(KJV) 2 Samuel 191

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⥃Joab Reproves David

[1] And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.2 [2] And the victory3 that day was [turned4] 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 city5, as people being ashamed steal6 away when they flee in battle. [4] But the king covered7 his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son8 Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! [5] And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast9 shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved10 thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; [6] In that11 thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest12 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. [7] Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy13 servants: for I swear by the Lord, if thou go not forth, there14 will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil15 that befell thee from thy youth until now.

⥃David Restored as King

[8] Then the king arose, and sat in the gate16. 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 Israel17 had fled every man to his tent.

[9] And all the people were at strife18 throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king19 saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled20 out of the land for Absalom. [10] And Absalom, whom21 we anointed over us, is dead22 in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word23 of bringing the king back?

[11] [¶]And king David sent24 to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak25 unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are26 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. [12] Ye [are] my brethren, ye [are] my bones27 and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king? [13] And say ye to Amasa28, [Art] thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God29 do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab30. [14] And he bowed31 the heart of all the men of Judah, even32 as [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 Gilgal33, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

⥃Shimei Pardoned

[16] And Shimei34 the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which [was] of Bahurim, hasted35 and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. [17] And [there were] a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba36 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. [18] And there37 went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good38. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down39 before the king, as he was come over Jordan;40 [19] And said41 unto the king, Let not42 my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember43 that which thy servant did perversely44 the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it45 to his heart. [20] For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come46 the first this day of all the house of Joseph47 to go down to meet my lord the king. [21] But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not48 Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed49 the Lord’s anointed? [22] And David said, What have50 I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man51 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 Shimei, Thou shalt52 not die. And the king sware53 unto him.

⥃Mephibosheth Excused

[24] And Mephibosheth54 the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet55, nor trimmed56 his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came [again] in peace. [25] And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore57 wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth? [26] And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle58 me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant59 [is] lame. [27] And he hath slandered60 thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king [is] as an angel61 of God: do therefore [what is] good in thine eyes. [28] For all [of] my father’s house were62 but dead men63 before my lord the king: yet didst thou64 set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry65 any more unto the king? [29] And the king said unto him, Why speakest66 thou67 any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. [30] And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea68, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.

⥃David’s Kindness to Barzillai

[31] And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.69 [32] Now Barzillai was a very aged man, [even] fourscore70 years old: and he had provided71 the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he [was72] a very great man. [33] And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou73 over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. [34] And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live74, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? [35] I [am] this day fourscore years old: [and] can I discern75 between good and evil? can thy servant taste76 what I eat or what I drink? can I hear77 any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden78 unto my lord the king? [36] Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king79: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? [37] Let thy80 servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die81 in mine own city, [and be buried] by the grave82 of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham83; 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 require84 of me, [that] will I do for thee. [39] And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king85 was come over, the king kissed Barzillai86, and blessed87 him; and he returned88 unto his own place. [40] Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham89 went on with him: and all the people90 of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

⥃Contention over the King

[41] [¶]And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have91 our brethren the men of Judah stolen92 thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan? [42] And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because93 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? [43] And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have94 ten parts95 in the king, and we have also more [right] in David than ye: why then did ye despise us96, that our advice97 should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words98 of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

<< 2 Samuel 18 2 Samuel 20 >>

  1. 2Sam 19:1, Joab causes the king to cease his mourning; 2Sam 19:9, The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back; 2Sam 19:11, David sends to the priests to incite them of Judah; 2Sam 19:18, Shimei is pardoned; 2Sam 19:24, Mephibosheth excused; 2Sam 19:32, Barzillai dismissed, and Chimham his son taken into the king’s family; 2Sam 19:41, The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them. ↩

