2 Samuel 19

King James Version

Full text for 2 Samuel Chapter 19

1¶ And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

2And 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.

3And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

4But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

5And 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;

6In 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.

7Now 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.

8Then 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.

10And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

11And 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.

12Ye [are] my brethren, ye [are] my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

13And 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.

14And 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.

15So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

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.

17And [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.

18And 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;

19And 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.

20For 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.

21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?

22And 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?

23Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

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.

25And 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?

26And 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.

27And 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.

28For 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?

29And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

30And 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.

31¶ And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

32Now 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.

33And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

34And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

35I [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?

36Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

37Let 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.

38And 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.

39And 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.

41And, 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?

42And 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?

43And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King David's excessive mourning for Absalom is sternly rebuked by Joab, prompting David to re-engage with his loyal subjects. David then orchestrates his return to Jerusalem, appealing to Judah's loyalty and pardoning Shimei and addressing Mephibosheth's situation. The chapter concludes with Barzillai's farewell and a growing dispute between the tribes of Israel and Judah over their respective roles in the king's restoration.

Medium Summary

Following Absalom's defeat, King David's profound grief alienates his victorious army, leading Joab to sternly admonish him to acknowledge his loyal servants. David heeds this counsel, sitting at the city gate to receive his people, who had withdrawn in shame. Subsequently, David initiates his return to Jerusalem by sending word to the priests, urging the men of Judah to lead his restoration, and promising Amasa the command of the army. As he crosses Jordan, Shimei, who had cursed David, seeks and receives a pardon, despite Abishai's protest. Mephibosheth also meets the king, explaining his absence by accusing Ziba of deceit, though David maintains his previous ruling regarding their land. Finally, the aged Barzillai, who supported David in exile, declines the king's invitation to Jerusalem, sending his servant Chimham in his stead, while a significant dispute erupts between the men of Israel and Judah concerning their prerogative in bringing the king back.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with King David's deep and public mourning for his rebellious son, Absalom, which casts a shadow over the recent victory and causes his loyal soldiers to retreat into the city in shame. Joab confronts the king directly, rebuking him for showing more affection for his enemy than for his loyal servants who risked their lives for him, warning that continued alienation would lead to the complete abandonment of his kingdom. Heeding Joab's urgent counsel, David arises and sits at the city gate, receiving his people and restoring their morale. Meanwhile, throughout Israel, the people debate the king's return, acknowledging his past leadership but questioning his flight. David, aware of the shifting sentiment, strategically sends messages to the priests Zadok and Abiathar, instructing them to appeal to the elders of Judah, emphasizing their kinship and urging them to be the first to bring him back. He further solidifies his position by promising Amasa, Absalom's former captain, the permanent command of his army in place of Joab. This diplomatic overture sways the men of Judah, who send word for the king to return, meeting him at the Jordan River. As David prepares to cross, Shimei, a Benjamite who had cursed David during his flight, prostrates himself and pleads for forgiveness. Abishai, one of David's loyal commanders, advocates for Shimei's execution, but David, asserting his royal authority and desiring a day of peace and restoration, grants Shimei a sworn pardon. Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, also comes to meet the king, presenting himself unkempt as a sign of mourning, and explains that his servant Ziba had deceived him regarding his inability to join David. David, without fully resolving the truth of the matter, reiterates his earlier command for Mephibosheth and Ziba to divide the land, to which Mephibosheth humbly assents, content with the king's safe return. The aged Barzillai, who had provided for David during his exile, accompanies the king across Jordan. David invites Barzillai to reside with him in Jerusalem, but Barzillai declines due to his advanced age, requesting instead that his servant Chimham be taken into the king's care, a request David readily grants. The chapter concludes with a heated dispute between the men of Israel and Judah, as Israel accuses Judah of monopolizing the king's return, while Judah asserts their closer kinship as justification, leading to sharp words and underlying tribal tensions.

Core Concepts

  • King's Grief and LeadershipDavid's profound sorrow for Absalom initially paralyzes his leadership, causing his loyal subjects to feel shamed and unappreciated, demonstrating the impact of a leader's emotional state on his people.
  • Joab's Pragmatic CounselJoab, David's commander, delivers a harsh but necessary rebuke to the king, prioritizing the morale and loyalty of the army over David's personal grief, highlighting the practical demands of governance.
  • Restoration of KingshipDavid actively orchestrates his return to power, employing diplomacy by appealing to the elders of Judah through kinship and offering a strategic promotion to Amasa, demonstrating his political acumen in reclaiming his throne.
  • Royal Pardon and MercyDavid demonstrates a significant act of clemency by pardoning Shimei, who had cursed him, choosing to establish his restored reign with an act of mercy rather than retribution, despite the counsel of his loyalists.
  • Loyalty and DeceptionThe interactions with Mephibosheth and Barzillai illustrate varying forms of loyalty; Mephibosheth claims his servant Ziba's deception, while Barzillai exemplifies steadfast support during exile, highlighting the complexities of allegiance.
  • Tribal RivalryThe concluding dispute between the men of Israel and Judah over who had the primary right to bring the king back reveals deep-seated tribal tensions and a struggle for influence and recognition within the kingdom.