2 Samuel 19
Overview
19:1 Joab causes the king to cease his mourning;
19:9 The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back;
19:11 David sends to the priests to incite them of Judah;
19:18 Shimei is pardoned;
19:24 Mephibosheth excused;
19:32 Barzillai dismissed, and Chimham his son taken into the king's family;
19:41 The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them. Verse 12 Samuel 18:5, 18:12, 18:14, 18:20, 18:33; Proverbs 17:25

Verse 2victoryHeb. salvation, or, deliveranceturnedProverbs 16:15, 19:12Reciprocal2 Samuel 14:1 - toward Absalom Verse 3into the city2 Samuel 19:32, 17:24 stealGenesis 31:27Reciprocal2 Samuel 19:8 - for Israel; 19:41 - stolen Verse 4covered2 Samuel 15:30 O my sonIt is allowed by competent critics that the lamentation of David over his son, of which this forms a part, is exceedingly pathetic; and Calmet properly remarks, that the frequent repetition of the name of the deceased is common in the language of lamentation. 18:33Reciprocal14:1 - toward Absalom; 1 Chronicles 3:2 - Absalom; Job 9:24 - he covereth; Jeremiah 14:3 - covered; 1 Corinthians 11:4 - having Verse 5Thou hastEvery one must admit that David's immoderate grief for his rebellious son was imprudent, and that Joab's firm and sensible reproof was necessary to arouse him to a sense of his duty to his people: but, in his manner, Joab far exceeded the bounds of that reverence which a servant owes to his master, or a subject to his prince.savedNehemiah 9:27; Psalm 3:8, 18:47, 18:48ReciprocalJudges 19:1 - a concubine; 2 Samuel 3:24 - What hast; 19:13 - room of Joab; 1 Kings 2:5 - Joab; Psalm 34:5 - their Verse 6In thatetc. Heb. By loving, etcthou regardestetc. Heb. princes or servants are not to thee. then it had. 2 Samuel 3:24, 3:25; Job 34:18; Proverbs 19:9, 19:10; Acts 23:5Reciprocal2 Samuel 3:12 - Whose; 3:39 - too hard Verse 7comfortably unto thyHeb. to the heart of thy, Genesis 34:3; Proverbs 19:15; Isaiah 40:1; Hosea 2:14 *marg.thereProverbs 14:28 all the evilPsalm 71:4-6, 71:9-11, 71:18-20, 129:1, 129:2Reciprocal2 Samuel 3:39 - too hard; 20:6 - do us; Proverbs 17:26 - to strike Verse 8sat in the gateHow prudently and mildly David took the reproof and counsel given him! He shook off his grief, anointed his head, and washed his face, that he might not appear unto men to mourn, and then made his appearance at the gate of the city, which was the public place of resort for the hearing of causes and giving judgment, as well as a place to ratify special bargains. Thither the people flocked to congratulate him on his and their safety, and that all was well. When we are convinced of a fault, we must amend, though we are told of it by our inferiors in a way which is peculiarly painful to our natural feelings. This ancient custom still obtains in the East; for when Dr. Pococke returned from viewing the town of ancient Byblus, he says, "The sheik and the elders were sitting in the gate of the city, after the ancient manner, and I sat awhile with them." 2 Samuel 18:4, 18:24 for Israel19:3, 18:6-8; 1 Kings 22:36; 2 Kings 14:12