  2. 2Sam 18:5, 2Sam 18:12, 2Sam 18:14, 2Sam 18:20, 2Sam 18:33; Prov 17:25 ↩

  3. Heb. salvation, or, deliverance ↩

  4. Prov 16:15, Prov 19:12 ↩

  5. 2Sam 19:32, 2Sam 17:24 ↩

  6. Gen 31:27 ↩

  7. 2Sam 15:30 ↩

  8. It is allowed by competent critics that the lamentation of David over his son, of which this forms a part, is exceedingly pathetic; and Calmet properly remarks, that the frequent repetition of the name of the deceased is common in the language of lamentation. 2Sam 18:33 ↩

  9. Every one must admit that David's immoderate grief for his rebellious son was imprudent, and that Joab's firm and sensible reproof was necessary to arouse him to a sense of his duty to his people. But, in his manner, Joab far exceeded the bounds of that reverence which a servant owes to his master, or a subject to his prince. ↩

  10. Neh 9:27; Ps 3:8, Ps 18:47-48 ↩

  11. etc. Heb. By loving, etc ↩

  12. etc. Heb. princes or servants are not to thee. then it had. 2Sam 3:24-25; Job 34:18; Prov 19:9-10; Acts 23:5 ↩

  13. Heb. to the heart of thy, Gen 34:3; Prov 19:15; Isa 40:1; Hos 2:14 *marg. ↩

  14. Prov 14:28 ↩

  15. Ps 71:4-6, Ps 71:9-11, Ps 71:18-20, Ps 129:1-2 ↩

  16. How prudently and mildly David took the reproof and counsel given him! He shook off his grief, anointed his head, and washed his face, that he might not appear unto men to mourn, and then made his appearance at the gate of the city, which was the public place of resort for the hearing of causes and giving judgment, as well as a place to ratify special bargains. Thither the people flocked to congratulate him on his and their safety, and that all was well. When we are convinced of a fault, we must amend, though we are told of it by our inferiors in a way which is peculiarly painful to our natural feelings. This ancient custom still obtains in the East; for when Dr. Pococke returned from viewing the town of ancient Byblus, he says, "The sheik and the elders were sitting in the gate of the city, after the ancient manner, and I sat awhile with them." 2Sam 18:4, 2Sam 18:24 ↩

  17. 2Sam 19:3, 2Sam 18:6-8; 1Kgs 22:36; 2Kgs 14:12 ↩

  18. Gen 3:12-13; Exod 32:24; Jas 3:14-16 ↩

  19. 2Sam 8:10; 1Sam 17:50, 1Sam 18:5-7, 1Sam 18:25, 1Sam 19:5 ↩

  20. 2Sam 15:14 ↩

  21. 2Sam 15:12-13; Hos 8:4 ↩

  22. 2Sam 18:14 ↩

  23. Heb. are ye silent, Judg 18:9 ↩

  24. 2Sam 15:29, 2Sam 15:35-36; 1Kgs 2:25-26, 1Kgs 2:35 ↩

  25. 2Cor 5:20 ↩

  26. Matt 5:16; 2Thess 3:9 ↩

  27. 2Sam 5:1; Gen 2:23; Judg 9:2; Eph 5:30 ↩

  28. 2Sam 17:25; 1Chr 2:16-17, 1Chr 12:18 ↩

  29. Ruth 1:17; 1Kgs 19:2 ↩

  30. 2Sam 19:5-7, 2Sam 3:29-30, 2Sam 8:16, 2Sam 18:11 ↩

  31. The measures that he pursued were the best calculated that could be adopted for accomplishing this salutary end. 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 general of the army, instead of Joab. ↩

  32. Judg 20:1; Ps 110:2-3; Acts 4:32 ↩

  33. Josh 5:9; 1Sam 11:14-15 ↩

  34. It appears that Shimei was a powerful chieftain in the land; for he had here in his retinue no less than a thousand men. 2Sam 16:5-13; 1Kgs 2:8, 1Kgs 2:36-46 ↩

