5 And Joab H3097 came H935 into the house H1004 to the king, H4428 and said, H559 Thou hast shamed H3001 this day H3117 the faces H6440 of all thy servants, H5650 which this day H3117 have saved H4422 thy life, H5315 and the lives H5315 of thy sons H1121 and of thy daughters, H1323 and the lives H5315 of thy wives, H802 and the lives H5315 of thy concubines; H6370
6 In that thou lovest H157 thine enemies, H8130 and hatest H8130 thy friends. H157 For thou hast declared H5046 this day, H3117 that thou regardest neither princes H8269 nor servants: H5650 for this day H3117 I perceive, H3045 that if H3863 Absalom H53 had lived, H2416 and all we had died H4191 this day, H3117 then it had pleased thee well. H3477 H5869
7 Now therefore arise, H6965 go forth, H3318 and speak H1696 comfortably H3820 unto thy servants: H5650 for I swear H7650 by the LORD, H3068 if thou go not forth, H3318 there will not tarry H3885 one H376 with thee this night: H3915 and that will be worse H7489 unto thee than all the evil H7451 that befell H935 thee from thy youth H5271 until now.
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,