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2 Samuel
Chapter Nineteen
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 19
David
indulging to too much grief for the death of his son
is rebuked by Joab
and
threatened with a revolt of the people from him
if he did not change his
conduct
which be accordingly did
2 Samuel 19:1; upon
which the men of Israel were the first that moved for the bringing him back to
Jerusalem
and the men of Judah were solicited to join with them in it
which
was effected
2 Samuel 19:9; and
at Jordan
Shimei
that had cursed him
met him
and asked his pardon
and was
forgiven
2 Samuel 19:16; and
when come to Jerusalem
Mephibosheth excused so well his not going out with
him
that he had half his land restored to him
which had been given to his
servant
2 Samuel 19:24; and
Barzillai
who had very liberally supplied the king
was allowed to return to
his own city
and Chimham his son was taken to court
2 Samuel 19:31; and
a contention arose between the men of Israel and of Judah about the restoration
of the king
which issued in an insurrection
as the next chapter shows
2 Samuel 19:41.
2 Samuel 19:1 And
Joab was told
“Behold
the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”
YLT
1And it is declared to Joab
`Lo
the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom;'
And it was told Joab
.... When returned to
Mahanaim
or on his way to it; perhaps by the messengers he sent; and this
report he had before he saw the king:
behold
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.
2 Samuel 19:2 2 So the victory that day
was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it
said that day
“The king is grieved for his son.”
YLT
2and the salvation on that
day becometh mourning to all the people
for the people hath heard on that day
saying
`The king hath been grieved for his son.'
And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all
the people
.... They also mourned too
instead of expressing joy upon the
occasion:
for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his
son; this report was spread among them
which damped their joy
and
hindered them from giving any tokens of it
as were usual at such times.
2 Samuel 19:3 3 And the people stole back
into the city that day
as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in
battle.
YLT
3And the people stealeth
away
on that day
to go in to the city
as the people steal away
who are
ashamed
in their fleeing 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 or known
at least by the king
as fearing they
had incurred his displeasure: but
as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle; as if they
had been conquered
and not conquerors; nay
had acted a cowardly part
and ran
away; and so cared not to be seen
lest they should be reproached
or suffer
for their cowardice.
2 Samuel 19:4 4 But the king covered his
face
and the king cried out with a loud voice
“O my son Absalom! O Absalom
my son
my son!”
YLT
4and the king hath covered
his face
yea
the king crieth -- a loud voice -- `My son Absalom
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:
and the king cried with a loud voice
O my son Absalom! O Absalom
my son
my son! and this was some time
perhaps some days after he had received
the news of his death
since Joab and the army were returned from the battle;
had it been a sudden start of passion
upon first hearing thee news
and had
continued a few hours
it would have been more excusable; but to continue some
days
as it is very probable it did
was very unbecoming.
2 Samuel 19:5 5 Then Joab came into the
house to the king
and said
“Today you have disgraced all your servants who
today have saved your life
the lives of your sons and daughters
the lives of
your wives and the lives of your concubines
YLT
5And Joab cometh in unto the
king to the house
and saith
`Thou hast put to shame to-day the faces of all
thy servants
those delivering thy life to-day
and the life of thy sons
and
of thy daughters
and the life of thy wives
and the life of thy concubines
And Joab came into the house to the king
.... For by
this time he was removed from the chamber over the gate to his own dwelling
house or palace
where he continued the same doleful ditty as at first:
and said
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:
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 in all
probability would have been taken away if the victory had been on the side of
Absalom.
2 Samuel 19:6 6 in that you love your
enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard
neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived
and all of us had died today
then it would have pleased you well.
YLT
6to love thine enemies
and
to hate those loving thee
for thou hast declared to-day that thou hast no
princes and servants
for I have known to-day that if Absalom [were] alive
and
all of us to-day dead
that then it were right in thine eyes.
In that thou lovest thine enemies
and hatest thy friends
.... Which
though not strictly true
there was some appearance of it
which is here
greatly exaggerated; 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:
for thou hast declared this day: by his conduct and
behaviour
mourning for his rebellious son
and taking no notice of his
faithful servants:
that thou regardest neither princes nor servants; neither the
officers of the army
the generals and captains
nor the common soldiers: since
neither the one were admitted into his presence privately
nor had the other
public thanks as they entered the city
as might have been expected: or
"that thou hast no princes and servants"F7אין לך שרים
ועבדים "non tibi principes et servi"
Pagninus
Montanus; "nihil tibi sint principes et servi"
Piscator. ;
none that are accounted of as such; they are nothing with thee
in no esteem at
all
as if thou hadst none:
for this day I perceive that if Absalom had lived
and all we had
died this day
then it had pleased thee well; this was carrying the
matter too far; for though it would have been agreeable to David if Absalom had
lived
and not been slain
yet not that his army should perish
or his people
be destroyed; it would have pleased him well if both had lived.
