2 Samuel 19:3

3 The army {came secretly} into the city on that day because the army was disgraced when they fled in the battle,

2 Samuel 19:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 19:3

And the people got them by stealth that day into the city
Did not march into it in companies, in a public and triumphant manner, as conquerors used to do; but entered in a private manner, one by one, or a very few together, not caring to be seen or known, at least by the king, as fearing they had incurred his displeasure: but

as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle;
as if they had been conquered, and not conquerors; nay, had acted a cowardly part, and ran away; and so cared not to be seen, lest they should be reproached, or suffer for their cowardice.

2 Samuel 19:3 In-Context

1 And it was told to Joab that the king [was] weeping and he mourned over Absalom,

2 so the victory turned to mourning on that day for all the army, because they had heard that day, "The king is grieving over his son."

3 The army {came secretly} into the city on that day because the army was disgraced when they fled in the battle,

4 and because the king had covered his face and cried with a loud voice, "My son, Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son."

5 Then Joab came to the king's house and said, "Today you have humiliated the faces of all of your servants who have saved your life this day, and the life of your sons and your daughters, the life of your wives, and the life of your concubines,

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "stole secretly to come"