CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
2 Samuel 19
Chapter 19 of 24
Chapter Overview
What happens in 2 Samuel 19
Joab scolds David for mourning Absalom instead of thanking his soldiers. David returns to Jerusalem, showing mercy to Shimei and Mephibosheth. A dispute between Judah and the other tribes over David foreshadows future division.
Scripture
2 Samuel 19
Joab Rebukes David
Study note
David's loud weeping for Absalom turned the victory into mourning. The soldiers crept back into the city like men ashamed of losing a battle instead of celebrating a victory. Joab confronted David bluntly, saying David was shaming the people who had saved his life and his family. Joab warned that if David did not go out and encourage his soldiers, they would all desert him by nightfall. David took Joab's harsh advice and went to sit at the city gate.
1 Word reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning over Absalom. And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
2 The army's day of victory turned sad. All heard that the king wept for his son. 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.
3 The troops sneaked back into the city that day, looking ashamed, the way soldiers do when they have run from a fight. And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4 The king covered his face and kept wailing at the top of his voice, "My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!" But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
5 Joab went into the room. He told the king, "Today you shamed every soldier. They saved your life and your family." 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;
6 "You are acting like you love the people who hate you and hate the people who love you. You have made it clear that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. I can tell that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be perfectly happy." 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.
7 "Now get up, go out there, and speak some words of encouragement to your soldiers! I swear by the Lord, if you do not, every last one of them will desert you by nightfall. And that will be worse than anything you have ever faced in your entire life." 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.
8 The king got up and took his seat at the city gate. When the soldiers heard that the king was sitting at the gate, they all gathered before him. Meanwhile, the Israelites who had sided with Absalom scattered to their homes. 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.
David Prepares to Return
Study note
All Israel was arguing about bringing David back as king. David sent a message to the elders of Judah through the priests Zadok and Abiathar, asking why they were the last to welcome him home. He also offered to make Amasa, Absalom's former army commander, the head of his army instead of Joab. This won the hearts of the men of Judah, and they sent word inviting David to return.
9 People all across the tribes of Israel began debating with each other. They said, "The king saved us from our enemies and rescued us from the Philistines. But then he had to flee the country because of Absalom." 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.
10 "Now Absalom, whom we crowned over us, has been killed in battle. Why is nobody talking about inviting David back?" And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
11 King David sent a message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: "Ask the leaders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king home? The entire country is already talking about it.'" 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.
12 "You are my own relatives, my own family. Why are you dragging your feet about bringing me back?" Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
13 "Tell Amasa, 'You are my own flesh and blood. May God punish me if I do not make you my permanent army commander in place of Joab.'" 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.
14 David's appeal won over every person in Judah. They sent a united message: "Come back -- you and all your people." 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.
15 The king began his return journey and arrived at the Jordan River. The men of Judah had come to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across. 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.
Shimei and Mephibosheth Meet David
Study note
As David crossed the Jordan, Shimei, who had cursed David during his flight, fell before him and begged for mercy. Abishai wanted to kill Shimei, but David spared his life. Mephibosheth also came to meet David. He had not trimmed his beard or washed his clothes since David left, showing genuine mourning. Mephibosheth said that Ziba had lied about him and had abandoned him. David, perhaps uncertain about the truth, divided Mephibosheth's property between him and Ziba. Mephibosheth responded that he was just happy the king was home safely.
16 Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, rushed down to meet King David along with the men of Judah. 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.
17 He brought along 1,000 men from Benjamin. Ziba, Saul's household servant, was there too with his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They all raced to the Jordan to meet the king. 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.
18 They waded across at the shallow spot to help the king's household cross and to serve him in any way. As the king was about to step into the river, Shimei fell on his face before him. 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;
19 Shimei begged, "Please do not hold my guilt against me, my lord. Forget the terrible things I said on the day you left Jerusalem. Please do not hold a grudge." 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.
20 "I know I was wrong. Therefore I came today as the first person from all the northern tribes to greet my lord the king." 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.
21 Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded, "Should Shimei not be executed for cursing the Lord's anointed king?" 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?
