2Sa 19:1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom - for the death of him, instead of rejoicing at the victory obtained, and the deliverance from his enemies.
2Sa 19:2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
The victory was turned into mourning - Instead of rejoicing that a most unnatural and ruinous rebellion had been quashed, the people mourned over their own success, instead of expressing joy upon the occasion, because they saw their king so afflicted for the loss of his worthless son.
2Sa 19:3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
And the people got them by stealth that day into the city - Did not march into it in companies, in a public and triumphant manner, as conquerors used to do; but entered in a private manner, one by one, or a very few together, not caring to be seen, entering secretly and silently into the city, as if ashamed after the commission of some crime.
as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle - as if they had been conquered, and not conquerors; as if they had acted a cowardly part, and ran away.
2Sa 19:4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
But the king covered his face - And would not see his generals, and thank them for their services: but wrapped himself in his mantle, after the manner of mourners: This was the custom of mourners.
2Sa 19:5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed 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;
which this day have saved thy life - Had Absalom gained the victory, it is likely that, according to the manner of rulers of those times, he would have sought to secure his throne by killing all possible competitors.
thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants - they cannot lift up their heads, and look any in the face, nor one another; but behave as if they had committed some very great fault, in fighting with the rebels, and beating them:
2Sa 19:6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.
thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends - Which though not strictly true, there was some appearance of it; in that he expressed so much grief and sorrow for Absalom his enemy, who had rebelled against him, and showed so little regard to his friends, that had exposed their lives for him:
2Sa 19:7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
speak comfortably unto thy servants - commend them for their courage and faithfulness, thank them for their services, and reward them suitably; at least give them assurance of it:
that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now - for when he was persecuted by Saul he had a number of friends that adhered close to him; and when Ishbosheth was set up against him by Abner as king of Israel, the tribe of Judah cleaved to him, anointed him their king, and abode by him; wherefore, should he now be abandoned by his army, his case would be worse than ever it had been.
2Sa 19:8 Then the king arose, and sat 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 Israel had fled every man to his tent.
The king sat in the gate - The place where justice was administered to the people. David saw the justice of what Joab said, and the new danger which threatened him if he did not rouse himself from his grief.
all the people came before the king - that is, the loyal natives who had been faithful to his government, and fought in his cause. They came to congratulate him on the victory obtained, to receive his thanks and his favors.
Israel had fled — that is, the adherents of Absalom, who, on his defeat, had dispersed and saved themselves by flight. This sentence forms the transition to the account which follows.
2Sa 19:9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved 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.
all the people were at strife through all the tribes of Israel - Quarrelling one with another as the authors or abettors of this shameful rebellion, and discoursing privately and publicly of David's high merits. The kingdom was completely disorganized. The sentiments of three different parties are represented in 2Sa_19:9, 2Sa_19:10 : the royalists, the adherents of Absalom who had been very numerous, and those who were indifferent to the Davidic dynasty. In these circumstances the king was right in not hastening back, as a conqueror, to re-ascend his throne. A re-election was, in some measure, necessary. He remained for some time on the other side of Jordan, in expectation of being invited back. That invitation was given without, however, the concurrence of Judah. David, disappointed and vexed by his own tribe’s apparent lukewarmness, dispatched the two high priests to rouse the Judahites to take a prominent interest in his cause. It was the act of a skilful politician. Hebron having been the seat of the rebellion, it was graceful on his part to encourage their return to allegiance and duty; it was an appeal to their honor not to be the last of the tribes. But this separate message, and the preference given to them, occasioned an outburst of jealousy among the other tribes that was nearly followed by fatal consequences .
2Sa 19:10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
Now therefore why speak ye not a word - The people of Israel speak thus to the elders of Israel, as appears by comparing this verse with the next. Seeing their designs for Absalom disappointed, they now repented of that undertaking, and were willing to testify so much by their forwardness to bring back David, and reestablish him.
2Sa 19:11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
Speak unto the elders of Judah - They had joined Absalom in his rebellion, despaired of pardon, and therefore were backward to promote the king's restoration. David appears to take no notice of their infidelity, but rather to place confidence in them, that their confidence in him might be naturally excited: and, to oblige them yet farther, purposes to make Amasa captain of the host in the place of Joab.
why are ye the last to bring back the king - to his palace at Jerusalem, since David was of their tribe, and was first anointed their king.
the speech of all Israel is come to the king - or he has received invitations from all the tribes of Israel to return to his house or palace at Jerusalem; and so this was a part of the message of David to the priests, to be told to the elders as an aggravation of their backwardness, and as an argument to excite them to their duty.
