19:1 Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.”
David wept for a son who hated him and attempted to murder him. He did not weep for others who loved him, fought for him, and died for him.
19:2 So the victory of that day was turned to mourning as far as all the people were concerned. For the people heard on that day, “The king is grieved over his son.”
Instead of celebrating a victory, the people experienced the war as a loss.
19:3 That day the people stole away to go to the city the way people who are embarrassed steal away in fleeing from battle.
Many of the soldiers were angry that they fought for a king who was mourning their enemy. They snuck out of the city in embarrassment.
19:4 The king covered his face and cried out loudly, “My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
This open mourning by David was beginning to make David’s soldiers angry. David was mourning a very dangerous enemy who was attempting to kill David, his family, his servants, and his army.
19:5 So Joab visited the king at his home. He said, “Today you have embarrassed all your servants who have saved your life this day, as well as the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines.
General Joab mentioned the dangers of army morale to King David.
19:6 You seem to love your enemies and hate your friends! For you have as much as declared today that leaders and servants don’t matter to you. I realize now that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, it would be all right with you.
Joab’s comment was that David would have been happier if Absalom lived and his soldiers died. This rumor must have penetrated and discouraged the entire army.
19:7 So get up now and go out and give some encouragement to your servants. For I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out there, not a single man will stay here with you tonight! This disaster will be worse for you than any disaster that has overtaken you from your youth right to the present time!”
Joab warned David that he was about to create political disaster.
19:8 So the king got up and sat at the city gate. When all the people were informed that the king was sitting at the city gate, they all came before him. But the Israelite soldiers had all fled to their own homes.
The city gate was the official court house of the Israelite government. Many of the other Israelite soldiers had already gone home. David was going to attempt to salvage his political career.
David Goes Back to Jerusalem
19:9 All the people throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies. He rescued us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.
There were different opinions on rather David should be returned to the monarchy. Some people believed that he should be returned, because he conquered the enemies of Israel. Others feared David, because they thought that he might eliminate those who sided with Absalom.
19:10 But Absalom, whom we anointed as our king, has died in battle. So now why do you hesitate to bring the king back?”
The leaders pointed out that David was anointed as king by the prophets. Therefore, he should be king, because he was God’s choice.
19:11 Then King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests saying, “Tell the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you delay any further in bringing the king back to his palace, when everything Israel is saying has come to the king’s attention.
King David sent a message to the elders of Judah.
19:12 You are my brothers – my very own flesh and blood! Why should you delay any further in bringing the king back?’
David was from the tribe of Judah. They should have been the first to welcome him back to the monarchy.
19:13 Say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my flesh and blood? God will punish me severely, if from this time on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’”
General Joab killed Absalom. This was a violation of King David’s orders. For discipline, David replaced Joab with Amasa. Amasa was the commander of Absalom’s army. Since Amasa was allowed to serve David, even though he rebelled against him, then David would not show hostility to any of the other men who fought against them.
19:14 He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. Then they sent word to the king saying, “Return, you and all your servants as well.”
After General Amasa was not punished, but promoted to commanding general, then the rest of Judah joined with David.
19:15 So the king returned and came to the Jordan River.
Now the people of Judah had come to Gilgal to meet the king and to help him cross the Jordan.
The tribe of Judah came to support David as the returning king of Israel.
19:16 Shimei son of Gera the Benjaminite from Bahurim came down quickly with the men of Judah to meet King David.
Shemei was the Benjaminite who had insulted and slandered David when he was fleeing from Saul.
19:17 There were a thousand men from Benjamin with him, along with Ziba the servant of Saul’s household, and with him his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They hurriedly crossed the Jordan within sight of the king.
The people who appeared at the crossing of the Jordan were demonstrating to David their loyalty to him.
19:18 They crossed at the ford in order to help the king’s household cross and to do whatever he thought appropriate. Now after he had crossed the Jordan, Shimei son of Gera threw himself down before the king.
Since David was back in power, Shimei attempted to regain David’s trust.
19:19 He said to the king, “Don’t think badly of me, my lord, and don’t recall the sin of your servant on the day when you, my lord the king, left Jerusalem! Please don’t call it to mind!
Shimei asked David to forgive him for his previous disloyalty and verbal abuse.
19:20 For I, your servant, know that I sinned, and I have come today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”
Shimei was from the house of the Benjaminites. The house of Joseph was the house of Ephraim. Ephraim was the largest tribe in Israel. The ten northern tribes were often referred collectively as Ephraim.
19:21 Abishai son of Zeruiah replied, “For this should not Shimei be put to death? After all, he cursed the Lord’s anointed!”
