2 Samuel 19:3-13

3 So the people went by stealth into the city that day, as people who are humiliated steal away when they flee in battle.
4 The king 1covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, "2O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines,
6 by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have shown today that princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased *.
7 "Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, surely 3not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now."

David Restored as King

8 So the king arose and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, saying, "Behold, the king is 4sitting in the gate," then all the people came before the king. Now 5Israel had fled, each to his tent.
9 All the people were quarreling throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "6The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and 7saved us from the hand of the Philistines, but now 8he has fled out of the land from Absalom.
10 "However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?"
11 Then King David sent to 9Zadok 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 word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house?
12 'You are my brothers; 10you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?'
13 "Say to 11Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? 12May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be 13commander of the army before me continually * 14in place of Joab.' "

2 Samuel 19:3-13 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.

Cross References 14

Footnotes 6

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