2 SAMUEL LESSON 20
We will begin this lesson II Samuel 19:1 "And it was told Joab,
Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom."
This is not that David does not appreciate all they have done.
The weeping is mostly, because he feels this is a further punishment
from God for his sins. He feels the death of his son, is because of
him. Joab disobeyed David. He did not have to kill Absalom. He could
easily have taken him prisoner, instead. Joab should, now, realize he
is in trouble.
II Samuel 19:2 "And the victory that day was [turned] into
mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how
the king was grieved for his son."
Generally, a victory is accompanied by singing and dancing. This
is an unusual situation, since the son of the king is dead. The people
who actually offered to give their lives for their king, must now come
into town in a state of mourning, as if they had lost the war.
II Samuel 19:3 "And the people gat them by stealth that day into
the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in
battle."
This was a somber army, which marched back into town. This would
have been their attitude in defeat, and not in victory. Some of the
people have difficulty understanding this, since it was Absalom and
his army, that they were in the battle against. He had not asked the
people to mourn. They were mourning, because their king was sorrowful.
II Samuel 19:4 "But the king covered his face, and the king cried
with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
All of them who had sons of their own, probably, understood.
II Samuel 19:5 "And Joab came into the house to the king, and
said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which
this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy
daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy
concubines;" II Samuel 19:6 "In that thou lovest thine enemies, and
hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou
regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that
if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had
pleased thee well."
Joab is covering up for his disobedience of his king's commands.
He is trying to make David feel bad, that he is grieving over his son,
who tried to take the kingdom away from him. He wants David to say, he
is pleased that Absalom is dead, so that he can tell him he killed
him, and get rewarded for the deed. Joab seems, to me, to be without
compassion for David. He is shaming David by saying, that David would
rather they had all died, than for Absalom to have died. He really
knows this is not true. He is trying to soften the punishment he
deserves, when David finds out the details of how Absalom died.
II Samuel 19:7 "Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak
comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not
forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be
worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth
until now."
Joab shames David into going to the gate, and meeting with the
victors. Joab says, that David must thank the soldiers for their
effort on his behalf. He should praise those who led the battle so
bravely. They were greatly outnumbered, and yet, they went anyway,
because of their love and respect for David. He must, now, show that
he loves and respects them. He must put his personal grief away, and
meet with his army.
II Samuel 19:8 "Then the king arose, and sat in the 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."
They had run to their tents, thinking their king was
disappointed. They, now, come to him at the gate for a word from him.
II Samuel 19:9 "And all the people were at strife throughout all
the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our
enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and
now he is fled out of the land for Absalom."
These are the people, who had come against David, with Absalom.
They are now reflecting back, how he had delivered them over and over.
He is, now, not even in his palace in Jerusalem. They are having
difficulty knowing, why they followed Absalom in the first place.
II Samuel 19:10 "And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead
in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king
back?"
They want David to come back, and be king of all of them, again.
They want to approach him, and ask him to forgive them for fighting
against him, and see if he will be their king, again.
II Samuel 19:11 "And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar
the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are
ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of
all Israel is come to the king, [even] to his house."
David sends word through the priests and the high priest, that he
has heard, they want him back as king, and he will come, when they ask
him back. He does not send word direct to them, because he would be
recognizing their authority. He recognizes the authority of God by
sending the message by the high priest.
II Samuel 19:12 "Ye [are] my brethren, ye [are] my bones and my
flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?"
II Samuel 19:13 "And say ye to Amasa, [Art] thou not of my bone, and
of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of
the host before me continually in the room of Joab."
David is speaking words of peace to them. He wants to come home,
and be their king. He says, that he makes Amasa, the captain of
Absalom's army, captain of the whole host in place of Joab. The reason
he gives is, because Amasa is of his own flesh, and Joab is his
nephew. In reality, he is demoting Joab for the cruel way he killed
Absalom. In all reality, Amasa is his nephew, as well. His mother is
Abigail, David's sister.
II Samuel 19:14 "And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah,
even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent [this word] unto the
king, Return thou, and all thy servants."
It was David, who extended the hand of forgiveness to all those,
who had been in Absalom's army. They want David back as their king,
when they realize there will be no punishment for their part in the
war against him.
II Samuel 19:15 "So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And
Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over
Jordan."
We see from this, that the troops that had followed Absalom came
out to met David, and lead him home to his palace.
II Samuel 19:16 "And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which
[was] of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet
king David."
We see that, this is a prominent man of the tribe of Benjamin,
who comes down and meets David to show his support.
