2 Samuel 19:1-15

Joab Rebukes David

1 It was told Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom."

2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, "The king is grieving for his son."

3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle.

4 The king ¹covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, ²"O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines,

6 because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know 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 ³kindly to your servants, for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now."

8 Then the king arose and took his ⁴seat in the gate. And the people were all told, "Behold, the king is sitting in the gate." And all the people came before the king. Now Israel had ⁵fled every man to his own home.

9 And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, ⁶"The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and ⁷saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now ⁸he has fled out of the land from Absalom.

10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"

11 And King David sent this message to ⁹Zadok and Abiathar the priests: "Say to the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king?^[a]

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 And say to Amasa, ¹¹'Are you not my bone and my flesh? ¹²God do so to me and more also, if you are not ¹³commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.'"

14 And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah ¹⁴as one man, so that they sent word to the king, "Return, both you and all your servants."

15 So the king came back to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan.

2 Samuel 19:1-15 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

• 1. 2 Samuel 15:30
• 2. 2 Samuel 18:33
• 3. Genesis 34:3(Heb.)
• 4. 2 Samuel 18:4, 24, 33; See Ruth 4:1
• 5. See 2 Samuel 18:17
• 6. See 2 Samuel 8:1-14
• 7. 2 Samuel 5:20; 2 Samuel 8:1
• 8. 2 Samuel 15:14
• 9. 2 Samuel 15:29
• 10. 2 Samuel 5:1; [Genesis 29:14]
• 11. 2 Samuel 17:25
• 12. See Ruth 1:17
• 13. 2 Samuel 8:16
• 14. [Judges 20:1]

Footnotes

• [a]. Septuagint; Hebrew to the king, to his house