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2 Samuel Chapter 19
Joab Rebukes David
- 2Samuel 19:1 And it
was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for
Absalom.
- 2 And the victory
that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the
people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
Their first reaction was to rejoice and
celebrate for the kingdom was restored to David and his enemies were
defeated in battle. They were happy but when they realized David was
grieving for his son, they refraned from rejoicing and became
ashamed of their first reation.
- 2Samuel 19:3 And the
people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people
being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
- 4 But the king
covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son
Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Normally a king would honor those that
fought and risked their lives to save not only him but the throne
and restored him to the place where God placed him and originally
anointed him to be king. It is understandable to see David's
reaction but the people was probably disappointed in the fact that
David didn't rejoice with them.
- 2Samuel 19:5 And
Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed
this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have
saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters,
and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;
- 6 In that thou
lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast
declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor
servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived,
and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.
- 7 Now therefore
arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I
swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry
one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than
all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
Joab was a man who had nerves of steel
it seems. He had no fear when he thought he was right. In this he
had a point. The loyal people who fought to save the kingdom, not
only saved David's life but his other kids, wives and those that
were loyal to him. In this Joab was right. Yet because David
probably blamed himself for the death of Absalom, it is
understandable why he mourned instead of rejoicing.
David Returns to Jerusalem
- 2Samuel 19:8 Then
the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the
people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all
the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man
to his tent.
- 9 And all the people
were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The
king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered
us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of
the land for Absalom.
- 10 And Absalom, whom
we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak
ye not a word of bringing the king back?
Looks as if the people were confused at
what was going on. They didn't know if the king was returning or
what was going on. Some had joined in with Absalom but now they seem
to be at a loss of what to do.
- 2Samuel 19:11 And
king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying,
Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to
bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all
Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
- 12 Ye are my
brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye
the last to bring back the king?
- 13 And say ye to
Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to
me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me
continually in the room of Joab.
Amasa had joined in with Absalom. He
was David's sister's son. His nephew who David is ready to forgive
and pardon even replacing him to take the place of Joab. Joab not
only killed Abner the former general of Saul's army but also Absalom
and David wanted to replace him. It is puzzling in a way. Joab had
his good points in standing by David but he didn't always follow
David's orders but did as he pleased at times. I do notice the King
David was a man that forgave. He was always loyal to the house of
Saul even though Saul tried to kill him. He had always recognized
the anointing of the Lord. David calls upon the priest to do the
right thing and restore him to his rightful place as king.
- 2Samuel 19:14 And he
bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of
one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou,
and all thy servants.
- 15 So the king
returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to
meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
After securing the approval of the
tribe of Judah, David was able to return to Jerusalem and become king
again. Gilgal was the same place that Israel came to after crossing
Jordan back in the days of Joshua. This was the place where God
dried up a place where they could cross. This story is in Joshua
chapter 5. Also this was the same place where Saul became king.
David Pardons His Enemies
- 2Samuel 19:16 And
Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim,
hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
- 17 And there were a
thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the
house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with
him; and they went over Jordan before the king.
It was Shimei who cursed David when he
fled from Absalom. When thought Absalom was going to be king, he
cursed David but now he took with him 1,000 men to greet David and
honor him as king. Whether his heart was changed or whether he was
out to save his own self, is up to speculation.
- 2Samuel 19:18 And
there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household,
and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell
down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
- 19 And said unto the
king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou
remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my
lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take
it to his heart.
- 20 For thy servant
doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the
first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my
lord the king.
This reminds me of the words of Jesus
to Peter given many years later than this event.
- Matthew 18:21
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother
sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
- 22 Jesus saith
unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until
seventy times seven.
- 3 Therefore is
the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would
take account of his servants.
- 24 And when he
had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him
ten thousand talents.
- 25 But forasmuch
as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his
wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be
made.
- 26 The servant
therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have
patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
- 27 Then the lord
of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and
forgave him the debt.
- 28 But the same
servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which
owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took
him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
- 29 And his
fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying,
Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
- 30 And he would
not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the
debt.