Verse 9strifeGenesis 3:12, 3:13; Exodus 32:24; James 3:14-16 The king2 Samuel 8:10; 1 Samuel 17:50, 18:5-7, 18:25, 19:5 he is fled2 Samuel 15:14Reciprocal19:20 - Joseph; 19:43 - our advice; 22:44 - delivered; Ecclesiastes 4:16 - they also Verse 10whom2 Samuel 15:12, 15:13; Hosea 8:4 is dead2 Samuel 18:14 speak ye not a wordHeb. are ye silent, Judges 18:9Reciprocal2 Samuel 15:10 - reigneth; 1 Kings 22:3 - still Verse 11sent2 Samuel 15:29, 15:35, 15:36; 1 Kings 2:25, 2:26, 2:35 Speak2 Corinthians 5:20 Why areMatthew 5:16; 2 Thessalonians 3:9Reciprocal2 Samuel 2:4 - the men of Judah; 19:40 - all the people Verse 12my bones2 Samuel 5:1; Genesis 2:23; Judges 9:2; Ephesians 5:30ReciprocalGenesis 29:14 - art my; 2 Samuel 19:42 - Because; 1 Chronicles 11:1 - Behold Verse 13Amasa2 Samuel 17:25; 1 Chronicles 2:16, 2:17, 12:18 GodRuth 1:17; 1 Kings 19:2 room of Joab2 Samuel 19:5-7, 3:29, 3:30, 8:16, 18:11ReciprocalGenesis 2:23 - bone; 29:14 - art my; Judges 9:2 - your bone; 1 Samuel 3:17 - God; 14:44 - God; 20:13 - The Lord do; 2 Samuel 3:9 - So do God; 3:39 - too hard; 5:1 - we; 20:4 - Amasa; 20:5 - So Amasa; 1 Kings 2:23 - God; 2 Kings 4:13 - to the captain; 6:31 - God do so; 1 Chronicles 11:1 - Behold Verse 14he bowedThe measures that he pursued were the best calculated that could be adopted for accomplishing this salutary end. David appears to take no notice of their infidelity, but rather to place confidence in them, that their confidence in him might be naturally excited; and to oblige them yet farther, purposes to make Amasa general of the army, instead of Joab.evenJudges 20:1; Psalm 110:2, 110:3; Acts 4:32Reciprocal2 Samuel 3:12 - my hand; 19:43 - our advice; 22:44 - delivered Verse 15GilgalJoshua 5:9; 1 Samuel 11:14, 11:15ReciprocalGenesis 31:46 - an heap; 2 Samuel 20:2 - from Jordan Verse 16ShimeiIt appears that Shimei was a powerful chieftain in the land; for he had here in his retinue no less than a thousand men. 2 Samuel 16:5-13; 1 Kings 2:8, 2:36-46 hastedJob 2:4; Proverbs 6:4, 6:5; Matthew 5:25Reciprocal2 Samuel 3:16 - Bahurim; 17:18 - Bahurim Verse 17Ziba2 Samuel 19:26, 19:27, 9:2, 9:10, 16:1-4Reciprocal9:11 - Ziba Verse 18And thereThe LXX connecting this the with preceding verse, render, και κατευθυναν τον Ιορδανην εμπροσθεν του βασιλεως, και ελειτουργησαν την λειτουργιαν του διαβιβασαι τον βασιλεα "and they made ready Jordan before the king, and did the necessary service to bring over the king."

The Vulgate has: et irrumpentes Jordanem, ante regem transierunt vada, ut traducerent domum regis, "and breaking into Jordan, they passed the fords before the king, to bring over the king's household." Josephus says they prepared a bridge over the Jordan, to facilitate his passage.what he thought goodHeb. the good in his eyesfell downPsalm 66:3, 81:15; Revelation 3:9Reciprocal1 Kings 18:7 - fell on; Psalm 119:42 - have wherewith
Verse 19And saidEcclesiastes 10:4 Let not1 Samuel 22:15; Psalm 32:2; Romans 4:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19 rememberPsalm 79:8; Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34 did perversely2 Samuel 16:5-9, 16:10-14; Exodus 10:16, 10:17; 1 Samuel 26:21; Matthew 27:4 take it2 Samuel 13:20, 13:33; 1 Samuel 25:25ReciprocalNumbers 12:11 - lay not; Psalm 55:3 - for they; Proverbs 19:6 - will; Ecclesiastes 7:21 - take no heed; James 5:16 - Confess Verse 20I am comePsalm 78:34-37; Jeremiah 22:23; Hosea 5:15 Joseph2 Samuel 19:9, 16:5; Genesis 48:14, 48:20; 1 Kings 12:20, 12:25; Hosea 4:15-17, 5:3ReciprocalExodus 10:16 - I have; 1 Kings 11:28 - the house; Amos 5:6 - the house; Obadiah 1:18 - the house of Joseph Verse 21Shall notExodus 22:28; 1 Kings 21:10, 21:11 cursed2 Samuel 16:5, 16:7, 16:13; 1 Samuel 24:6, 26:9Reciprocal1 Chronicles 18:12 - Moreover; Job 31:31 - the men; 34:17 - wilt; Lamentations 4:20 - the anointed; James 3:9 - therewith curse Verse 22What have2 Samuel 3:39, 16:10; 1 Samuel 26:8; Matthew 8:29 shall there any man1 