General Abishai was David’s nephew and Joab’s little brother. He wanted to execute Shimei for treason.
19:22 But David said, “What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? You are like my enemy today! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don’t you realize that today I am king over Israel?”
David did not want to execute anyone on his new day of coronation.
19:23 The king said to Shimei, “You won’t die.” The king vowed an oath concerning this.
Later, on his death bed, David would call for the execution of Shimei.
19:24 Now Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, came down to meet the king. From the day the king had left until the day he safely returned, Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet nor trimmed his mustache nor washed his clothes.
Mephibosheth’s servant had accused him of treason. Some human theologians argue that Mephibosheth did commit treason against King David. This appearance was just for show to regain David’s allegiance. However, the Holy Spirit recorded through human authors that this mourning started the day when King David departed from Jerusalem. This documentation meant that the mourning was sincere.
19:25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”
King David questioned Mephibosheth about his loyalty.
19:26 He replied, “My lord the king, my servant deceived me! I said, ‘Let me get my donkey saddled so that I can ride on it and go with the king,’ for I am lame.
Mephibosheth told David that he had been deceived by his servant.
19:27 But my servant has slandered me to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like an angel of God. Do whatever seems appropriate to you.
Mephibosheth invited David to make his own decision regarding his loyalty.
19:28 After all, there was no one in the entire house of my grandfather who did not deserve death from my lord the king. But instead you allowed me to eat at your own table! What further claim do I have to ask the king for anything?”
Mephibosheth appreciated his special royal care that he was receiving from David.
19:29 Then the king replied to him, “Why should you continue speaking like this? You and Ziba will inherit the field together.”
King David decided to reinstate the land to both Mephibosheth and Ziba. David might have wanted to do more research on this issue.
19:30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him have the whole thing! My lord the king has returned safely to his house!”
Mephibosheth showed his loyalty to King David by offering all of the land to Ziba. This would show David that he was not a co-conspirator. He trusted David to take care of him, because of David’s promise to his father Jonathan.
19:31 Now when Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, he crossed the Jordan with the king so he could send him on his way from there.
Barzilliai was one of the main supporters of David during his flight from Absalom. He provided David with many supplies that he would need in the wilderness.
19:32 But Barzillai was very old – eighty years old, in fact – and he had taken care of the king when he stayed in Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man.
Barzillai was very wealthy. He took care of the king and his soldiers while they were stationed in Mahanaim.
19:33 So the king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will take care of you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”
David offered Barzillia to cross over and become part of the royal house.
19:34 Barzillai replied to the king, “How many days do I have left to my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
Barzillai was too old to accept this request.
19:35 I am presently eighty years old. Am I able to discern good and bad? Can I taste what I eat and drink? Am I still able to hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should I continue to be a burden to my lord the king?
Barzillai had lost much of his taste and hearing. The luxuries of royalty did not appeal to him.
19:36 I will cross the Jordan with the king and go a short distance. Why should the king reward me in this way?
Barzillai decided to travel a short distance with David.
19:37 Let me return so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But look, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems appropriate to you.”
Barzillai wanted to live in his city of Mahanaim until he died. Instead, he asked if David would take Kimham into his royal house. Kimham may have been one of Barzillai’s sons.
19:38 The king replied, “Kimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever I deem appropriate. And whatever you choose, I will do for you.”
David agreed to take Kimham into his royal house.
19:39 So all the people crossed the Jordan, as did the king. After the king had kissed him and blessed him, Barzillai returned to his home.
David and Barzillai departed as friends.
19:40 When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed over with him. Now all the soldiers of Judah along with half of the soldiers of Israel had helped the king cross over.
David received a military escort over the Jordan River.
19:41 Then all the men of Israel began coming to the king. They asked the king, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, sneak the king away and help the king and his household cross the Jordan – and not only him but all of David’s men as well?”
The rest of the tribes were angry at Judah for sneaking King David across the Jordan. The other tribes wanted to show their loyalty to David as well. This jealousy between Judah and the other tribes will later lead to civil war and a divided monarchy.
19:42 All the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “Because the king is our close relative! Why are you so upset about this? Have we eaten at the king’s expense? Or have we misappropriated anything for our own use?”
Judah responded that King David was from their own tribe.
19:43 The men of Israel replied to the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and we have a greater claim on David than you do! Why do you want to curse us? Weren’t we the first to suggest bringing back our king?” But the comments of the men of Judah were more severe than those of the men of Israel.
Israel’s response was that the ten tribes weighed more heavily on Israel’s needs than just the one tribe of Judah. The seeds of rebellion were being planted.