32 Now Barzillai H1271 was a very H3966 aged H2204 man, even fourscore H8084 years H8141 old: H1121 and he had provided the king H4428 of sustenance H3557 while he lay H7871 at Mahanaim; H4266 for he was a very H3966 great H1419 man. H376
33 And the king H4428 said H559 unto Barzillai, H1271 Come thou over H5674 with me, and I will feed H3557 thee with me in Jerusalem. H3389
34 And Barzillai H1271 said H559 unto the king, H4428 How long H3117 have I to live, H8141 H2416 that I should go up H5927 with the king H4428 unto Jerusalem? H3389
35 I am this day H3117 fourscore H8084 years H8141 old: H1121 and can I discern H3045 between good H2896 and evil? H7451 can thy servant H5650 taste H2938 what H834 I eat H398 or what H834 I drink? H8354 can I hear H8085 any more the voice H6963 of singing men H7891 and singing women? H7891 wherefore then should thy servant H5650 be yet a burden H4853 unto my lord H113 the king? H4428
36 Thy servant H5650 will go H5674 a little way H4592 over H5674 Jordan H3383 with the king: H4428 and why should the king H4428 recompense H1580 it me with such a reward? H1578
37 Let thy servant, H5650 I pray thee, turn back again, H7725 that I may die H4191 in mine own city, H5892 and be buried by the grave H6913 of my father H1 and of my mother. H517 But behold thy servant H5650 Chimham; H3643 let him go over H5674 with my lord H113 the king; H4428 and do H6213 to him what shall seem good H2896 H5869 unto thee.
38 And the king H4428 answered, H559 Chimham H3643 shall go H5674 over with me, and I will do H6213 to him that which shall seem good H2896 H5869 unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require H977 of me, that will I do H6213 for thee.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Samuel 19
Commentary on 2 Samuel 19 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 19
We left David's army in triumph and yet David himself in tears: now here we have,
2Sa 19:1-8
Soon after the messengers had brought the news of the defeat and death of Absalom to the court of Mahanaim, Joab and his victorious army followed, to grace the king's triumphs and receive his further orders. Now here we are told,
2Sa 19:9-15
It is strange that David did not immediately upon the defeat and dispersion of Absalom's forces march with all expedition back to Jerusalem, to regain the possession of his capital city, while the rebels were in confusion and before they could rally again. What occasion was there to bring him back? Could not he himself go back with the victorious army he had with him in Gilead? He could, no doubt; but,
2Sa 19:16-23
Perhaps Jordan was never passed with so much solemnity, nor with so many remarkable occurrences, as it was now, since Israel passed it under Joshua. David, in his afflictive flight, remembered God particularly from the land of Jordan (Ps. 42:6), and now that land, more than any other, was graced with the glories of his return. David's soldiers furnished themselves with accommodations for their passage over this river, but, for his own family, a ferry-boat was sent on purpose, v. 18. A fleet of boats, say some; a bridge of boats was made, say others; the best convenience they had to serve him with. Two remarkable persons met him on the banks of Jordan, both of whom had abused him wretchedly when he was in his flight.
2Sa 19:24-30
The day of David's return was a day of bringing to remembrance, a day of account, in which what had passed in his flight was called over again; among other things, after the case of Shimei, that of Mephibosheth comes to be enquired into, and he himself brings it on.
2Sa 19:31-39
David had already graced the triumphs of his restoration with the generous remission of the injuries that had been done to him; we have him here gracing them with a no less generous reward of the kindnesses that had been shown to him. Barzillai, the Gileadite, who had a noble seat at Rogelim, not far from Mahanaim, was the man who, of all the nobility and gentry of that country, had been most kind to David in his distress. If Absalom had prevailed, it is likely he would have suffered for his loyalty; but now he and his shall be no losers by it. Here is,
2Sa 19:40-43
David came over Jordan attended and assisted only by the men of Judah; but when he had advanced as far as Gilgal, the first stage on this side Jordan, half the people of Israel (that is, of their elders and great men) had come to wait upon him, to kiss his hand, and congratulate him on his return, but found they came too late to witness the solemnity of his first entrance. This put them out of humour, and occasioned a quarrel between them and the men of Judah, which was a damp to the joy of the day, and the beginning of further mischief. Here is,