2 Samuel 19:7 7 Now therefore
arise
go
out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord
if you do not
go out
not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you
than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”
YLT
7`And now
rise
go out and
speak unto the heart of thy servants
for by Jehovah I have sworn
that -- thou
art not going out -- there doth not lodge a man with thee to-night; and this
[is] worse for thee than all the evil that hath come upon thee from thy youth
till now.'
Now therefore arise
go forth
.... Arise from his
couch
he was watering with his tears
and go forth from his house
where he
had shut himself up retired from all company
to the gate of the city
where
the people passed and repassed
and there was a concourse of them: this he said
not by way of command
but by way of advice; though all along he seems to take
too much upon him
and to speak unbecoming a subject
and not with that decency
as was necessary in
speaking to a king; but it may be observed
that a general
of an army had great power over princes in those times; and presumed very much
on their interest in the army
which led them sometimes not to behave with that
decorum as became them:
and 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:
for I swear by the Lord; by the Word of the Lord
as the Targum; this he said to arouse him
and make him bestir himself
and
think what was proper for him to do:
if thou go not forth
there will not tarry one with thee this
night; signifying that he would use his interest in the army to go off
with it
and set up another king; and did not doubt of success
as well knowing
what temper and humour the people were in through the king's conduct:
and 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.
2 Samuel 19:8 8 Then the king arose and
sat in the gate. And they told all the people
saying
“There is the king
sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king. For everyone of
Israel had fled to his tent.
YLT
8And the king riseth
and
sitteth in the gate
and to all the people they have declared
saying
`Lo
the
king is sitting in the gate;' and all the people come in before the king
and
Israel hath fled
each to his tents.
Than the king arose
and sat in the gate
.... Of the
city
a public place
where the inhabitants met on divers accounts at times
and where there were always people passing and repassing:
and they told unto all the people; or it was reported to
the soldiers particularly:
saying
behold the king doth sit in the gate; has laid
aside his mourning
appears in public
and receives his friends
and attends to
business:
and all the people came before the king; to
congratulate him on the victory obtained
to receive his thanks and his
favours:
for Israel had fled every man to his tent: or to his
city
as the Targum; that is
those that followed Absalom; which is observed
not on account of what goes before
but of what follows after; see 2 Samuel 18:17.
2 Samuel 19:9 9 Now all the people were in
a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel
saying
“The king saved us from
the hand of our enemies
he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines
and
now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.
YLT
9And it cometh to pass
all
the people are contending through all the tribes of Israel
saying
`The king
delivered us out of the hand of our enemies
yea
he himself delivered us out
of the hand of the Philistines
and now he hath fled out of the land because of
Absalom
And all the people were at strife through all the tribes of Israel
.... Excepting
the tribe of Judah; they blamed and reproved one another for taking part with
Absalom in the rebellion
and especially for their coldness and backwardness in
bringing back David to Jerusalem:
saying
the king saved us out of the hand of our enemies; exposed his
life to danger
fought our battles for us
and gained us victory over our
enemies
and saved us from them
especially those next mentioned:
and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; in the times
of Saul
and since; which were benefits which ought to have endeared him to
them
and were aggravations of the crime of those who had been concerned in the
late rebellion; and were such as ought not to be buried in oblivion
and were
proper arguments to engage them to return to their allegiance to him
and abide
by it:
and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom; being obliged
to quit Jerusalem
and the land of Judea on this side Jordan
and to pass that
river; not from a spirit of cowardice
but from tenderness to his son
he did
not choose to fight against; and from a concern for his metropolis Jerusalem
lest that should be hurt
as well as for the safety of his person.
2 Samuel 19:10 10 But Absalom
whom we
anointed over us
has died in battle. Now therefore
why do you say nothing
about bringing back the king?”
YLT
10and Absalom whom we
anointed over us [is] dead in battle
and now
why are ye silent -- to bring
back the king?'
And Absalom
whom we anointed over us
.... To be
king; which either was really done by Absalom's party
or in effect by
proclaiming and appointing him king:
is dead in battle; which shows the thing was not of God
and
by which means they were released from their oath of allegiance to him:
now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? nobody speaks
of it
gives the least hint of it
or shows any concern about it; but the
greatest coldness and indifference
as if it was a matter of no importance.