II Samuel 19:17 "And [there were] a thousand men of Benjamin with
him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons
and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the
king."
The fact that there are a thousand men with him, shows proof of
his importance as a leader. We remember that, Ziba had brought
provisions to David at the mount of Olives. He, in a sense, was a
representative of the house of Saul. We see from this, a unity of all
the people behind David as king. We, also, know that part of the
reason Ziba is here, is so he can keep the land, which belonged to
Mephibosheth. He had told a lie to David to get the land. It seems,
that Ziba, and Shimei had waded over the Jordan, so they could be the
first to proclaim loyalty to David.
II Samuel 19:18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over
the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the
son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
One trip with the ferry boat, would not have carried this large
family of David over Jordan. It is like most ferries, that make
several trips in a day. They made several trips to carry them all
over.
II Samuel 19:19 "And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute
iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did
perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that
the king should take it to his heart."
Shimei was the man that had run along the rim of the canyon, and
had cursed David. He had been a follower of Saul. He, now, repents at
the feet of David. He is asking David for mercy, and not justice. We
are all like this, too. We do not want the punishment we deserve from
the LORD, we want his forgiveness and mercy.
II Samuel 19:20 "For thy servant doth know that I have sinned:
therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of
Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king."
He has humbly fallen before David, and asked his forgiveness. He
explains to David, that he had been the very first to come and ask his
forgiveness.
II Samuel 19:21 "But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and
said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the
LORD'S anointed?"
It appears, that Abishai was always telling David what to think.
It was almost as if he did not trust David's judgement. It was Abishai
who offered to kill Shimei, when he was screaming the insults at the
beginning. David stopped him then, and reprimands him here, again, for
the same thing.
II Samuel 19:22 "And David said, What have I to do with you, ye
sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall
there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know
that I [am] this day king over Israel?"
There is no need to kill someone now. He is, now, king of all the
people. A great king knows when to forgive. David tells his sister's
son, that he will not be thought of as a vengeful king, but a
forgiving king.
II Samuel 19:23 "Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt
not die. And the king sware unto him."
David pardoned him that day. I am sure that David greatly admired
his bravery, for screaming against 600 men.
II Samuel 19:24 "And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet
the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor
washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he
came [again] in peace."
This leaves no doubt how Mephibosheth felt about the reign of
Absalom, and it was exactly the opposite of what Ziba had said. The
way that Mephibosheth was dressed, and his beard, and hair showed
extreme mourning. David is, now, aware that Ziba had lied.
II Samuel 19:25 "And it came to pass, when he was come to
Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore
wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?"
David is showing sorrow, here, for not taking Mephibosheth with
him. He asks him, why he did not go?
II Samuel 19:26 "And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant
deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may
ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant [is] lame."
Ziba had tricked Mephibosheth, as he had tricked David. Ziba was
supposed to furnish him an ass to ride, since he was crippled, and he
never came back for him.
II Samuel 19:27 "And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord
the king; but my lord the king [is] as an angel of God: do therefore
[what is] good in thine eyes."
Mephibosheth knows that David will do what is right, guided by
the LORD. He places himself in the hands of David, to do whatever
David believes is right.
II Samuel 19:28 "For all [of] my father's house were but dead men
before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them
that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to
cry any more unto the king?"
He knows that the blessings he has, are just because of the
goodness of David toward him. Had it been any victor, other than
David, they would have killed the grandson of the king, whose kingdom
they had tajen over. Mephibosheth is thankful to be alive, and will
accept whatever David does for him. David's goodness toward him is
because of the love David had for his father, Jonathan.
II Samuel 19:29 "And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou
any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land."
This is settled, that he and Ziba will share equally from the
land, and David does not want to hear from this anymore.
II Samuel 19:30 "And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let
him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace
unto his own house."
Mephibosheth is not concerned about material things. He even
says, he is willing for Ziba to have it all, if that was what it took
to get David back safe. He was so happy that David is back, that none
of the material things matters.
II Samuel 19:31 "And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from
Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over
Jordan." II Samuel 19:32 "Now Barzillai was a very aged man, [even]
fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while
he lay at Mahanaim; for he [was] a very great man."
This chapter is not in chronological order, because this returns
to the time, when David was still at the Jordan. Barzillai was a very
rich man who had furnished beds, and all sorts of supplies for David,
when he was in Mananaim. He is, now, 80 years old. He comes to see
David off across the Jordan to Jerusalem. He seems to be a very good
friend of David.
