16 And it came to pass, when Hushai H2365 the Archite, H757 David's H1732 friend, H7463 was come H935 unto Absalom, H53 that Hushai H2365 said H559 unto Absalom, H53 God save H2421 the king, H4428 God save H2421 the king. H4428
And Samuel H8050 said H559 to all the people, H5971 See H7200 ye him whom the LORD H3068 hath chosen, H977 that there is none like him among all the people? H5971 And all the people H5971 shouted, H7321 and said, H559 God save H2421 the king. H4428
And he brought forth H3318 the king's H4428 son, H1121 and put H5414 the crown H5145 upon him, and gave him the testimony; H5715 and they made him king, H4427 and anointed H4886 him; and they clapped H5221 their hands, H3709 and said, H559 God save H2421 the king. H4428
For he is gone down H3381 this day, H3117 and hath slain H2076 oxen H7794 and fat cattle H4806 and sheep H6629 in abundance, H7230 and hath called H7121 all the king's H4428 sons, H1121 and the captains H8269 of the host, H6635 and Abiathar H54 the priest; H3548 and, behold, they eat H398 and drink H8354 before H6440 him, and say, H559 God save H2421 king H4428 Adonijah. H138
So Hushai H2365 David's H1732 friend H7463 came H935 into the city, H5892 and Absalom H53 came H935 into Jerusalem. H3389
Now the queen, H4433 by reason H6903 of the words H4406 of the king H4430 and his lords, H7261 came H5954 into the banquet H4961 house: H1005 and the queen H4433 spake H6032 and said, H560 O king, H4430 live H2418 for ever: H5957 let not H409 thy thoughts H7476 trouble H927 thee, nor let thy countenance H2122 be changed: H8133
And G1161 the multitudes G3793 that went before, G4254 and G2532 that followed, G190 cried, G2896 saying, G3004 Hosanna G5614 to the Son G5207 of David: G1138 Blessed G2127 is he that cometh G2064 in G1722 the name G3686 of the Lord; G2962 Hosanna G5614 in G1722 the highest. G5310
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 16
Commentary on 2 Samuel 16 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 16
2Sa 16:1-4. Ziba, by False Suggestions, Claims His Master's Inheritance.
1. Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him—This crafty man, anticipating the certain failure of Absalom's conspiracy, took steps to prepare for his future advancement on the restoration of the king.
a bottle of wine—a large goatskin vessel. Its size made the supply of wine proportioned to the rest of his present.
2. The asses be for the king's household to ride on—The royal fugitives were moving on foot, not from inability to procure conveyances, but as being suitable to their present state of humiliation and penitence.
3. To-day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father—Such a hope might not unnaturally arise at this period of civil distraction, that the family of David would destroy themselves by their mutual broils, and the people reinstate the old dynasty. There was an air of plausibility in Ziba's story. Many, on whom the king had conferred favors, were now deserting him. No wonder, therefore, that in the excitement of momentary feeling, believing, on the report of a slanderer, Mephibosheth to be among the number, he pronounced a rash and unrighteous judgment by which a great injury was inflicted on the character and interests of a devoted friend.
2Sa 16:5-19. Shimei Curses David.
5-12. when king David came to Bahurim—a city of Benjamin (2Sa 3:16; 19:16). It is, however, only the confines of the district that are here meant.
Shimei, … a man of the family of Saul—The misfortune of his family, and the occupation by David of what they considered their rightful possessions, afforded a natural, if not a justifiable cause for this ebullition of rude insults and violence. He upbraided David as an ambitious usurper, and charged him, as one whose misdeeds had recoiled upon his own head, to surrender a throne to which he was not entitled. His language was that of a man incensed by the wrongs that he conceived had been done to his house. David was guiltless of the crime of which Shimei accused him; but his conscience reminded him of other flagrant iniquities; and he, therefore, regarded the cursing of this man as a chastisement from heaven. His answer to Abishai's proposal evinced the spirit of deep and humble resignation—the spirit of a man who watched the course of Providence, and acknowledged Shimei as the instrument of God's chastening hand. One thing is remarkable, that he acted more independently of the sons of Zeruiah in this season of great distress than he could often muster courage to do in the days of his prosperity and power.
13. went along on the hill's side over against him—as he descended the rough road on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives, "went along on the hill's side"—literally, "the rib of the hill."
threw stones at him—as a mark of contempt and insult.
cast dust—As if to add insult to injury, clouds of dust were thrown by this disloyal subject in the path of his unfortunate sovereign.
14. refreshed themselves there—that is, in the city of Bahurim.
15-19. Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king—Hushai's devotion to David was so well-known, that his presence in the camp of the conspirators excited great surprise. Professing, however, with great address, to consider it his duty to support the cause which the course of Providence and the national will had seemingly decreed should triumph, and urging his friendship for the father as a ground of confidence in his fidelity to the son, he persuaded Absalom of his sincerity, and was admitted among the councillors of the new king.
2Sa 16:20-23. Ahithophel's Counsel.
20. Give counsel among you what we shall do—This is the first cabinet council on record, although the deference paid to Ahithophel gave him the entire direction of the proceedings.
21. Ahithophel said unto Absalom—This councillor saw that now the die was cast; half measures would be inexpedient. To cut off all possibility of reconciliation between the king and his rebellious son, he gave this atrocious advice regarding the treatment of the royal women who had been left in charge of the palace. Women, being held sacred, are generally left inviolate in the casualties of war. The history of the East affords only one parallel to this infamous outrage of Absalom.