2 Samuel 19:11 11 So King David sent to
Zadok and Abiathar the priests
saying
“Speak to the elders of Judah
saying
‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house
since the words of
all Israel have come to the king
to his very house?
YLT
11And king David sent unto
Zadok and unto Abiathar the priests
saying
`Speak ye unto the elders of
Judah
saying
Why are ye last to bring back the king unto his house? (and the
word of all Israel hath come unto the king
unto his house;)
And King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests
.... Who were
at Jerusalem
and in his interest; perhaps by Ahimaaz and Jonathan their sons:
saying
speak unto the elders of Judah; particularly
those that were at Jerusalem
with whom they had an interest:
saying
why are ye the last to bring back the king to his house? to his palace
at Jerusalem
since David was of their tribe
and was first anointed their
king: what might make them the more backward to it was their being so deep in
the rebellion
which was formed and cherished among them
and brought to the
height it was
through their connivance and encouragement
both at Hebron and
Jerusalem; and therefore they might fear the resentment of David
and that he
would not be easily reconciled unto them:
seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king
even
to his house: 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; though
some think these are the words of the historian
to be inserted in a
parenthesis
as in our version.
2 Samuel 19:12 12 You are my
brethren
you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to
bring back the king?’
YLT
12my brethren ye [are]
my
bone and my flesh ye [are]
and why are ye 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:
and wherefore then are ye the last to bring the king back? since they
were so nearly related to him
and he so ready to forgive them.
2 Samuel 19:13 13 And say to Amasa
‘Are
you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me
and more also
if you are not
commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’”
YLT
13And to Amasa say ye
Art
not thou my bone and my flesh? Thus doth God do to me
and thus He doth add
if
thou art not head of the host before me all the days instead of Joab.'
And say ye to Amasa
.... Who was the general
of Absalom's army
and who might fear he should never be pardoned
whoever was
and looked upon his case as desperate; who had led on the army with Absalom
against the king's threes
and fought them:
art thou not of my bone
and
of my flesh? nearly related to him
being his sister's son:
God do so to me
and more also: than he had done to
Absalom; or he imprecates the greatest evil upon himself that could be thought
of or named:
if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the
room of Joab; 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
of which he might be doubtful
considering what he had done to merit his
displeasure
he makes this oath or imprecation. 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 behaviour 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.
2 Samuel 19:14 14 So he swayed the hearts of
all the men of Judah
just as the heart of one man
so that they sent this
word to the king: “Return
you and all your servants!”
YLT
14And he inclineth the heart
of all the men of Judah as one man
and they send unto the king
`Turn back
thou
and all thy servants.'
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah
even as the
heart of one man
.... This the Jewish commentators generally understand of Amasa
that he used his interest with the men of Judah
and so wrought upon them
that
they agreed as one man to send for the king
and bring him back; 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 honourable to
himself:
so that they sent this word unto the king
return thou and
all thy servants; perhaps by the same messengers that David sent; or it may be
rather for honour's sake they deputed some of their principal men to wait on
David
and invite him to return to them with all his retinue and army
promising allegiance and fidelity to him.
2 Samuel 19:15 15 Then the king returned and
came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal
to go to meet the king
to escort
the king across the Jordan.
YLT
15And the king turneth back
and cometh in unto the Jordan
and Judah hath come to Gilgal
to go to meet the
king
to bring the king over the Jordan
So the king returned
and came to Jordan
.... From
Mahanaim thither
which according to BuntingF9Travels
&c. p.
142. was twenty eight miles:
and Judah came to Gilgal; that is
the elders
or
principal men of the tribe of Judah
came thither; which place
according to
the same writerF11Travels
&c. p. 142
143.
was twelve miles
from Jerusalem
and four from Jordan; and was the first place the Israelites
came to when they passed that river in Joshua's time; but it seems to be rather
more; See Gill on Joshua 2:1 and See
Gill on Joshua 4:19
to go to meet the king
to conduct the king over Jordan; but then they
must proceed further on
for Gilgal seems to be live or six miles on this side
Jordan.
2 Samuel 19:16 16 And Shimei the son of
Gera
a Benjamite
who was from Bahurim
hurried and came down with the
men of Judah to meet King David.
