2 Samuel 19:1-11

1 It was told Yo'av, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Avshalom.

2 The victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people; for the people heard say that day, The king grieves for his son.

3 The people got them by stealth that day into the city, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

4 The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, my son Avshalom, Avshalom, my son, my son!

5 Yo'av came into the house to the king, and said, You have shamed this day the faces of all your servants, who this day have saved your life, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines;

6 in that you love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. For you have declared this day, that princes and servants are nothing to you: for this day I perceive that if Avshalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased you well.

7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably to your servants; for I swear by the LORD, if you don't go forth, there will not stay a man with you this night: and that will be worse to you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.

8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. They told to all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate: and all the people came before the king. Now Yisra'el had fled every man to his tent.

9 All the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Yisra'el, saying, The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Pelishtim; and now he is fled out of the land from Avshalom.

10 Avshalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why don't you speak a word of bringing the king back?

11 King David sent to Tzadok and to Avyatar the Kohanim, saying, Speak to the Zakenim of Yehudah, saying, Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Yisra'el is come to the king, [to bring him] to his house.

2 Samuel 19:1-11 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.