shimei (see ver. 16, 17), had not yet joined this movement, and that only ten tribes were originally concerned in the expostulation. Benjamin seems subsequently to have joined in the defection. See ch.20.1,2,4.—C.
3 Heb. set us at light.
4 In which there was presumptive proof that the men of Judah were wrong—loudness and violence being proof of passion, not of reason.—C.
Notes
Reflections.—The productions of unbridled passions are always unseasonable and dangerous. Few will risk their life for such as, after all, will look down upon them with neglect; and if we foolishly bring ourselves into danger, we shall justly be upbraided with it. Good counsel, though bluntly and even roughly given, should be thankfully received. And when we have done ill we cannot too soon seek to amend it: but when many are guilty, it is too common to cast the blame on their neighbours. Ministers ought to be principal promoters of loyalty. It is shameful when those who ought to be most forward in duty need instigation to it. Clemency is one of the noblest qualities of princes: and professions of deep sorrow for faults committed powerfully pacify the injured. But let us rejoice that Jesus will never condemn penitent sinners, though Satan stand at their right hand to accuse them. Our rash reception of evil reports concerning our friends turns to our shame when they manifest their innocence. Wicked servants do their masters inexpressible injuries: but good men like Mephibosheth make times of distress seasons of mourning and grief, and disregard their own interests in comparison of those of God's church and people. Riches are truly blessings when possessed by generous minds, and liberally ministered for the support of the indigent. Grateful hearts count themselves happy to have it in their power to recompense their friends: and noble minds count little of all the services they can do to their friends. But observe, courts, feasting, and mirth are poor preparations for death: and old men especially would do well often to decline all intercourse with them, that they may contemplate the more important concerns that now so closely press upon them, and cheerfully leave the more active employments for those whose age and capacities are more suitable to such a task. With what caution ought public affairs to be conducted! By pride cometh contention. A small evidence of respect might often prevent, not only angry altercations, but much murder and bloodshed. It is best to yield and to leave off strife before it be meddled with: for when men are once in a passion they are sure to speak wrong, even though they have truth on their side.