22 David rebuked him, "Mind your own business, sons of Zeruiah! Why must you always oppose me? Should anyone be executed in Israel today? I know for certain that today I am king over Israel once more." 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?
23 The king turned to Shimei and gave him his sworn word: "You will not be put to death." Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
24 Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, also came down to welcome the king home. He had not groomed himself in any way -- no trimmed mustache, no washed clothes, no foot care -- from the day the king left until his safe return. 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.
25 When Mephibosheth arrived from Jerusalem to meet the king, David asked, "Mephibosheth, why did you not come with me when I left?" 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 He answered, "My lord the king, my servant Ziba tricked me. I told him to saddle my donkey so I could ride along with you, but I cannot walk because of my disability." 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 "Ziba told lies about me to the king. But you, my lord, are like an angel of God, so do whatever you think is right." 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.
28 "My grandfather's entire family deserved nothing but death from you. Yet you gave me, your servant, a place at your own table. What right do I have to ask for anything more?" 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?
29 The king decided, "Enough discussion. You and Ziba will split the property between you." And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.
30 Mephibosheth replied, "Let Ziba have it all! The only thing that matters to me is that my lord the king has come home safely." 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.
David's Kindness to Barzillai
Study note
The elderly Barzillai, who was eighty years old and had provided for David at Mahanaim, came to see the king off at the Jordan. David invited Barzillai to come live in Jerusalem, but Barzillai said he was too old to enjoy such things and asked that his servant Chimham go in his place. David agreed and blessed Barzillai.
31 Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim. He went with the king to the Jordan to see him off. And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.
32 Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had generously provided for the king during his stay at Mahanaim, because he was a very wealthy man. 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.
33 The king said to Barzillai, "Come across with me and live in Jerusalem. I will take care of you there." And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
34 Barzillai replied, "How many years do I have left that it would make sense for me to move to Jerusalem with the king?" And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
35 "I am eighty! At my age, can I tell the difference between good food and bad? Can I taste what I eat or drink? Can I hear musicians sing? Why should I be a burden to you, my lord?" 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?
36 "I will walk with the king just a short distance beyond the Jordan. The king does not need to repay me in any special way." 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 "Please let me go back home to die in my own town, near where my parents are buried. But here is my servant Chimham -- let him go with you, my lord the king. Do for him whatever you think is good." 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.
38 The king agreed, "Chimham will come with me, and I will do for him whatever you wish. Anything you want from me, ask." 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.
39 The entire group crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. David kissed Barzillai, gave him a blessing, and Barzillai returned home. 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.
Judah and Israel Argue
Study note
A bitter argument broke out between the men of Judah and the men of the other tribes over who had the greater claim on David. The men of Israel complained that Judah had taken the king back without consulting them. The men of Judah argued that David was closer to them. The northern tribes pointed out that they had ten shares in the king compared to Judah's one. This rift would grow and eventually split the kingdom after Solomon's death.
40 The king continued on to Gilgal with Chimham. All of Judah's soldiers escorted the king, along with half the troops from Israel. 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.
41 Before long, the men of Israel complained to the king, "Why did our relatives, the men of Judah, whisk you away? Why did they get to escort you and your household across the Jordan by themselves?" 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?
42 The men of Judah answered, "We did it because the king is closely related to us. Why does that upset you? Did we eat any of the king's food or take any gifts?" 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?
43 The men of Israel shot back, "We have ten times the claim on the king that you do! We were the first ones to talk about bringing him back. Why did you look down on us?" But Judah's words were even sharper than Israel's. 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.
Key Themes
Themes in 2 Samuel 19
Balancing grief with responsibility to othersMercy and justice in restoring relationshipsThe seeds of future division among God's peopleGratitude and loyalty after deliverance
Apply This Today
Living 2 Samuel 19
Joab's rebuke of David was harsh but necessary: leaders cannot let personal grief paralyze them when others depend on them. There are times when we must set aside our pain to serve and encourage those who have sacrificed for us.
Go Deeper
Study 2 Samuel in Covenant Path
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