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
The facts are: 1 . David, passing on his way, is met by Ziba with a present for the king and his servants. 2 . On inquiring after Mephibosheth, David is told by Ziba that he was staying in Jerusalem in expectation that, as a result of the present revolt, the kingdom would be restored to him as representative of the house of Saul. 3 . Accepting this statement as correct, David assigns Mephibosheth's property ( 2 Samuel 9:9-12 ) to Ziba, who thereupon makes obeisance. 4 .... read more
Weary . Evidently the name of a place; for David "refreshed himself there." It was probably a caravanserai, the full name of which was, "Rest for the weary," but gradually the title was shortened down to the last word, "Weary," Hebrew Ayephim, which the Revised Version puts as a proper name in the margin. read more
Apparent success of the revolt (16:1-23)As David left Jerusalem, Ziba (whom David had appointed to manage the property of Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth; see 9:9-13) took the opportunity to win David’s favour by bringing him food and animals to assist his escape. Ziba then told David that Mephibosheth was a traitor who was planning to seize the throne for himself. As a result David took away Mephibosheth’s property and gave it to Ziba, though later events showed there was some doubt whether... read more
weary . Hebrew. Ayiphim. Perhaps the name of a place, or of a caravansary with that name, "for the weary". read more
2 Samuel 16:5-12. When king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out—Shimei—and cursed.— This vile and calumnious treatment of Shimei was one of the severest trials of patience that ever human magnanimity endured. The accusation, 2Sa 16:8 was notoriously false, and the king for that reason could bear it the better. But his servants saw it not in the light of their master's equanimity, but of his enemy's insolence. Abishai, David's nephew, could not bear it, but begged the king's... read more
2 Samuel 16:14. Came weary, and refreshed themselves there— Josephus tells us, that David suffered his people to take no refreshment till they reached the banks of the Jordan; and the 16th, 21st, and 22nd verses of the next chapter seem to confirm this reading. Houbigant, instead of came weary, renders it, came to Ephim, which he supposes to be the proper name of a place. Note; (1.) Though impotent malice rage, and shew its will to hurt us, it is a mercy that power is wanting. (2.) God's... read more
14. refreshed themselves there—that is, in the city of Bahurim. read more
Shimei’s curse 16:5-14This second descendant of Saul demonstrated a reaction to David that was the opposite of Ziba’s. Ziba had been ingratiating and submissive, but Shimei, a "reptile of the royal house of Saul," [Note: Alexander Whyte, Bible Characters, p. 297.] was insulting and defiant (cf. Genesis 12:3). The central focus of the chiasm in this section is Abishai’s desire for Shimei’s execution (2 Samuel 16:9; cf. 1 Samuel 17:46; 2 Samuel 4:7).Bahurim evidently stood on the east side of Mt.... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 16:5-14
We here find how David bore Shimei's curses much better than he had borne Ziba's flatteries. By the latter he was brought to pass a wrong judgment on another, by the former to pass a right judgment on himself. The world's smiles are more dangerous than its frowns. Observe here, I. How insolent and furious Shimei was, and how his malice took occasion from David's present distress to be so much the more outrageous. David, in his flight, had come to Bahurim, a city of Benjamin in or near which... read more