II Samuel 19:33 "And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over
with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem."
He had befriended David in his time of need, and David is
offering to take care of him now. Such a good friend, David would like
to have with him in Jerusalem. David would like to care for him, until
his death.
II Samuel 19:34 "And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have
I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?"
II Samuel 19:35 "I [am] this day fourscore years old: [and] can I
discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or
what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing
women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord
the king?"
He is explaining to David, that he is an old man of 80. His sense
of hearing, and tasting are gone. He is no longer quick in making
decisions. He has slowed greatly with his age. He explains, that he
would just be a burden to David, that David does not need at this
time.
II Samuel 19:36 "Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan
with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a
reward?" II Samuel 19:37 "Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back
again, that I may die in mine own city, [and be buried] by the grave
of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him
go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto
thee."
They will not stop being friends, because they are on opposite
sides of the Jordan. He will go a little way with David and then he
must turn back. He is getting pretty old and does not have much time,
until he will be buried. He does not want to be buried in a foreign
land. He wants to be buried with his parents. Chimham was thought to
be a son of Brazillia. He would go with David, and receive the
blessings from David, in place of his father.
II Samuel 19:38 "And the king answered, Chimham shall go over
with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee:
and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, [that] will I do for thee."
David felt very obligated to Brazillia, he would be happy for
Chimham to go in his stead. David is saying, he will do whatever
Brazillia wants him to do.
II Samuel 19:39 "And all the people went over Jordan. And when
the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him;
and he returned unto his own place."
This was a kiss of two friends, when they parted. David has
allowed him to do just as he wished.
II Samuel 19:40 "Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham
went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and
also half the people of Israel."
Great throngs of people went with David. Chimham went to be with
David in his kingdom. All of these people are to show their approval
of David as king.
II Samuel 19:41 "And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the
king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah
stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and
all David's men with him, over Jordan?"
We see that the army, that defeated Absalom, made a show of force
with David returning. There would be no opposition, with this large a
company with him. There was jealousy among the twelve tribes, but
David is king of them all. These people are disturbed, that they were
not consulted, before David sets up his kingdom here. They were afraid
that David was back to destroy those, who were on Absalom's side.
II Samuel 19:42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of
Israel, Because the king [is] near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye
angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's [cost]? or
hath he given us any gift?
We find that they are trying to justify their ill feelings here.
II Samuel 19:43 "And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah,
and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more [right]
in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should
not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men
of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel."
This is the beginning of the rift of the ten tribes from the
tribe of Judah. The other tribe, not mentioned here is, probably that
of Simeon. They feel as if they are being left out of the decision
making. Even though Judah is just one tribe, they speak the fiercest
in this confrontation. The ten tribes think David belongs to them. He
is truly king of all of them.
2 Samuel 20 Questions
1. What was told Joab about David in verse 1?
2. What is the weeping for?
3. The victory that day was turned into ___________.
4. Generally, a victory is accompanied by _________ and _________.
5. How did the victorious soldiers come into the town?
6. What did David cry out, when he covered his face and wept?
7. What did Joab say to David about his troops?
8. What is one of Joab's reasons for David to stop mourning?
9. Joab tells David, if he does not go forth to appreciate his men,
what will happen?
10. What did the people do, when they found out that David was in the
gate?
11. What is verse 9 speaking of?
12. Since Absalom is dead, what are they going to do for a king?
13. Who does David send word to speak to the elders of Judah?
14. Why did David not send word to the elders?
15. David tells them, they are _______ of his ________.
16. Who does David make captain of his troops, in place of Joab?
17. What message came back to David?
18. Who came with the men of Judah to meet David?
19. How many men were with him?
20. How many sons did Ziba have?
21. What had Ziba done for David at the mount of Olives?
22. How did the kings household cross the river?
23. What had Shemei done, that was so terrible?
24. He is asking David for _______, and not justice.
25. Who wants to kill Shimei?
26. What does David call Abishai in verse 22?
27. A great king knows when to __________.
28. What does David answer Shemei?
29. What was the condition of Mephibosheth, when he came to meet
David?
30. What does this leave no doubt about?
31. What had Ziba told him, and not done?
32. What does Mephibosheth call David in verse 27?
33. Why has Mephibosheth been blessed by David?
34. How did David settle between Mephibosheth and Ziba?
35. Barzillai did what to help David?
36. What did David offer to do for him?
37. How old was he?
38. Who did he send with David, in his stead?
39. How did David say good-bye to Brazillai?
40. Who were disappointed, that David came back without invitation?
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