Samuel 11:13; Isaiah 16:5; Luke 9:54-56Reciprocal1 Kings 17:18 - What have I; 1 Chronicles 2:16 - the sons of; 18:12 - Moreover; Job 2:10 - Thou speakest; 31:31 - the men; Jeremiah 38:5 - for; Matthew 16:23 - Satan; Mark 8:33 - he rebuked; Luke 9:55 - and rebuked; John 2:4 - what Verse 23Thou shalt1 Kings 2:8, 2:9, 2:37, 2:46 sware1 Samuel 28:10, 30:15; Habakkuk 3:1Reciprocal2 Kings 25:24 - sware to them Verse 24Mephibosheth2 Samuel 9:6, 16:3 dressed his feetLiterally, made his feet, which seems to mean washing the feet paring the nails, and perhaps anointing or otherwise perfuming them, if not tinging the nails with henna; see note on Deuteronomy 21:12. Sir John Chardin, in his manuscript note on this place, informs us, that it is customary in the East to have as much care of the feet as the hands; and that their barbers cut and adjust the nails with a proper instrument, because they often go barefoot. The nails of the toes of the mummies inspected in London in 1763, of which an account is given in the Philosophical Transactions for 1764, seem to have been tinged with some reddish colour. 2 Samuel 15:30; Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 41:5; Matthew 6:16; Romans 12:15; Habakkuk 3:1 trimmedLiterally, made his beard, which may mean, combing, curling, and perfuming it. But Mr. Morier says that they almost universally dye the beard black, by successive layers of a paste made of henna, and another made of the leaf of the indigo: the first tinging with an orange colour, and the next with a dark bottle green, which becomes jet black when exposed to the air for twenty-four hours.ReciprocalGenesis 28:21 - I come; 41:14 - he shaved; Exodus 33:4 - and no; 1 Chronicles 8:34 - Meribbaal; Proverbs 18:13 - that; 18:17 - General; 27:10 - own; Ecclesiastes 9:8 - thy garments; Daniel 6:18 - and passed; 10:3 - neither did Verse 25Wherefore2 Samuel 16:17Reciprocal21:7 - Mephibosheth Verse 26I will saddle2 Samuel 16:2, 16:3 thy servant4:4Reciprocal9:3 - yet a son; 9:11 - According; 19:17 - Ziba; 1 Kings 13:13 - General; Proverbs 30:10 - Accuse not Verse 27slandered2 Samuel 16:3; Exodus 20:16; Psalm 15:3, 101:5; Jeremiah 9:4 as an angel2 Samuel 14:17, 14:20; 1 Samuel 29:9ReciprocalExodus 23:1 - shalt not; 2 Samuel 9:2 - was Ziba; 19:17 - Ziba; Proverbs 30:10 - Accuse not; Galatians 4:14 - an angel; Ephesians 4:31 - evil speaking Verse 28wereGenesis 32:10 dead menHeb. men of death, 1 Samuel 26:16 didst thou2 Samuel 9:7, 9:8, 9:10, 9:13 to cry2 Kings 8:3ReciprocalRuth 2:10 - Why have; 1 Samuel 20:31 - shall surely die; 1 Kings 2:7 - eat; Job 2:10 - shall we receive; Proverbs 27:10 - own; Luke 22:30 - eat Verse 29Why speakestJob 19:16, 19:17; Proverbs 18:13; Acts 18:15 ThouDeuteronomy 19:17-19; Psalm 82:2, 101:5Reciprocal2 Samuel 9:9 - I have given Verse 30Yea2 Samuel 1:26; Acts 20:24; Philippians 1:20ReciprocalGenesis 28:21 - I come; Judges 11:36 - forasmuch; Proverbs 18:24 - that hath; Luke 6:29 - and him Verse 311 Kings 2:7; Ezra 2:61; Nehemiah 7:63Reciprocal2 Samuel 17:27 - Barzillai Verse 32fourscoreGenesis 5:27, 9:29, 25:7, 47:28, 50:26; Deuteronomy 34:7; Psalm 90:3-10; Proverbs 16:31 provided2 Samuel 17:27 for he was1 Samuel 25:2; Job 1:3ReciprocalGenesis 47:9 - have not; Joshua 21:38 - Mahanaim; 1 Samuel 9:1 - power; 2 Samuel 16:1 - with a couple; 19:3 - into the city; 2 Kings 4:8 - a great woman; 4:13 - to the king; 15:20 - the mighty; 1 Chronicles 6:80 - Mahanaim; Daniel 2:48 - a great; Matthew 25:17 - he also Verse 33Come thou2 Samuel 9:11; Matthew 25:34-40; Luke 22:28-30; 2 Thessalonians 1:7Reciprocal2 Samuel 9:7 - eat bread Verse 34How long have I to liveHeb. How many days are the years of my life, Genesis 47:9; Job 14:14; Psalm 39:5, 39:6; 1 Corinthians 7:29; James 4:14

