2 Samuel 19 Study Notes

19:25-26 Mephibosheth contended that Ziba had betrayed (lit “deceived”) him and had not provided him a donkey so Mephibosheth could go with the king.

19:27-28 Mephibosheth asserted his confidence in David’s discernment and recognized that he deserved none of David’s grace toward him. His final question, what further right do I have to keep on making appeals to the king, anticipated what he hoped would be a favorable ruling.

19:29 David had received Ziba’s support as he fled, yet Mephibosheth’s testimony seemed credible. David decided on a compromise under which the two of them would divide the land.

19:30 Mephibosheth’s expression let Ziba take it all should be understood as a typical Middle Eastern overstatement to honor a ruler, just as his question in v. 28 was an understatement of his own value (cp. 9:8).

19:31-32 Although Rogelim was about fifty miles northeast of David’s crossing point, Barzillai, who had provided food and other supplies for the king and his men while he stayed in Mahanaim (17:27-29), accompanied David to the Jordan River.

19:33 David wanted to reward Barzillai for his show of support during the king’s desperate time of need.

19:34-36 Barzillai pointed out that he was too old to be of any use to David.

19:37-38 Barzillai considered himself too old to enjoy royal privileges and preferred to remain in his own city near his family tomb, to finish his days in the surroundings he had known all his life, but he takes the opportunity to introduce Chimham, who was apparently a close relative, to benefit from David’s offer.

19:39 Though Barzillai returned to his home after David blessed him, the king did not forget him, later instructing Solomon to continue to show kindness to Barzillai’s household (1Kg 2:7). Jeremiah 41:17 mentions Geruth Chimham (“dwelling of Chimham”) near Bethlehem—perhaps the fulfillment of David’s words.

19:40 Gilgal was Israel’s base camp during the days of Joshua’s conquest (Jos 4:19).

19:41 Tensions between Judah and the other tribes that were evident earlier in Israel’s history (2:10; 3:10; 12:8; 1Sm 11:8; 17:52; 18:16) now boiled to the surface again as the delegation from Israel challenged the king on the protocol for restoring him to Jerusalem. Take you away secretly is literally “stole you.” The northern tribes also felt they were under-represented in comparison to the leaders from Judah (v. 40).

19:42 The men of Judah answered instead of allowing David to do so. They asserted that since David was their relative (a closer relative), they had taken the lead in restoring him as king. They insisted, however, that their tribe was not treated with favoritism.

19:43 The other tribes pointed out that David also ruled their ten shares (tribal territories), and they had been the first to speak of restoring David (vv. 9-10). The men of Judah responded even more harshly and ended the conversation, but the tension between the tribes grew stronger.