YLT
16and Shimei son of Gera
the
Benjamite
who [is] from Bahurim
hasteth
and cometh down with the men of
Judah
to meet king David
And Shimei the son of Gera
a Benjamite
which was of
Bahurim
.... Of whom see 2 Samuel 16:5
hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David: he took the
first opportunity to meet the king
and ask his pardon for his ill treatment of
him when he fled from Jerusalem; for
hearing: that Absalom was slain
and the
victory was on the side of David
who was returning in triumph
he thought it
advisable as soon as possible to make his submission
and entreat forgiveness
lest he should fall a just sacrifice to his vengeance; and a better opportunity
he could not well have than to go along with the men of Judah
who met the king
first of all.
2 Samuel 19:17 17 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 the
Jordan before the king.
YLT
17and a thousand men [are]
with him from Benjamin
and Ziba servant of the house of Saul
and his fifteen
sons and his twenty servants with him
and they have gone prosperously over the
Jordan before the king.
And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him
.... Of which
tribe he was
and these were either a band of soldiers
of which he was the
chiliarch; or tenants of his
which showed him to be a great man; or his
neighbours
and persons of some figure
whom he prevailed upon to come as
intercessors for him:
and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul; who had imposed
upon David
and got his master's inheritance from him
knowing that David would
be undeceived by Mephibosheth his master
when he came to Jerusalem; and
therefore that he might be more tenderly dealt with
and come off the better
he was thus forward to meet the king
and pay his respects to him:
and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him: which made a
considerable appearance; see 2 Samuel 9:10
and they went over Jordan before the king: to meet him
on the other side
both Shimei and his a thousand men
and Ziba with his sons
and servants.
2 Samuel 19:18 18 Then a ferryboat went
across to carry over the king’s household
and to do what he thought good. Now
Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the
Jordan.
YLT
18And passed over hath the
ferry-boat to carry over the household of the king
and to do that which [is]
good in his eyes
and Shimei son of Gera hath fallen before the king in his
passing over into Jordan
And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's
household
.... 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 Abarbinel
thinks it might be a company of men
who carried the women and children on
their shoulders
one after another:
and to do what he thought good; to carry over whatever
else the king pleased
besides his family:
and Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king
as he was
come over Jordan; or just as he was about to come over
when he came to Jordan to
take the boat in order to come over; for he went over Jordan to meet him
and
therefore would take the first opportunity of coming into his presence
and
fall down before him
and make his submission to him.
2 Samuel 19:19 19 Then he said to the king
“Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me
or remember what wrong your servant
did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem
that the king should take it
to heart.
YLT
19and saith unto the king
`Let not my lord impute to me iniquity; neither do thou remember that which thy
servant did perversely in the day that my lord the king went out from
Jerusalem
-- for the king to set [it] unto his heart;
And said unto the king
let not my lord the king impute iniquity
unto me
.... That is
deal with him according to the desert of it
punish
him for it
but forgive it: for non-imputation of sin is in effect the pardon
of it:
neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the
day my lord the king went out of Jerusalem: he desires that he would
not only forgive
but forget it; he owns it was a perverse action
and
aggravated by being done at the time when the king was in great trouble and
distress:
that the king should take it to his heart; and determine
to avenge himself on him for it.
2 Samuel 19:20 20 For I
your servant
know
that I have sinned. Therefore here I am
the first to come today of all the
house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”
YLT
20for thy servant hath known
that I have sinned; and lo
I have come to-day
first of all the house of
Joseph
to go down to meet my lord the king.'
For thy servant doth know that I have sinned
.... He was
sensible of it
and sorry for it
and publicly acknowledged it before all the
men he brought with him
and before all the servants of David; and as a token
of the sincerity of his repentance
and as an earnest of his future fidelity
he made this early submission:
therefore
behold
I am come the first this day of all the house
of Joseph
to go down to meet my lord the king; but why does he make
mention of the house of Joseph
when he was of the tribe of Benjamin? Kimchi
says that Benjamin
Ephraim
and Manasseh
were called the house of Joseph; and
it may be observed that it is sometimes used for all Israel
as in Psalm 80:1; and he
was the first of them that came
inasmuch as he came along with the men of
Judah
who came first of all to fetch the king back; or Joseph may stand for
the tribes of Israel
as distinct from Judah
and he was the first of them;
some of the Jewish writers think he makes mention of the name of Joseph
because as the brethren of Joseph used him ill
and he returned good to them;
so though he had used David ill
he hoped he would do as Joseph did
return
good for evil; and others represent him as suggesting hereby to David
that all
Israel had used him ill
and he worse than them all; and now he was come first
and they were all waiting what he would do to him
that if he received him
kindly
all would come and make their peace with him.
2 Samuel 19:21 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?”
YLT
21And Abishai son of Zeruiah
answereth and saith
`For this is not Shimei put to death -- because he reviled
the anointed of Jehovah?'
