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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:13

Of my bone, and of my flesh; Hebrew, art thou not my bone and my flesh?— a most near and dear relative. It is difficult to understand why in the Authorized Version this common metaphor in the Hebrew has been so meddled with, Ewald thinks that this purposed degradation of Joab and the substitution of Amasa in his stead was a wise and politic act. It was to some extent just, for Joab was a man stained with many murders; but politic it was not. Passing over the fact that Amasa had actually... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:14

And he bowed, etc. It was not Amasa, but David, who made all the members of his tribe unanimous in his recall. And not only were the high priests active in his cause, but David, He may feel sure, sent numerous messages to all the more powerful men, assuring them of forgiveness and favour. In his general policy he was right. After the solemn anointing of Absalom, it was necessary for him to wait until some equally public and national act authorized his resumption of the royal power; and delay... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:15

Gilgal . As Gilgal lay upon the west bank of the Jordan ( Joshua 5:9 ), near Jericho and the fords, it was a convenient place for the elders of Judah to await there the king. During the crossing, two interesting events happened—the meeting of Shimei and David, and the leave taking of Barzillai the Gileadite. Shortly afterwards came the apology of Mephibosheth but it is uncertain whether he was among those who had come to Gilgal to welcome the king. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:15

David's return to Jerusalem. "And David returned, and came to the Jordan" (the eastern bank; while Judah came to Gilgal, joined by Shimei and Ziba; and a ferry boat was passing to and fro to carry over the king's household, 2 Samuel 19:18 ); crossed over (to the western bank, conducted by Judah and half the people of Israel, 2 Samuel 19:39 , 2 Samuel 19:40 ); came to Gilgal (where all the men of Israel met him, and a new contention arose, 2 Samuel 19:41 ; 2 Samuel 21:1 ); and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:16

Shimei the son of Gera. The fact that he came attended by a thousand men of the tribe of Benjamin is a proof, not only that he was a person of influence, but that he had exerted himself to bring over his tribesmen to David's side. His adherence was, therefore, of importance. Ziba had always professed allegiance to David, and as he virtually represented the house of Stud, his presence was also valuable, even if prompted by the desire to keep Mephibosheth's land. For though Absalom seemed to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:16-23

( THE JORDAN .) The pardon of Shimei. The conduct of Shimei towards David in his flight ( 2 Samuel 16:5 ) was base and iniquitous. "The wheel turns round once more; Absalom is cast down and David returns in peace. Shimei suits his behaviour to the occasion, and is the first man, also, who hastes to greet him; and had the wheel turned round a hundred times, Shimei, I dare say, in every period of its rotation would have been uppermost" (Sterne). But he may have been actuated by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:16-30

The facts are: 1 . Shimei, with a considerable Benjamite following, including Ziba and his household, joins the men of Judah to meet David at the Jordan. 2 . Previous to the king being ferried over, Shimei falls down before him, confesses his past sins, and pleads for mercy, and urges as evidence of sincerity that he is the first to come and bid the king welcome. 3 . On Abishai expressing his feeling that Shimei should rather be put to death for his evil deeds, David resents the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:17

They went over Jordan before the king . This might mean that, in bringing the king across, Shimei and the Benjamites led the way. But, first, the verb, which is a rare one, means that they dashed through the river impetuously; and secondly, before the king, means "in the king's presence." While the tribe of Judah remained on the left bank to receive the king on his landing, Shimei and Ziba sought favour by a show of excessive zeal, and forded the Jordan, so as to be the first to welcome... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:18

And there went over a ferry boat; more correctly, and the ferry boat kept crossing, went backwards and forwards to bring the king's household over. Shimei … fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan. If this translation were right, instead of fording the river, Shimei would have waited on the western bank. Some commentators do take this view, but it is contradicted by the latter part of 2 Samuel 19:17 . Really the Hebrew words signify no more than "at his crossing the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:20

The first … of all the house of Joseph. Shimei, who was a Benjamite, could not have thus claimed to be the representative of the northern tribes, had he remained on the western bank, where "half the people of Israel" were assembled. Strictly, "the house of Joseph" signified the tribe of Ephraim ( 1:22 , 1:35 ; and comp. Psalms 78:67 ), and in this sense Shimei did not belong to it. But Ephraim claimed a supremacy over all Israel; and one cause of the opposition to David certainly was... read more

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