Verse 35can I discernJob 6:30, 12:11; Habakkuk 3:1; 1 Peter 2:3 tasteEcclesiastes 12:1-5 I hearEzra 2:65; Nehemiah 7:67; Exodus 2:8, 12:4 a burden2 Samuel 13:25, 15:33ReciprocalPsalm 71:9 - when; 90:10 - yet; Ecclesiastes 2:8 - men singers; 12:4 - all; Luke 7:25 - are in Verse 36the kingLuke 6:38

Verse 37Let thyThe whole of this little episode is extremely interesting, and contains an affecting description of the infirmities of old age. The venerable and kind Barzillai was fourscore years old; his ear was become dull of hearing, and his relish for even royal dainties was gone: the evil days had arrived in which he was constrained to say, "I have no pleasure in them" - Ecclesiastes 12:1. As he was too old either to enjoy the pleasures of a court, or to be of any further service to the king, he finishes his affecting address to the aged monarch with the request, that he would suffer him to enjoy what old men naturally desire, to "die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and mother;" at the same time commending his son Chimham to his kind offices.I may dieGenesis 48:21; Joshua 23:14; Luke 2:29, 2:30; 2 Timothy 4:6; 2 Peter 1:14 by the graveGenesis 47:30, 49:29-31, 50:13; 1 Kings 13:22 Chimham2 Samuel 19:40; 1 Kings 2:7; Jeremiah 41:17Reciprocal1 Kings 4:5 - the king's; Philemon 1:10 - my son Verse 38requireHeb. choose, 2 Samuel 19:38Reciprocal1 Kings 4:5 - the king's; Jeremiah 41:17 - Chimham; Philemon 1:10 - my son Verse 39the kingThe kiss was the token of friendship and farewell; the blessing was a prayer to God for his prosperity: probably a prophetical benediction.kissed BarzillaiGenesis 31:55, 45:15; Ruth 1:14; 1 Kings 19:20; Acts 20:37; 1 Thessalonians 5:26 blessed2 Samuel 6:18, 6:20, 13:25; Genesis 14:19, 28:3, 47:7, 47:10; Luke 2:34 returnedGenesis 31:55; Numbers 24:25; 1 Samuel 24:22ReciprocalGenesis 29:13 - kissed; Exodus 18:23 - and all this; 1 Samuel 10:1 - kissed him; 20:41 - and they kissed; 2 Samuel 14:22 - thanked; Luke 7:45 - gavest Verse 40ChimhamHeb. Chimhanall the people2 Samuel 19:11-15; Genesis 49:10; Matthew 21:9ReciprocalGenesis 31:46 - an heap; 2 Samuel 19:37 - Chimham; 20:2 - from Jordan Verse 41Why haveJudges 8:1, 12:1; John 7:5, 7:6 stolen2 Samuel 19:3; Genesis 31:26, 31:27Reciprocal2 Samuel 3:12 - my hand; 18:7 - the people; 20:1 - And there; 20:2 - every man; Proverbs 17:14 - beginning; 26:4 - General; Ecclesiastes 10:13 - beginning Verse 42Because2 Samuel 19:12, 5:1; 1 Chronicles 2:3-17Reciprocal2 Samuel 2:4 - the men of Judah; 1 Chronicles 12:39 - eating and drinking Verse 43We have2 Samuel 20:1, 20:6; 1 Kings 12:16 ten parts2 Samuel 5:1; Proverbs 13:10 despise usHeb. set us at lightour advice2 Samuel 19:9, 19:14; Galatians 5:20, 5:26; Philippians 2:3 the wordsJudges 8:1, 9:23, 12:1-6; Proverbs 15:1, 17:14, 18:19; Romans 12:21; Galatians 5:15, 5:20; James 1:20, 3:2-10, 3:14-16, 4:1-5
Whatever value or respect the men of Israel at this time professed for their king, they would not have quarrelled so fiercely about their own credit and interest in recalling him, if they had been truly sorry for their former rebellion.Reciprocal1 Kings 12:13 - answered; 2 Chronicles 25:10 - great anger; Proverbs 15:18 - wrathful; Ecclesiastes 7:9 - hasty; Ephesians 4:31 - clamour; James 3:6 - the tongue