2 Samuel 19:8-20:26 NLT

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 19:8

8. the king arose, and sat in the gate—He appeared daily in the usual place for the hearing of causes. all the people came before the king—that is, the loyal natives who had been faithful to his government, and fought in his cause. Israel had fled—that is, the adherents of Absalom, who, on his defeat, had dispersed and saved themselves by flight. :-. THE ISRAELITES BRING THE KING BACK. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 19:1-43

David’s Return to JerusalemDavid’s excessive grief for Absalom is rebuked by Joab. He punishes Joab for Absalom’s death by making Amasa commander of the army. The details of his return to Jerusalem are given, with the strife it caused between the men of Israel and the men of Judah.David has often been accused of ingratitude on account of his treatment of Joab. It has been urged that he would never have been secure with Absalom at liberty, and Joab knew how uncertain was his master’s mind. On... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 19:8

(8) For Israel had fled.—Translate, but Israel fled; “Israel” being used here, as throughout this narrative (see 2 Samuel 16:15; 2 Samuel 16:18; 2 Samuel 17:5; 2 Samuel 17:14-15; 2 Samuel 17:24; 2 Samuel 17:26; 2 Samuel 18:6-7; 2 Samuel 18:16-17), for those who had espoused the cause of Absalom. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 2 Samuel 19:1-43

Bringing the King Back 2 Samuel 19:10 The rebellion was over; Absalom was dead; the messengers had not hesitated to bring what they thought would be the good tidings to the king. But how could they be good tidings, remembering the wonderful love which he bore for his son? A plaintive cry went up from him when he realized the fullness of the news, and he wished he had died instead. The joy of victory was turned to mourning; the people heard of the sorrow of the king, and little could they... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:5-30

CHAPTER XXV.THE RESTORATION.2 Samuel 19:5-30.O rouse one’s self from the prostration of grief, and grapple anew with the cares of life, is hard indeed. Among the poorer classes of society, it is hardly possible to let grief have its swing; amid suppressed and struggling emotions the poor man must return to his daily toil. The warrior, too, in the heat of conflict has hardly time to drop a tear over the tomb of his comrade or his brother. But where leisure is possible, the bereaved heart does... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 2 Samuel 19:1-43

9. The Return of the King CHAPTER 19 1. The continued grief of the king (2 Samuel 19:1-8 ) 2. The return of the king (2 Samuel 19:9-16 ) 3. Mercy shown to Shimei (2 Samuel 19:17-23 ) 4. Mephibosheth’s joy (2 Samuel 19:24-30 ) 5. Barzillai and Chimham (2 Samuel 19:31-40 ) 6. Strife between Judah and Israel (2 Samuel 19:41-43 ) What grief must have been David’s that “the victory of that day was turned into mourning”? And the people went about on tip-toe, like people ashamed after... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Samuel 19:8

19:8 Then the king arose, and sat in the {c} 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.(c) Where the most resort of the people haunted. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 19:1-43

Joab hears of David's mourning for Absalom, and the people take this as an indication that perhaps it was wrong to win the battle. At least it subdued their pride of winning. We all need to take to heart the exhortation of Proverbs 24:7, "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls." While we may be rightly thankful that the Lord Jesus will subdue all His enemies, yet we ought to feel the sorrow of their having to be judged. In some measure this was no doubt good for the people, but David carried it... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:1-43

BRINGING BACK THE KING AN OVERZEALOUS SE RV ANT (2 Samuel 19:1-8 ) Joab was to David what Bismarck was to King William. He had the same iron in his blood, but sometimes, like the latter, he overdid things. The kaiser was glad to be rid of Bismarck, and Joab’s conduct towards David is preparing the way for his successor. Those were too strong words he used in 2 Samuel 19:7 , and show the power he assumed over the army. A BACKWARD PEOPLE (2 Samuel 19:9-15 ) Judah, the king’s tribe,... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 2 Samuel 19:1-43

Pine Traits In the Character of David 2 Samuel 17-19 IT will have been observed that we have not spared king David in our judgment of the evil which he wrought in Israel. We have been careful to mete out to him the full penalty, so that the scoffer should have no advantage over the Christian in condemning the iniquity of the king. We ourselves have trembled under the thunders of the judgment which has been pronounced upon him. Sometimes as the hot sentences fell we almost cried out, Spare the... read more