  35. Job 2:4; Prov 6:4-5; Matt 5:25 ↩

  36. 2Sam 19:26-27, 2Sam 9:2, 2Sam 9:10, 2Sam 16:1-4 ↩

  37. The LXX connecting this the with preceding verse, render, και κατευθυναν τον Ιορδανην εμπροσθεν του βασιλεως, και ελειτουργησαν την λειτουργιαν του διαβιβασαι τον βασιλεα, "and they made ready Jordan before the king, and did the necessary service to bring over the king." ↩

  38. Heb. the good in his eyes ↩

  39. Ps 66:3, Ps 81:15; Rev 3:9 ↩

  40. The Vulgate has: et irrumpentes Jordanem, ante regem transierunt vada, ut traducerent domum regis, "and breaking into Jordan, they passed the fords before the king, to bring over the king's household." Josephus says they prepared a bridge over the Jordan, to facilitate his passage. ↩

  41. Eccl 10:4 ↩

  42. 1Sam 22:15; Ps 32:2; Rom 4:6-8; 2Cor 5:19 ↩

  43. Ps 79:8; Isa 43:25; Jer 31:34 ↩

  44. 2Sam 16:5-9, 2Sam 16:10-14; Exod 10:16-17; 1Sam 26:21; Matt 27:4 ↩

  45. 2Sam 13:20, 2Sam 13:33; 1Sam 25:25 ↩

  46. Ps 78:34-37; Jer 22:23; Hos 5:15 ↩

  47. 2Sam 19:9, 2Sam 16:5; Gen 48:14, Gen 48:20; 1Kgs 12:20, 1Kgs 12:25; Hos 4:15-17, Hos 5:3 ↩

  48. Exod 22:28; 1Kgs 21:10-11 ↩

  49. 2Sam 16:5, 2Sam 16:7, 2Sam 16:13; 1Sam 24:6, 1Sam 26:9 ↩

  50. 2Sam 3:39, 2Sam 16:10; 1Sam 26:8; Matt 8:29 ↩

  51. 1Sam 11:13; Isa 16:5; Luke 9:54-56 ↩

  52. 1Kgs 2:8-9, 1Kgs 2:37, 1Kgs 2:46 ↩

  53. 1Sam 28:10, 1Sam 30:15; Heb 6:16 ↩

  54. 2Sam 9:6, 2Sam 16:3 ↩

  55. Literally, made his feet, which seems to mean washing the feet paring the nails, and perhaps anointing or otherwise perfuming them, if not tinging the nails with henna; see note on Deut 21:12. Sir John Chardin, in his manuscript note on this place, informs us, that it is customary in the East to have as much care of the feet as the hands; and that their barbers cut and adjust the nails with a proper instrument, because they often go barefoot. The nails of the toes of the mummies inspected in London in 1763, of which an account is given in the Philosophical Transactions for 1764, seem to have been tinged with some reddish colour. 2Sam 15:30; Isa 15:2; Jer 41:5; Matt 6:16; Rom 12:15; Heb 13:3 ↩

  56. Literally, made his beard, which may mean, combing, curling, and perfuming it. But Mr. Morier says that they almost universally dye the beard black, by successive layers of a paste made of henna, and another made of the leaf of the indigo. The first tinging with an orange colour, and the next with a dark bottle green, which becomes jet black when exposed to the air for twenty-four hours. ↩

