2 Samuel 16:1-23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 16:8

The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul ,.... Which he would suggest was shed by David, or, however, that he was the cause of its being shed; as if he had stirred up the Philistines to that battle in which Saul and his sons were slain, and had an hand secretly in the deaths of Ishbosheth and Abner, all which were false insinuations; and it may be the seven sons of Saul before this time, though after related, were delivered into the hands of the Gibeonites to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 16:9

Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king ,.... A sister's son of his, and a general in the army, who could not bear to hear the king abused in this manner: why should this dead dog curse my lord the king ? be suffered to do it with impunity; a "dog" he calls him, because of his vileness and baseness, and because of his impudence, and on account of his reproachful and abusive language, aptly signified by the snarling and barking of a dog; and a "dead" dog, as being useless,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 16:10

And the king said, what have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah ?.... It seems as if Joab, the brother of Abishai, joined with him in this request to have leave to take off the head of Shimei; and though David had to do with them as his relations, his sister's sons, and as they were generals in his army; yet in this case he would have nothing to do with them, would not take their advice, nor suffer them to take revenge on this man for his cursing him: or "what is it to me, or to you" ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 16:11

And David said to Abishai, and all his servants ,.... In order to make them easy, and reconcile them to this usage of him: behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life ; meaning Absalom: how much more now may this Benjamite do it ? who was not only of the same tribe that Saul was, but of the same family, and so bore an ill will to David because of his succession in the throne: let him alone, and let him curse ; do nothing to restrain him, not even by words,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 16:12

It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction ,.... Through the rebellion of his son, and now aggravated by the cursing of Shimei; that is, with an eye of pity and commiseration, and deliver him out of it: or "look upon my eye" F24 בעיני "in oculum meum", Montanus; "oculum meum lachrymantem", Munster. ; for there is a various reading; the tear of mine eye, as the Targum; so Jarchi and R. Isaiah; the tears in it, which fell plentifully from it, on account of his troubles, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 16:13

And as David and his men went by the way ,.... In the high road that led to Bahurim, taking no notice of the cursing of Shimei, which made him bolder and more impudent; here is a large pause in the Hebrew text, in the midst of this verse: Shimei went along on the hill side over against him ; as David and his men walked in the plain, he went on a range of hills that ran along right against them: and cursed as he went ; continued his curses and imprecations, to which he was the more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 16:14

And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary ,.... With their journey, and through grief and trouble at what they met with: and refreshed themselves there : that is, at Bahurim, with food and rest; which revived their spirits, and put as it were new life and soul into them, as the word used signifies. Josephus F25 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 9. sect. 4. says, when David came to Jordan, he refreshed his weary men. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 16:15

And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem ,.... At the same time that David and his people came to Bahurim; which, as Josephus F26 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 9. sect. 4. says, was a place near to Jerusalem; and, according to Bunting F1 Travels, &c.; p. 144. , was little more than a mile from it; though elsewhere F2 Ib. p. 150. he makes it three miles; so that had not David made the hasty flight he did, he had fallen into the hands of Absalom: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 16:16

And it came to pass that when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom ,.... Who came into Jerusalem at the same time that Absalom did, and who, no doubt, took the first opportunity to make his court to him, 2 Samuel 15:37 , that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king ; or "may the king live" F3 יחי המלך "vivat rex", Pagninus. Montanus, &c.; , live long, and his kingdom be permanent; these words are very ambiguous, he might mean... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 16:17

And Absalom said to Hushai, is this thy kindness to thy friend ?.... Meaning to David; though he would not mention his name, nor his title, nor even the relation of a father he stood in to him, only speaks of him as Hushai's friend: Hushai had professed great friendship to David, and David had been a friend to Hushai, had raised him to great honour in making him a counsellor, and had bestowed many favours and benefits on him, as Absalom knew full well; and therefore, to try his integrity,... read more

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