2 Samuel 19:37-43

37 Please let your servant return so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham: let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him what seems good to you."[a]
38 The king replied, "Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you,[b] and whatever you desire from me I will do for you."
39 So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned to his home.
40 The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half of Israel's escorted the king.
41 Suddenly, all the men of Israel came to the king. They asked him, "Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and transport the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all of David's men?"
42 All the men of Judah responded to the men of Israel, "Because the king is our relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we ever eaten anything of the king's or been honored at all?"[c]
43 The men of Israel answered the men of Judah: "We have 10 shares in the king,[d] so we have a greater [claim] to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Weren't we the first to speak of restoring our king?"[e] But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 19:37-43 Meaning and Commentary

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, 2Sa 19:1-8; 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, 2Sa 19:9-15; and at Jordan, Shimei, that had cursed him, met him, and asked his pardon, and was forgiven, 2Sa 19:16-23; 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, 2Sa 19:24-30; 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, 2Sa 19:31-40; 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, 2Sa 19:41-43.

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Lit what is good in your eyes
  • [b]. Lit what is good in your eyes
  • [c]. LXX reads king's or has he given us a gift or granted us a portion
  • [d]. 1 Kg 11:31
  • [e]. 2 Sm 19:9-10
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