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said
.... 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
2 Samuel 16:9
shall not Shimei be put to death for this? this
humiliation and acknowledgment he has made
shall he be forgiven on that
account? shall so small a matter as this atone for so great a crime he has been
guilty of
as that he shall not die?
because or "though"F12כי
"quamvis
vel cum tamen"
Piscator. .
he cursed the Lord's anointed; is asking pardon
sufficient to expiate so foul an offence
for which according to the law he
ought to die? or for this action which he has done
as the Arabic version
in
cursing the Lord's anointed.
2 Samuel 19:22 22 And David said
“What have
I to do with you
you sons of Zeruiah
that you should be adversaries to me
today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that
today I am king over Israel?”
YLT 22And David saith
`What --
to me and to you
O sons of Zeruiah
that ye are to me to-day for an adversary?
to-day is any man put to death in Israel? for have I not known that to-day I
[am] king over Israel?'
And David said
what have I to do with you
ye sons of Zeruiah?.... See Gill
on 2 Samuel 16:10
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; see Matthew 16:22; as
to use severity at such a time as this would have been; for had he immediately
ordered Shimei to be put to death
though he deserved it
who was the first man
that came to ask pardon
the Israelites in general
or all however concerned in
the rebellion
would have concluded they must share the same fate
and so would
not have submitted
but have raised a new rebellion against him; and some think
Joab and Abishai had this in view
that they might keep their posts in the
army:
shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? there shall
not: the glory of this day shall not be sullied by the death of any; nor the
joy of it be turned into sorrow in any family in Israel
as would
if any was
put to death for what had passed during the rebellion:
for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? and can and
will do as I please; 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.
2 Samuel 19:23 23 Therefore the king said to
Shimei
“You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.
YLT
23And the king saith unto
Shimei
`Thou dost not die;' and the king sweareth to him.
Therefore the king said unto Shimei
thou shalt not die
.... This day
by my hands
or order
or by the sword
1 Kings 2:8
and 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.
2 Samuel 19:24 24 Now Mephibosheth the son
of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet
nor
trimmed his mustache
nor washed his clothes
from the day the king departed
until the day he returned in peace.
YLT
24And Mephibosheth son of
Saul hath come down to meet the king -- and he prepared not his feet
nor did
he prepare his upper lip
yea
his garments he washed not
even from the day of
the going away of the king
till the day that he came in peace –
And 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; though in the Septuagint it
is
the son's son of Saul; and the Syriac and Arabic versions are
the son of
Jonathan
the son of Saul:
and had neither dressed his feet; had not cut his nails
as the Septuagint adds
his toenails; or rather had not washed his feet
as the
Targum paraphrases it; which was frequently done in those countries
partly for
refreshment
and partly to remove the filth of them contracted by walking
barefooted
or only with sandals; as also because of the ill smell of them
which was offensive:
nor trimmed his beard; or shaved his upper lip
and took no care that the hair of his chin should be in any order; otherwise
that was never shaved
to do it would be contrary to the law in Leviticus 19:27
nor washed his clothes; his linen clothes
his
shirts
or any other that used to be washed; or "whitened" them
as
the Targum
he had not sent them
his woollen clothes
to the fuller
to get
out the spots
and whiten them. 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:
from the day the king departed
until the day he came again
in peace; which must be a considerable time
and therefore he must be in a
most sordid and rueful condition.
2 Samuel 19:25 25 So it was
when he had
come to Jerusalem to meet the king
that the king said to him
“Why did you not
go with me
Mephibosheth?”
YLT
25and it cometh to pass
when
he hath come to Jerusalem to meet the king
that the king saith to him
`Why
didst thou not go with me
Mephibosheth?'
And it came to pass
when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king
.... Perhaps
from the place where his estate was; or
as the Arabic version
when he came
from Jerusalem
from whence he went a little way to meet the king
as he was
coming thither; for it was said he abode at Jerusalem
2 Samuel 16:3
that the king said unto him
wherefore wentest not thou with me
Mephibosheth? when he departed from Jerusalem
being
obliged to flee from thence because of Absalom; it is very 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
2 Samuel 16:3.
2 Samuel 19:26 26 And he answered
“My lord
O king
my servant deceived me. For your servant said
‘I will saddle a donkey
for myself
that I may ride on it and go to the king
’ because your servant is
lame.
