2 Samuel 19
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Samuel 19
NJB (MT versing) Joab Reproves David's Lament David's Mourning for Absalom (18:33-19:8) David's Attempts to Restore a Divided and Disorganized Nation Joab Reprimands David David Mourns for Absalom 19:1-7 19:1-8a 19:1-4 19:1-5 19:5-8a David Restored As King David Starts Back to Jerusalem 19:6-9 19:8a 19:8b-10 19:8b-10 19:8b-10 David Returns to Jerusalem 19:9-10 Preparations for David's Return 19:10-12a 19:11-15 19:11-18a 19:11-15 19:11-14 19:12b-15 19:15-18a Episodes Connected with David's Return: Shimei 19:16-23 David's Mercy to Shimei 19:16-18a 19:16-19a 19:18b-23 19:18b-23 19:18b-21 19:19b-21 19:22-23 19:22-24 David and Mephibosheth Meet David Shows Kindness to Mephibosheth 19:24-30 19:24-30 19:24-30 19:24-25 Meribbaal 19:25 19:26-28 19:26-31 19:29 19:30 David's Kindness to Barzillai David Shows Kindness to Barzillai 19:31-39 19:31-39 19:31-40 19:31-33 Barzillai 19:32-40 19:34-37 19:38-39 The Quarrel About the King Judah and Israel Argue Over the King 19:40-43 19:40-43 19:40-41 Judah and Israel Dispute Over the King 19:41-43 19:41-43 19:42 19:43a 19:43b Etc.
2 Samuel 19:1-7
19:1 The MT numbers link this verse with 2 Sam. 18:33. In the MT 18:33 is 19:1. 19:2 What should have been a day of rejoicing over the victory turned into a sad day because of David's grief. 19:3 This verse clearly shows what affect David's actions (and inaction) caused his followers. 19:4 David's grief was overwhelming (cf. 2 Sam. 18:33; 19:1). 19:5-7 Joab talks tough to David. He spells out clearly how David's actions are affecting his supporters. their faces covered in shame they meant "nothing" to David David seemed to want Absalom alive more than them if David did not change these supporters would all leave 19:7 Notice Joab's imperatives to David. arise ‒ BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal go out ‒ BDB 422, KB 425, Qal speak ‒ BDB 180, KB 210, Piel Joab spells out the consequences for inaction in graphic hyperbolic language.
2 Samuel 19:8
19:8 David was at the gate when they had left for battle; finally he returned to the gate to congratulate and welcome back his victorious army.
2 Samuel 19:8-10
19:9 Israel remembered the military victories of David over their enemies. They had made a big mistake following Absalom. They wanted David back as king of united Israel. 19:10 "anointed" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE.
2 Samuel 19:11-15
19:11-16 David's priests (i.e., Zadok and Abiathar) are sent to the elders of Judah with a message, "Why is it taking so long for you to call David back as king?" David demonstrated his willingness to forgive and forget by offering Joab's job to Amasa (i.e., Absalom's military leader, cf. 2 Sam. 17:25)! 19:12 "my bone and my flesh" This is an idiom for blood-relatives (cf. Gen. 29:11; Jdgs. 9:2; 2 Sam. 5:1). We must remember the people of the OT were tribal. Their first priority was not self, but family. Western individualism skews the historical setting of biblical texts. 19:14 "he" In context this could refer to David (TEV, REB) Amasa (NRSV, JPSOA) 19:15 "to bring the king across the Jordan" Josephus, Antiq. 7.11.2, says "All these, as well as the tribe of Judah, laid a bridge (of boats) over the river, that the king, and those that were with him, might with ease pass over it."
2 Samuel 19:16-23
19:16-23 David deals with Shimei (cf. 2 Sam. 16:5-13) with mercy. Because he wants to please the Benjamites. However, he will later ask Solomon to kill him (cf. 1 Kgs. 2:8-9). 19:17 "There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him" Shimei had a great influence on the tribe of Saul. 19:20 "the first of all the house of Joseph" The tribe of Benjamin may be considered "first" because of King Saul. The "house of Joseph" is just another way to refer to the northern tribes (cf. Josh. 18:5; Jdgs. 1:22,23,35; 1 Kgs. 11:28). Usually this phrase refers to the tribe from Joseph ‒ Ephraim and Manasseh, but not here. 19:22 "adversary" This is the Hebrew NOUN "satan" (BDB 966). SPECIAL TOPIC: SATAN ▣ "O sons of Zeruiah" This refers to Joab and Abishai.
2 Samuel 19:24-30
19:24 Notice these unusual signs of mourning. neither cared for his feet ‒ the VERB (BDB 793, KB 889, Qal PERFECT) basically means "to do something"; here, it denotes washing (BDB, 5). The LXX adds "nor pared his nails." trimmed his mustache ‒ same VERB not washed his clothes ‒ BDB 460, KB 459, Piel PERFECT Mephibosheth was disheveled, which showed his grief over David's exile and that he himself did not claim kingship or privilege. 19:26 Mephibosheth claims Ziba tricked him and slandered him. 19:27 "like the angel of God" David can discern truth (cf. 2 Sam. 14:17,20). See full note at 1 Sam. 29:9. 19:29 At first David gave all of Saul's property to Mephibosheth, then he gave it all to Ziba, now he splits it between them!
2 Samuel 19:31-39
19:31-39 David rewards and affirms the elderly Barzillai (cf. 2 Sam. 17:27-29; 1 Kgs. 2:7). 19:32 NASB, REB, LXX "he was a very great man" "he was a very rich man" NRSV, NJB, JPSOA, Peshitta "he was a very wealthy man" The Hebrew ADJECTIVE (BDB 152) has a wide semantic field. great in magnitude or extent great in number great in intensity great sound great age great in importance great in wealth Barzillai was great in his love for David in his making provisions for David and his men (wealth and generosity) in his age (80 years) 19:35 This, like Eccl. 12:1-7, describes old age as a loosening of the pleasures of life. 19:37 "Chimham" He was probably Barzillai's son (cf. 1 Kgs. 2:7 and some LXX MSS; and Josephus, Antiq. 7.11.4). Crossing over Jordan with David and going to the sacred site Gilgal (v. 15) was a kind of re-coronation and affirmation of David's kingship (cf. vv. 36-39,40).
2 Samuel 19:40-43
19:40-43 This clearly shows the continuing jealousy and rivalry between the tribes of Israel, particularly Judah vs. the northern ten tribes (v. 43). Because of vv. 9-10 and v. 40 (i.e., "half the people of Israel"), it seems not everyone was supportive of David's return. 19:42 "Have we eaten at all at the king's expense" This is an emphatic form (i.e., an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and a PERFECT VERB of the same root, BDB 37, KB 46). 19:43 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, NJB, JPSOA "We have ten parts in the king" "we have ten times as many claims on King David" REB, Peshitta "We have ten times your interest in the king" "I have ten hands in the king" The men of Israel claimed their right as descendants of Israel/Jacob. The LXX adds "we are the first-born rather than you" (cf. 1 Chr. 5:2). Some of the men of Judah had apparently supported Absalom, like most of the other tribes.