2 Samuel 19:8-43 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:1-8

Soon after the messengers had brought the news of the defeat and death of Absalom to the court of Mahanaim, Joab and his victorious army followed, to grace the king's triumphs and receive his further orders. Now here we are told, I. What a damp and disappointment it was to them to find the king in tears for Absalom's death, which they construed as a token of displeasure against them for what they had done, whereas they expected him to have met them with joy and thanks for their good services:... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:9-15

It is strange that David did not immediately upon the defeat and dispersion of Absalom's forces march with all expedition back to Jerusalem, to regain the possession of his capital city, while the rebels were in confusion and before they could rally again. What occasion was there to bring him back? Could not he himself go back with the victorious army he had with him in Gilead? He could, no doubt; but, 1. He would go back as a prince, with the consent and unanimous approbation of the people,... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:24-30

The day of David's return was a day of bringing to remembrance, a day of account, in which what had passed in his flight was called over again; among other things, after the case of Shimei, that of Mephibosheth comes to be enquired into, and he himself brings it on. I. He went down in the crowd to meet the king (2 Sam. 19:24), and as a proof of the sincerity of his joy in the king's return, we are here told what a true mourner he was for the king's banishment. During that melancholy time, when... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:31-39

David had already graced the triumphs of his restoration with the generous remission of the injuries that had been done to him; we have him here gracing them with a no less generous reward of the kindnesses that had been shown to him. Barzillai, the Gileadite, who had a noble seat at Rogelim, not far from Mahanaim, was the man who, of all the nobility and gentry of that country, had been most kind to David in his distress. If Absalom had prevailed, it is likely he would have suffered for his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:40-43

David came over Jordan attended and assisted only by the men of Judah; but when he had advanced as far as Gilgal, the first stage on this side Jordan, half the people of Israel (that is, of their elders and great men) had come to wait upon him, to kiss his hand, and congratulate him on his return, but found they came too late to witness the solemnity of his first entrance. This put them out of humour, and occasioned a quarrel between them and the men of Judah, which was a damp to the joy of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:8

Than the king arose, and sat in the gate ,.... Of the city, a public place, where the inhabitants met on divers accounts at times, and where there were always people passing and repassing: and they told unto all the people ; or it was reported to the soldiers particularly: saying, behold the king doth sit in the gate ; has laid aside his mourning, appears in public, and receives his friends, and attends to business: and all the people came before the king ; to congratulate him on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:9

And all the people were at strife through all the tribes of Israel ,.... Excepting the tribe of Judah; they blamed and reproved one another for taking part with Absalom in the rebellion, and especially for their coldness and backwardness in bringing back David to Jerusalem: saying, the king saved us out of the hand of our enemies ; exposed his life to danger, fought our battles for us, and gained us victory over our enemies, and saved us from them, especially those next mentioned: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:10

And Absalom, whom we anointed over us ,.... To be king; which either was really done by Absalom's party, or in effect by proclaiming and appointing him king: is dead in battle ; which shows the thing was not of God, and by which means they were released from their oath of allegiance to him: now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back ? nobody speaks of it, gives the least hint of it, or shows any concern about it; but the greatest coldness and indifference, as if... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:11

And King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests ,.... Who were at Jerusalem, and in his interest; perhaps by Ahimaaz and Jonathan their sons: saying, speak unto the elders of Judah ; particularly those that were at Jerusalem, with whom they had an interest: saying, why are ye the last to bring back the king to his house ? to his palace at Jerusalem, since David was of their tribe, and was first anointed their king: what might make them the more backward to it was their being... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:1-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:9-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:16-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:24-30

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:31-39

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:40-43

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:11

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