2 Samuel 19:1
And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. Ver. 1. _And it was told Joab._] By Ahimaaz and Cushi, likely. _ And mourneth._] Showeth his sorrow by habit and gesture, as Exodus 33:4 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. Ver. 1. _And it was told Joab._] By Ahimaaz and Cushi, likely. _ And mourneth._] Showeth his sorrow by habit and gesture, as Exodus 33:4 .... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _Was turned into mourning unto all the people._] _Nullos habitura triumphos,_ as the poet saith of the civil wars of Rome. _ The king was grieved... [ Continue Reading ]
And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. Ver. 3. _And the people gat them by stealth._] As if they had fled in the battle, and were ashamed of their cowardice; or like a dog that claps his tail between his legs, and gett... [ Continue Reading ]
But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! Ver. 4. _But the king covered his face._] After the manner of mourners. See 2 Samuel 15:20. _Aut prae pudore, ne flere videtur,_ saith Vatablus, - for shame, lest he should be seen to w... [ Continue Reading ]
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; Ver. 5. _And Joab came into the house to the... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 6. _And hatest thy friends._] This was... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 7. _Now therefore arise, go forth.... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 8. _Then the king arose, and sat in the gate._] Though thus harshly roused out of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 9. _And all the people were at strife._] Hereby it appeareth... [ Continue Reading ]
And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? Ver. 10. And Absalom … is dead.] By "the wrath of God revealed from heaven" against both him and us for so mad an attempt: and should we not now return to our right minds?... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 11. _Speak unto the elders of Judah._] Who having been mo... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye [are] my brethren, ye [are] my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king? Ver. 12. _Ye are my brethren._] Which only title is sufficient to stint all strife, if well considered. _ Ye are my bones and my flesh._] Now, "no man ever hated his own flesh," (hurt his o... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 13. _And say ye to Amasa._] Who having been Absalom's captain general, had still the command of the strong tower of Zio... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 14. _And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah._] David did: so doth God bow and draw the hearts of his elect, by motions of merc... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 15. _And Judah came to Gilgal._] The rendezvous was there. But why were not the rest of the tribes acquainted therewith? Had not they first shown their forwardness to re... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 16. And Shimei … hasted and came down.] As hoping that he also should get pardon among the many; who were faulty too, but not so deeply as himself. It is good thrusti... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 17. _And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him._] And, as some think, under him as their c... [ Continue Reading ]
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; Ver. 18. _And there went over a ferry boat._] _Ponto._ This boat the tribe of Judah had sent before, and Shimei with... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 19. _Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me._] He justly feared punis... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 20. _For thy servant doth know that I have sinned._] Thus the fox taken in a toil looketh pitifully, but it is only that he may get out.... [ Continue Reading ]
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed? Ver. 21. Because he cursed the Lord's anointed?] Or, Inasmuch as he cursed, &c. Shall he be therefore spared, because he hath acknowledged his fault after a sort, and... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 22. _Shall there any man be put to death this day?_] Which is, as it... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him. Ver. 23. _Thou shalt not die._] _Quod me attingit tibi condono; et facti iudicium aliis relinquo:_ I pardon thee for my part, and leave others to judge of thy fact, and to deal with thee as is meet, for thy future... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 24. _And had neither dressed his feet._] Which in those parts were frequently fou... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 25. _When he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king._] Or, When Jerusalem went to meet the king, as they did fully and wholly at his return. Mephi... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 26. _My servant deceived me._] He doth not say, My servant hath by false informations and unjust accusations got... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 27. _And he hath slandered thy servant._] _Traduxit, detulit per criminationem falsam._ The slanderer's tonic, as sharp as the quills of a porcupine... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 28. For all of my father's house were but dead men,] _sc., _ For our siding with I... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. Ver. 29. _I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land._] _Condemnatur hic Mephiboshethus ex asse._ David now, in haste, and full of business, passeth an unjust sentence; intending, perh... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 30. _Yea, let him take all_] _Ego enim satis dives ac beatus mihi videor,_ for I am well enough and rich enough, now that thou art safe returned. Seneca could sa... [ Continue Reading ]
And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. Ver. 31. _And Barzillai the Gileadite came down._] He was one of those three that had brought provision to him. 2Sa 17:27-28 Of the other two we hear no more. Some suspect that David... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 32. _Now Barzillai was a very aged man._] _Senex quasi seminex,_ he had lost his colour, but had kept his sweet savour with the ros... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. Ver. 33. _I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem._] God is not unrighteous to forget their labour of love who do minister to his saints, and feed his poor afflicted. Mat 25:34-35 Heb 6:10... [ Continue Reading ]
And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? Ver. 34. _How long have I to live?_] _q.d., _ My breath is corrupt - or, my spirits are spent - my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me, as Job 17:1. _Pedetentim morior,_ as that ol... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 35. _Can I discern between... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? Ver. 36. _And why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?_] The saints in heaven say so doubtless; being wholly swallowed up with admiration at that "excessive and e... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 37. _That I may die in mine own cit... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 38. _Chimham shall go over with me._] See on 2 Samuel 9:7 .... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 39. _And blessed him._] _Benedixit,_ i.e., _valedixit ei._ At parting he prayed hard for him, and so dismissed him, not without many thanks for... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 40. _And also half the people of Israel._] _i.e., _ A part of them; so many as well could, and had a mind to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 41. Why have they … stolen thee away?] Fetched thee home without our pr... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 42. Have we eaten at all of the king's cost?] Have we, as parasites, used our tongu... [ Continue Reading ]
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 th... [ Continue Reading ]