Therefore the king said unto Shimei, thou shalt not die ,.... This day by my hands, or order, or by the sword, 1 Kings 2:8 , and the king sware unto him ; that he should not die for that offence, or for that only; but if he committed a new one, this oath was no longer binding on him, and not at all upon his heir and successor. read more
( 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
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
The king sware unto him. David's magnanimity was not the result merely of policy, but also of joyful feeling at seeing all the tribes so readily welcome him back to the throne. But in spite of his oath, he orders Solomon to execute him, regarding what he had done as a sin past forgiveness. In so doing we can hardly acquit David of breaking his oath, even granting that Shimei's repentance was insincere, and that the motive of his actions was the desire simply to save his life. But we must... read more
2 Samuel 19:21-23. Abishai said, Shall not Shimei be put to death? Abishai had before highly resented Shimei’s vile treatment of David, and thought this a fit season for taking revenge. What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? It seems Joab joined with his brother, and together they thought to govern all the king’s motions as they pleased. But he bids them, in a disdainful manner, stand aside, and not intermeddle in this matter. That ye should this day be adversaries unto me? ... read more
David returns to Jerusalem (19:9-43)Because the nation was still deeply divided as a result of Absalom’s revolt, David did not return to Jerusalem immediately. He was waiting for the people to give an indication that they wanted him restored as king. Some people of the northern tribes had suggested they invite David back, but the people of Judah, David’s own tribe, had apparently said nothing (9-10).Knowing the rivalry that existed between Judah and the other tribes, David cunningly suggested... read more
2 Samuel 19:23. The king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die— Shimei was of the house and family of Saul, and a person of great power and influence in the tribe of Benjamin, of whom he had a thousand in his train, when he made his submission to David upon his restoration. The manner in which he accosted David, chap. 2Sa 16:13 when flying from Jerusalem, discovered the inward rancour of his heart, and his readiness to join in any measures to distress and disturb his government, and cause the... read more
David’s return to Jerusalem 19:9-43The only thing the people could do after Absalom had fallen was to return to their former king (2 Samuel 19:11-12). Absalom had found his strongest support among the people of Judah. David did not want the Judahites to conclude that by supporting Absalom they had become his enemies. David extended pardon to them and informed them that he still regarded them as his closest kin. This wise political move helped unite the nation again.". . . David’s reference here... read more
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
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:16-23
Perhaps Jordan was never passed with so much solemnity, nor with so many remarkable occurrences, as it was now, since Israel passed it under Joshua. David, in his afflictive flight, remembered God particularly from the land of Jordan (Ps. 42:6), and now that land, more than any other, was graced with the glories of his return. David's soldiers furnished themselves with accommodations for their passage over this river, but, for his own family, a ferry-boat was sent on purpose, 2 Sam. 19:18. A... read more