YLT
26And he saith
`My lord
O
king
my servant deceived me
for thy servant said
I saddle for me the ass
and ride on it
and go with the king
for thy servant [is] lame;
And he answered
my lord
O king
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
2 Samuel 16:1; for
thy servant
said
I will saddle me an ass; he not only determined
this in his own mind
but gave orders to his servant to saddle one for him:
that I may ride thereon
and go to the king
because thy servant is
lame; and could not walk afoot
being lame of both his feet
2 Samuel 4:4.
2 Samuel 19:27 27 And he has slandered your
servant to my lord the king
but my lord the king is like the angel of
God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.
YLT
27and he uttereth slander
against thy servant unto my lord the king
and my lord the king [is] as a
messenger of God; and do thou that which is good in thine eyes
And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king
.... By
suggesting that he stayed at Jerusalem with a view to the kingdom
hoping that
the quarrel between David and Absalom would issue in the restoration of it to
his father's family; which was a mere calumny
he having had no such thought
nor was there any foundation for it:
but my lord the king is 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 favour; he entirely submitted
himself to him
to do with him as seemed good in his sight.
2 Samuel 19:28 28 For all my father’s house
were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those
who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore
to the king?”
YLT
28for all the house of my
father have been nothing except men of death before my lord the king
and thou
dost set thy servant among those eating at thy table
and what right have I any
more -- even to cry any more unto the king?'
For all of my
father's house were but dead men before my
lord the king
.... Or "men of death"F13אנשי
מות "viris mortis"
Montanus. ; worthy of
death
not on account of Saul's persecution
for which his family did not
deserve to suffer; rather for 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 rigour and 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
honour:
what right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? to ask any
favour of him
or make any complaint to him.
2 Samuel 19:29 29 So the king said to him
“Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said
‘You and Ziba divide
the land.’”
YLT
29And the king saith to him
`Why dost thou speak any more of thy matters? I have said
Thou and Ziba --
share ye the field.'
And the king said unto him
why speakest thou any more of thy
matters?.... Of his father's family
and the injuries done by them to
David
and of the benefits and favours which he had received from David
or of
his temporal affairs
of his estate
which David had given away to Ziba:
I have said
thou and Ziba divide the land; revoking his
last grant to Ziba
which gave him all that belonged to Mephibosheth
2 Samuel 16:4; he
established his first decree
that Ziba should have half the profit of the land
for tilling it
and the other half be given to Mephibosheth; he did not choose
to punish Ziba for slandering his master
being inclined to clemency and mercy
and determined to show no severity at that time; and might be in some fear of
Ziba
being a considerable man
lest he should raise a new insurrection
if he
bore hard upon him; besides
he might have a large share in his affection
having made a present to him in the time of his distress
and was one of the
first that came to meet him upon his return
2 Samuel 19:17.
2 Samuel 19:30 30 Then Mephibosheth said to
the king
“Rather
let him take it all
inasmuch as my lord the king has come
back in peace to his own house.”
YLT
30And Mephibosheth saith unto
the king
`Yea
the whole let him take
after that my lord the king hath come
in peace unto his house.'
And Mephibosheth said unto the king
yea
let him take all
.... The whole
estate
as David had given it to him; he was content that that last grant
should stand:
forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own
house; his palace in Jerusalem; which was a strong expression of
affection for him
and loyalty to him. (Solomn used a similar test to determine
which woman's baby was alive. 1 Kings 3:16. He
purposed the baby be cut in two to reveal who the real mother was. Likewise
David suggests the property should be divided between Ziba and Miphibosheth to
determine the true loyalty of the later. 2 Samuel 19:29
Editor.)
2 Samuel 19:31 31 And Barzillai the
Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king
to
escort him across the Jordan.
YLT
31And Barzillai the Gileadite
hath gone down from Rogelim
and passeth over the Jordan with the king
to send
him away over the Jordan;
And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim
.... The place
of his habitation
to Jordan
see 2 Samuel 17:27
and went over Jordan with the king to conduct him over Jordan; to accompany
him over the river
and then take his leave of him.
2 Samuel 19:32 32 Now Barzillai was a very
aged man
eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he
stayed at Mahanaim
for he was a very rich man.
YLT
32and Barzillai [is] very
aged
a son of eighty years
and he hath sustained the king in his abiding in
Mahanaim
for he [is] a very great man;
Now Barzillai was a very aged man
even fourscore years old
.... Which was
ten years beyond the common term of man's life
and reckoned a very great age
in David's time
and has been ever since
and still is
see Psalm 90:10
and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at
Mahanaim: had supported him and his family
furnished him with provisions
and all the necessaries of life
during his stay there:
for he was a very great man; in wealth and riches
and was a very liberal man
and a man of great wisdom and good sense; and very
probably was a man of great grace
which taught him his duty to his prince
and
influenced him to show mercy to him in distress.