2Sa 19:12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh - Being of the same tribe, and therefore he should deal gently with them, as if they were parts of his body; and not be severe upon them, for the hand they had in the conspiracy, as they might fear:
2Sa 19:13 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
Of my bone and my flesh - It is curious to note how the phrase is used in 2Sa_5:1 And all the tribes of Israel came to David, to Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. of common descent from Israel, in 2Sa_19:12 of the closer kindred of the tribe of Judah, and in this verse of the yet nearer kindred between David and Amasa his sister’s son.
in the room of Joab - It is very plain that David felt the weight of Joab’s overbearing influence to be very oppressive (compare 2Sa_19:22; 2Sa_3:39; 2Sa_16:10). He was, at this time, very angry with Joab for killing Absalom; and so, thinking it of vital importance to win over Amasa and the army of Judah, he did not scruple to offer him Joab’s high post.
in the room of Joab - Joab had got his ill will by many instances, as by the murder of Abner, and now by slaying Absalom against his orders; and by his rude and insolent behavior to him when lamenting the death of his son; he wanted to be rid of him, and now, having an opportunity of putting a valiant man into his place, and thereby attaching him to his interest, he was determined to make use of it.
if thou be not captain of the host before me - signifying that he would not only pardon the treason he had been guilty of, but raise him to the highest post in the army; and to assure him of it.
2Sa 19:14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah - This the Jewish commentators generally understand that Amasa, who had been won over, used his great influence in re-attaching the whole tribe of Judah to the interest of David; but it seems best to understand it of David, who by these gentle methods, kind messages, and affectionate speeches, powerfully inclined and engaged the hearts of the people towards him; so that they were unanimously and affectionately agreed to restore him: in this way David chose to return; he could have come without their leave, or any invitation from them, as he was their lawful king, and a victorious one, the rebellion being crushed; and had it in his power to chastise those concerned in it, and use them with severity; but he chose rather to gain the hearts of his people, and to come in a way peaceable to them, and honorable to himself:
2Sa 19:15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
Judah came to Gilgal - that is, the elders, or principal men of the tribe of Judah came there. It appeared to be the most convenient place where preparations could be made for bringing the king and court over the Jordan.
2Sa 19:16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
Shimei the son of Gera - It appears that Shimei was a powerful chieftain in the land; for he had here, in his retinue, no less than a thousand men. Shimei being aware that Judah was unanimous in recalling the king, lost no time in trying to make his peace with David, by bringing a large Benjamite force with him.
2Sa 19:17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba 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.
Before the king - to meet the king.
a thousand men of Benjamin with him — This display of his followers was to show what force he could raise in support of the king. Expressing the deepest regret for his former outrageous conduct, he was pardoned on the spot.
Ziba the servant of the house of Saul - Who, being conscious of his former abuse of David, and of his master Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 16:1-4, which he knew the king would understand, designed to sweeten David's spirit towards him, by forwardness in meeting him.
2Sa 19:18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
There went over a ferryboat - This is the first mention of any thing of the kind. His wives and children, who could not so well ford the river on foot: some will have this to be a bridge of boats, a pontoon; and one scholar thinks it might be a company of men, who carried the women and children on their shoulders, one after another: Josephus says they prepared a bridge over the Jordan, to facilitate his passage.
Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king - as he was crossing over Jordan; took the first opportunity of coming into his presence, and fall down before him, and make his submission to him.
2Sa 19:19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that 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.
neither do thou remember that which thy servant did - he desires that he would not only forgive, but forget it.
2Sa 19:20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
of all the house of Joseph - This is the first time that the “house of Joseph,” or “Joseph,” stands for all the ten tribes of which Ephraim was the head and leader. By “the whole house of Joseph” we are to understand the rest of the tribes with the exception of Judah, who are called “all Israel” in 2Sa_19:12.
House of Joseph - The house of Joseph is here put for all the tribes, except Judah, which are fitly distinguished from Judah, because the rights of the first - born were divided between Judah and Joseph, 1Ch_5:2.
2Sa 19:21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?