- 31 So when his
fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came
and told unto their lord all that was done.
- 32 Then his
lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked
servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst
me:
- 33 Shouldest not
thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I
had pity on thee?
- 34 And his lord
was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should
pay all that was due unto him.
- 35 So likewise
shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your
hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Notice that Jesus doesn't tell us to forgive
only if we can discern whether they are sincere and the repentance
is genuine. He says forgive if they even ask whether they really
mean it or not.
There is always a hot head that wants
to take vengeance without thinking first and considering the
consequences of their actions. Gut reactions do not always turn out
good in the long run. Oh how we need to seek the Lord first before
doing drastic things that do more harm than good.
- 2Samuel 19:22 And
David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that
ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man
be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am
this day king over Israel?
- 23 Therefore the
king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware
unto him.
Now we know why David was called a man
after the Lord's own heart. This is the key to the heart of David.
God forgave him when he sinned and he in turn forgives others. He
still is showing kindness to the house of Saul. When David was ready
to die though, he did instruct Solomon to deal wisely with Shimei. I
guess David didn't really trust his motive in this and wanted to
protect Solomon from being deceived. Perhaps David had second
thoughts later and wondered if Shimei's repentance was sincere. He
didn't go back on his word but wanted Solomon's kingdom to be saved
from those that would betray him. This account is in 1 Kings chapter
2.
- 2Samuel 19:24 And
Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had
neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his
clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came
again in peace.
- 25 And it came to
pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the
king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me,
Mephibosheth?
David may have been hurt when he
thought Mephibosheth had turned against him when Zeba plotted to
take land away from Mephibosheth and lied to David. Here we see
David not taking sides in the matter but telling Mephibosheth to
just divide the land. Instead of trying to discern who was lying, he
just instructed them to share the land.
- 2Samuel 19:26 And he
answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy
servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon,
and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.
- 27 And he hath
slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the
king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine
eyes.
- 28 For all of my
father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet
didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own
table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the
king?
- 29 And the king said
unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have
said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.
- 30 And Mephibosheth
said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord
the king is come again in peace unto his own house.
Mephibosheth shows here than he was
more interested in supporting David and welcoming him back as king
than having any land. The place that records Ziba deceiving David
concerning Mephibosheth is in 2 Samuel chapter 16.
- 2Samuel 19:31 And
Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over
Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.
- 32 Now Barzillai was
a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided
the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a
very great man.
- 33 And the king said
unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee
with me in Jerusalem.
- 34 And Barzillai
said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up
with the king unto Jerusalem?
- 35 I am this day
fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil?
can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any
more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then
should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
- 36 Thy servant will
go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the
king recompense it me with such a reward?
- 37 Let thy servant,
I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city,
and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But
behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the
king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
- 38 And the king
answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him
that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt
require of me, that will I do for thee.
Barzillai was getting old and wanted to
return to his own city but wanted his son Chimham to go over with
David and be of service to him. I guess the older guy didn't want to
be a burden to the king. David allowed this request of Barzillai.
- 2Samuel 19:39 And
all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come
over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he
returned unto his own place.
- 40 Then the king
went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the
people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of
Israel.
- 41 And, behold, all
the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why
have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have
brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with
him, over Jordan?
- 42 And all the men
of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of
kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we
eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?
- 43 And the men of
Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in
the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then
did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in
bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were
fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
Looks as if the men of Israel and the men of
Judah was disputing over their rights. Israel wanting to be the
first to bring David back but Judah thought they had that right
since David was of the tribe of Judah. Under David and Solomon the
kingdom was united but after the death of Solomon Judah and Israel
was divided again into two kingdoms. I notice that today in modern
times there is just one nation of Israel. At this time, 2025, it is
mostly from the tribe of Judah but God promises their complete
restoration some time in the future. In the latter days Judah and
the other tribes will be united again. We can only speculate where
they are in existence but God knows for sure. We see in Revelation
where 144000 the tribes of Israel were sealed to escape the plagues
upon the world that rebelled against God. The word of God will come
to pass. DC
2 Samuel Chapter 20
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