2 Samuel 19:33 33 And the king said to
Barzillai
“Come across with me
and I will provide for you while you are with
me in Jerusalem.”
YLT
33and the king saith unto
Barzillai
`Pass thou over with me
and I have sustained thee with me in
Jerusalem.'
And the king said to Barzillai
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:
and 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.
2 Samuel 19:34 34 But Barzillai said to the
king
“How long have I to live
that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
YLT
34And Barzillai saith unto
the king
`How many [are] the days of the years of my life
that I go up with
the king to Jerusalem?
And Barzillai said unto the king
.... In answer to the
grateful proposal he made:
how long have I to live; that could not be said
with exactness by any; but it might be probably conjectured from the age he was
of
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? take so long
a journey as that
seeing he might die before he got thither; and if he did
not
since it could not be thought he should live long
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.
2 Samuel 19:35 35 I am today eighty
years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what
I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and
singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the
king?
YLT
35A son of eighty years I
[am] to-day; do I know between good and evil? doth thy servant taste that which
I am eating
and that which I drink? do I hearken any more to the voice of
singers and songstresses? and why is thy servant any more for a burden unto my
lord the king?
I am this day fourscore years old
.... Not that
that day was precisely his birthday
but that he was about such an age
very
little under or over; very probably he was full that age:
and 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? either being
so deaf that he could not hear them at all
or however not with any delight;
the evil days being come upon him
in which he could take no pleasure in the
diversions of a court:
wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the
king? he could neither take any pleasure himself
nor be of any
service to the king
but on the contrary a burden to him; not only on account
of his sustenance
and being obliged to have servants to attend him
which
might be the least part of his burden
but his company would be disagreeable
and troublesome
through the infirmities of old age upon him.
2 Samuel 19:36 36 Your servant will go a
little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with
such a reward?
YLT
36As a little thing
thy
servant doth pass over the Jordan with the king
and why doth the king
recompense me this recompense?
Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king
.... That is
go a little way after he was over Jordan with him
and then return to his own
city:
and why should the king recompense it with such a reward? the sense is
why should the king recompense so trifling a thing as I have done
and which
was but my duty
with such a reward
as to maintain me in so grand a manner at
his court?
2 Samuel 19:37 37 Please let your servant
turn back again
that I may die in my own city
near the grave of my father and
mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the
king
and do for him what seems good to you.”
YLT
37Let
I pray thee
thy
servant turn back again
and I die in mine own city
near the burying-place of
my father and of my mother
-- and lo
thy servant Chimham
let him pass over
with my lord the king
and do thou to him that which [is] good in thine eyes.'
Let thy servant
I pray thee
turn back again
.... To his
own city
after he is gone ever Jordan
and seen the king a little way on his
journey:
that I may die in my own city: the city of Rogelim
where perhaps he was born
and had lived all his days
and where it is natural
for people to desire to die
even in their native place:
and be buried by the grave
of my father
and of my mother: or "in" their grave
as Kimchi
and Ben Melech
in the sepulchre of his fathers
where men usually choose to be
buried:
but behold
thy servant Chimham: who was his son; and so
the Syriac and Arabic versions express it
my son Chimham:
let him go over with my lord the king; not only over
Jordan
but to Jerusalem with him:
and 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.
2 Samuel 19:38 38 And the king answered
“Chimham shall cross over with me
and I will do for him what seems good to
you. Now whatever you request of me
I will do for you.”
YLT
38And the king saith
`With
me doth Chimham go over
and I do to him that which [is] good in thine eyes
yea
all that thou dost fix on me I do to thee.'
And the king answered
Chimham shall go over with me
.... He
admitted of him instead of his father:
and 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
Jeremiah 41:17;
which makes it probable that David gave him a paternal estate of his there
since Bethlehem was his city; and the Targum on that place is expressly for it;
See Gill on Jeremiah 41:17
and whatsoever thou shalt require of me
that will I do for
thee; whatever suit he should make to him
or whatever favour he
should ask of him hereafter
when returned to his own city
he would grant it
to him
if it could be possibly done; such a sense should he always retain of
his kindness to him.
2 Samuel 19:39 39 Then all the people went
over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over
the king kissed Barzillai
and blessed him
and he returned to his own place.
YLT
39And all the people pass
over the Jordan
and the king hath passed over
and the king giveth a kiss to
Barzillai
and blesseth him
and he turneth back to his place.