Abishai the son of Zeruiah - The same person that would have taken off the head of Shimei at the time he cursed David, if he would have given him leave, 2Sa_16:9,
2Sa 19:22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
that ye should this day be adversaries unto me - or a Satan unto me, as the word is, by advising him to do what would be prejudicial to his interest; Mat_16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, Go, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you do not savor the things that are of God, but those that are of men. For it was David's interest at this time to appease the people, and reconcile them to him.
I am this day king over Israel - and can and will do as he pleased; as he had been driven from his throne and palace, and was now invited back again, and upon his return, it was as if he was made king anew, and afresh inaugurated into his office; and therefore no blood should be split on that day on which he was restored to his kingdom.
2Sa 19:23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
the king sware unto him - that he should not die for that offence, or for that only; but if he committed a new one, this oath was no longer binding on him, and not at all upon his heir and successor.
2Sa 19:24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.
Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king - Not down to Jordan, but Jerusalem; when the king was come thither, he came from his own dwelling to the king's palace; he is called the son of Saul, though he was his grandson, and grandsons are sometimes called sons.
Nor trimmed his beard - The “moustache,” the beard of the upper lip.
Neither dressed his feet - He had given the fullest proof of his sincere attachment to David and his cause; and by what he had done, amply refuted the calumnies of his servant Ziba. The fact related in this verse tends to clear Mephibosheth from the suspicion of unfaithfulness to David.
nor washed his clothes - All these were tokens of mourning, and showed him to be a sincere mourner for the king's departure, and the trouble he was in, since it was so long continued:
2Sa 19:25 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?
Wherefore wentest not thou with me Mephibosheth - it is probable David would never have asked him this question, knowing his lameness, had it not been for the suggestion of Ziba his servant, that he stayed at Jerusalem, hoping that the kingdom of his father would be restored to him, 2Sa_16:3.
2Sa 19:26 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.
my servant deceived me - His servant Ziba, who, instead of saddling an ass for him by his order, went off with that and another himself, 2Sa_16:1.
2Sa 19:27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.
The king is as an angel of God - for understanding and wisdom, to discern the falsehood of such suggestions.
do therefore what is good in thine eyes - condemn him or acquit him; reject him or receive him into favor; he entirely submitted himself to him, to do with him as seemed good in his sight.
2Sa 19:28 For all of my father's house were but dead men 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?
For all of my father's house were but dead men - Or "men of death"; worthy of death, on account of the attempt of Ishbosheth to get the kingdom from him, which might be deemed treason, and so the family was tainted for it; though the sense may be only this, that their lives lay at his mercy, and that if he had dealt with severity towards them, as was usual for princes to do towards the family of their predecessors, who had any claim to the kingdom, put them to death, this would have been their case:
yet didst thou set thy servant among them that eat at thine own table - which was showing him great kindness, and doing him great honor:
2Sa 19:29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.
Thou and Ziba divide the land - At first, David gave the land of Saul to Mephibosheth; and Ziba, his sons, and his servants, were to work that land; and to Mephibosheth, as the lord, he was to give the half of the produce. Ziba met David in his distress with provisions, and calumniated Mephibosheth: David, too slightly trusting to his misrepresentation, and supposing that Mephibosheth was actually such a traitor as Ziba represented him, made him on the spot a grant of his master’s land. Now he finds that he has acted too rashly, and therefore confirms the former grant 2Sa_9:10; that Ziba should cultivate the ground, and still continue to give to Mephibosheth, as the lord, the half of the produce. This was merely placing things in statu quo, and utterly annulling the gift that he had made to Ziba.
Thou and Ziba divide the land - Unable to get to the bottom of the story, and perhaps unwilling to make an enemy of Ziba, David compromised the matter by dividing the land, thus partially revoking his hasty sentence 2Sa_16:4. We still see the impatient temper of David.
2Sa 19:30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.
let him take all - The whole estate, as David had given it to him; he was content that that last grant should stand:
my lord the king is come again in peace - his palace in Jerusalem; which was a strong expression of affection for him, and loyalty to him.
2Sa 19:31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.
2Sa 19:32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.
he had provided the king of sustenance - had supported him and his family, furnished him with provisions, and all the necessaries of life, during his stay there: This venerable person had given full proof of his attachment to David by the supplies he had given him when he lay at Mahanaim, where his case was all but desperate; the sincerity of his congratulations now none can suspect. David’s offer to him was at once noble and liberal: he wished to compensate such a man, and he wished to have at hand such a friend.