  57. 2Sam 16:17 ↩

  58. 2Sam 16:2-3 ↩

  59. 2Sam 4:4 ↩

  60. 2Sam 16:3; Exod 20:16; Ps 15:3, Ps 101:5; Jer 9:4 ↩

  61. 2Sam 14:17, 2Sam 14:20; 1Sam 29:9 ↩

  62. Gen 32:10 ↩

  63. Heb. men of death, 1Sam 26:16 ↩

  64. 2Sam 9:7-8, 2Sam 9:10, 2Sam 9:13 ↩

  65. 2Kgs 8:3 ↩

  66. Job 19:16-17; Prov 18:13; Acts 18:15 ↩

  67. Deut 19:17-19; Ps 82:2, Ps 101:5 ↩

  68. 2Sam 1:26; Acts 20:24; Phil 1:20 ↩

  69. 1Kgs 2:7; Ezra 2:61; Neh 7:63 ↩

  70. Gen 5:27, Gen 9:29, Gen 25:7, Gen 47:28, Gen 50:26; Deut 34:7; Ps 90:3-10; Prov 16:31 ↩

  71. 2Sam 17:27 ↩

  72. 1Sam 25:2; Job 1:3 ↩

  73. 2Sam 9:11; Matt 25:34-40; Luke 22:28-30; 2Thess 1:7 ↩

  74. Heb. How many days are the years of my life, Gen 47:9; Job 14:14; Ps 39:5-6; 1Cor 7:29; Jas 4:14 ↩

  75. Job 6:30, Job 12:11; Heb 5:14; 1Pet 2:3 ↩

  76. Eccl 12:1-5 ↩

  77. Ezra 2:65; Neh 7:67; Exod 2:8, Exod 12:4 ↩

  78. 2Sam 13:25, 2Sam 15:33 ↩

  79. Luke 6:38 ↩

  80. The whole of this little episode is extremely interesting, and contains an affecting description of the infirmities of old age. The venerable and kind Barzillai was fourscore years old; his ear was become dull of hearing, and his relish for even royal dainties was gone. The evil days had arrived in which he was constrained to say, "I have no pleasure in them" (Eccl 12:1). As he was too old either to enjoy the pleasures of a court, or to be of any further service to the king, he finishes his affecting address to the aged monarch with the request, that he would suffer him to enjoy what old men naturally desire, to "die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and mother;" at the same time commending his son Chimham to his kind offices. ↩

  81. Gen 48:21; Josh 23:14; Luke 2:29-30; 2Tim 4:6; 2Pet 1:14 ↩

  82. Gen 47:30, Gen 49:29-31, Gen 50:13; 1Kgs 13:22 ↩

  83. 2Sam 19:40; 1Kgs 2:7; Jer 41:17 ↩

  84. Heb. choose, 2Sam 19:38 ↩

  85. The kiss was the token of friendship and farewell; the blessing was a prayer to God for his prosperity. Probably a prophetical benediction. ↩

  86. Gen 31:55, Gen 45:15; Ruth 1:14; 1Kgs 19:20; Acts 20:37; 1Thess 5:26 ↩

  87. 2Sam 6:18, 2Sam 6:20, 2Sam 13:25; Gen 14:19, Gen 28:3, Gen 47:7, Gen 47:10; Luke 2:34 ↩

  88. Gen 31:55; Num 24:25; 1Sam 24:22 ↩

  89. Heb. Chimhan ↩

  90. 2Sam 19:11-15; Gen 49:10; Matt 21:9 ↩

  91. Judg 8:1, Judg 12:1; John 7:5-6 ↩

  92. 2Sam 19:3; Gen 31:26-27 ↩

  93. 2Sam 19:12, 2Sam 5:1; 1Chr 2:3-17 ↩

  94. 2Sam 20:1, 2Sam 20:6; 1Kgs 12:16 ↩

  95. 2Sam 5:1; Prov 13:10 ↩

  96. Heb. set us at light ↩

  97. 2Sam 19:9, 2Sam 19:14; Gal 5:20, Gal 5:26; Phil 2:3 ↩

  98. Judg 8:1, Judg 9:23, Judg 12:1-6; Prov 15:1, Prov 17:14, Prov 18:19; Rom 12:21; Gal 5:15, Gal 5:20; Jas 1:20, Jas 3:2-10, Jas 3:14-16, Jas 4:1-5; Whatever value or respect the men of Israel at this time professed for their king, they would not have quarrelled so fiercely about their own credit and interest in recalling him, if they had been truly sorry for their former rebellion. ↩