And all the people went over Jordan
.... That were with
David:
and when the king was come over; over Jordan
had got to
the other side of it
whither Barzillai accompanied him:
the king kissed Barzillai
and blessed him; took his
leave of him with a kiss
as friends were wont to do at parting
thanked him
for all his favours
wished him well
and prayed to God to bless him with all
blessings temporal and spiritual:
and he returned to his own place: his own city Rogelim
having crossed over again the river Jordan.
2 Samuel 19:40 40 Now the king went on to
Gilgal
and Chimham[a] went on
with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king
and also half the
people of Israel.
YLT
40And the king passeth over
to Gilgal
and Chimham hath passed over with him
and all the people of Judah
and they bring over the king
and also the half of the people of Israel.
Then the king went on to
Gilgal
.... Which
according to JosephusF14Antiqu. l. 5. c.
1. sect. 4.
was fifty furlongs from Jordan
six miles and a quarter:
and Chimham went on with him; after Barzillai had left
them
and accompanied the king to Jerusalem:
and all the people of Judah conducted the king; to Jerusalem;
who came to meet him
2 Samuel 19:15
and also half the people of Israel; or a part of them
as
the word used signifies
and not always an equal half
so Kimchi observes; even
such of Israel as went out with David at first
and the a thousand men of Benjamin
that came to meet him
2 Samuel 19:17.
2 Samuel 19:41 41 Just then all the men of
Israel came to the king
and said to the king
“Why have our brethren
the men
of Judah
stolen you away and brought the king
his household
and all David’s
men with him across the Jordan?”
YLT
41And
lo
all the men of
Israel are coming unto the king
and they say unto the king
`Wherefore have
they stolen thee -- our brethren
the men of Judah?' (and they bring the king
and his household over the Jordan
and all the men of David with him).
And
behold
all the men
of Israel came to the king
.... 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:
and said unto the king
why have our brethren
the men of Judah
stolen thee away; secretly
privately
and unknown to them
and were bringing him
back to Jerusalem:
and have brought the king
and his household
and all David's men
with him
over Jordan? him
and his family
and soldiers.
2 Samuel 19:42 42 So all the men of Judah
answered the men of Israel
“Because the king is a close relative of
ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king’s
expense? Or has he given us any gift?”
YLT
42And all the men of Judah
answer against the men of Israel
`Because the king [is] near unto us
and why
[is] this -- ye are displeased about this matter? have we at all eaten of the
king's [substance?] a gift hath he lifted up to us?'
And all the men of Judah
answered the men of Israel
.... Such of them as went down to fetch the
king back
replied to the men of Israel that now met them
and objected to
their conduct:
because 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:
wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? for bringing
the king back
and being the first in it; for who so proper as they
not only
to do their duty
but to show their affection to the king as early as possible?
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
but on the contrary had been at a
considerable charge to meet the king
and conduct him home:
or hath he given us any gift? no
he had not
nor did
they expect any; it was not with a view to any reward that they had taken this
step
but purely out of affection to the king
and for the good of their
country.
2 Samuel 19:43 43 And the men of Israel
answered the men of Judah
and said
“We have ten shares in the king; therefore
we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise
us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?” Yet the words of
the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
YLT
43And the men of Israel
answer the men of Judah
and say
`Ten parts we have in the king
and also in
David more than you; and wherefore have ye lightly esteemed us
that our word
hath not been first to bring back our king?' And the word of the men of Judah
is sharper than the word of the men of Israel.
And the men of Israel
answered the men of Judah
and said
.... They replied to
them
as follows:
we have ten parts in the king; being ten tribes
reckoning Simeon in the tribe of Judah
within which it lay
Joshua 19:1
and we have
also more right in David than ye; being more
numerous than they; or
according to the Targum
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:
why then did ye despise us
that our advice should not be first
had in bringing back our king? they were as ready and as desirous as they
to fetch the king back; and since they were far the largest body of men
and
the far greater part of the nation
they thought they ought to have been
consulted in an affair of so much importance
and that doing it without them
was slighting them
and casting contempt upon them
and insinuating as if they
were enemies to the king; or
as the Targum expresses it
"was not my word
first to bring back my king?'the first motion was from them
as appears from 2 Samuel 19:11; and
therefore the thing should not have been done without them; they should have
been apprized of it
that they might at least have joined them
and shared in
the honour with them of bringing the king back:
and the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of
the men of Israel; not those that are here recorded
but what followed
and are not
written
being so very warm and indecent; and David being silent in this hot
dispute between them
which was interpreted taking the part of Judah
the men
of Israel were incensed at it; and hence arose a new rebellion
of which more
in the next chapter how it began
and was crushed.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)