2Sa 19:33 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
come thou over with me - Over Jordan; Barzillai came with an intent to accompany the king over Jordan; but the king meant not only to go over Jordan, but when over to go further with him, even to Jerusalem:
I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem - meaning, that he should dwell with him in his palace, and eat at his table, in return for feeding him at Mahanaim.
2Sa 19:34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
how long have I to live - it might be conjectured from the age he was, and the infirmities that attended him, that he could not live long; it was but a short time he had to be in the world:
that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem - he could not think of it, or judge it advisable at such an age to take such a journey, change his place of abode, and manner of living.
2Sa 19:35 I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
Barzillai was fourscore years old - his ear was become dull of hearing, and his relish for his food was gone: he therefore appears to have been not only an old man, but an infirm old man.
I am this day fourscore years old - Not that that day was precisely his birthday, but that he was about such an age.
can I discern between good and evil - signifying, either that his intellectual powers were impaired, and could not distinguish what was right and wrong, and so could be of no service to David in his privy council, or any court of judicature, he was fit for no post or office under him; or that his natural senses were not quick to distinguish between good and bad, particularly between good and bad food, which he could neither discern by smell nor taste, as follows:
can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink - have any gust or relish of, or take any delight or pleasure in eating and drinking; so that the most delicious food, and richest wines, and all the dainties of a king's table, would signify nothing to him:
can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women - being so deaf that he could not hear them
2Sa 19:36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
why should the king recompense it with such a reward - the sense is, why should the king recompense so trifling a thing as he had done, and which was but his duty, with such a reward.
2Sa 19:37 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 Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
Thy servant Chimham - It is generally understood that this was Barzillai’s son; and this is probable from 1Ki_2:7 But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at your table. For so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom your brother. It is very probable that this Chimham was one of the sons of Barzillai. In Jer_41:17 mention is made of the habitation of Chimham, which was near to Bethlehem; and it is reasonably conjectured that David had left that portion, which was probably a part of his paternal estate, to this son of Barzillai.
do to him what shall seem good unto thee - advance him, and put him into any post or office the king should think fit, or bestow a pension upon him, or give him an estate to live upon, or whatever he pleased.
2Sa 19:38 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 require of me, that will I do for thee.
I will do unto him that which shall seem good unto thee - he puts it to Barzillai, and leaves it with him to ask what he would for his son, and he would grant it. We nowhere read what it was that Barzillai asked, or whether he asked anything; only this we read, that some hundreds of years afterward there was a place called the habitation of Chimham near Bethlehem, Jer_41:17; which makes it probable that David gave him a paternal estate of his there.
2Sa 19:39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.
all the people went over Jordan - That were with David: The “people” is the term especially applied in this narrative to David’s followers
2Sa 19:40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.
half the people of Israel - or a part of them, as the word used signifies, and not always an equal half.
2Sa 19:41 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?
All the men of Israel - the representatives of the other tribes of Israel. They were representatives from the tribes not included in “half the people of Israel” 2Sa_19:40. A large number of them, the other part that did not come over with David, some of their principal men, who met him upon the road:
stolen thee away - secretly, privately, and unknown to them, and were bringing him back to Jerusalem:
2Sa 19:42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: 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?
the king is near of kin to us - being of their tribe, and his palace was within their borders, and therefore they were proper persons to bring him home
have we eaten at all of the king's cost - they had maintained themselves at their own expense, going and returning; they had no self-interest or selfish views to serve.
2Sa 19:43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
we have ten parts in the king - being ten tribes, reckoning Simeon in the tribe of Judah, within which it lay, Jos_19:1.
we have ten parts in the king - They considered that they had ten shares in the king, because they formed ten tribes, in opposition to the one tribe of Judah, as the Levites did not come into consideration in the matter.
we have ten parts in the king - They say but ten, though strictly there were eleven; either, because they accounted Joseph (which comprehends both Ephraim and Manasseh under it) for one tribe, or because Simeon, whose lot lay within the tribe of Judah, were joined with them in this action.
we have also more right in David than ye - being more numerous than they; or they had more affection and good will towards David than the men of Judah, though he was of their tribe, and dwelt among them; since the rebellion was begun, and was cherished and carried on among them:
