Westminster Annotations, 2 Samuel (2 Kings) · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
Vers. 2. VIctory] Heb. salvation, or deliverance; That is, the joy that should have been for the victory.
V. 3. by stealth] To wit, that they might not be seen of the king.
V. 4. covered his face] To wit, after the manner of close mourners, Chap. 15. 30.
V. 5. hast shamed] To wit, in not accepting of their faithfull service with the danger of their lives, and frustrating their hopes of praise and reward which they expected from thee.
V. 6. In that thou lovest, &c.] Hebr. by loving, &c.
that thou regardest neither princes nor servants] Heb. that princes or servants are not to thee.
had pleased] This reproof was too harsh and sharp for a king from his subject, especially dejected with bitter grief: and false also, for David desired the life and welfare of all his friends, but of Absalom also with the rest.
V. 7. arise] That is, shake off thy sorrow, and put off thy mourning.
comfortably to thy servants] Hebr. to the heart of thy servants.
V. 8. the gate] That is, the ordinary place of publike assemblies and judicature.
all the people] To wit, of Davids party.
for Israel] To wit, who were of Absaloms party, and were all that had escaped, departed to their own houses.
V. 9. at strife] To wit, laying the fault of the rebellion one upon another, and now blaming their own slacknesse to make him some amends in hasting his return with honour to his own home at Jerusalem.
V. 10. speak ye not a word] Hebr. are ye silent.
V. 11. the speech] To wit, expressing their resolution of coming to fetch him back to his house from Mahanaim.
V. 13. Amasa] Generall of Absaloms army, Chap. 17. 25. and son of Abigail Davids sister, 1 Chron. 2. 16, 17.
my Lone] See Chap. 5. 1.
God do so] See Ruth 1. 17.
before me] That is, as long as I and thou live.
of Joab] Whom he deposed for killing Absalom, contrary to his expresse command; for murthering Abner, Chap. 3. 39. and because, through his harshnesse and imperiousnesse, he was become vexatious to himself, v. 5, 6.
V. 14. he …owed] That is, David, by this message sent by the priests, enclined with unanimous consent their hearts towards him. Some refer this to Amasa.
V. 16. Shimei the son of Gera] 1 King. 2. 8.
Bahurim] See Chap. 16. 5.
V. 17. Ziba] Chap. 16. 1. Fearing that now his unfaithfulnesse towards his master would be discovered, sheweth his officiousnesse towards David, to gain his favour.
before the king] That is, they got over before the kings coming, that they might wait upon him when he arrived.
V. 18. And there went] To wit, after the king was passed over.
houshold] That is, his wives, children and servants.
what he thought good] Heb. the good in his eyes.
V. 19. impute iniquity] Namely, to punish me according to my demerits.
that which thy servant did perversly the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem] Chap. 16. 5.
V. 20. come the first] That is, out of an earnest desire to regain thy favour, I have with my diligence prevented others farre neerer to this place then I, to wait upon thee, and to finde grace in thy sight.
Joseph] That is, of all the tribes of Israel, Judah excepted: but he nameth Joseph, because all the rights and priviledges of the primogeniture and birth-right were by Jacobs blessing divided between the posterity of Judah and Joseph, Gen. 49. and Ephraim among the ten tribes had still the preeminence.
V. 22. to do with you] That is, that I should be hindered by you from shewing mercy to whom and when I please.
adversaries] That is, to hinder me in that which is good, and tempt me unto evil, to wit, unseasonable revenge.
that I am] That is, I am as newly created king, my lost kingdom being restored; and therefore it is unfit to interrupt and damp the publike joy with any severe punishment. So Saul, 1 Sam. 11. 13.
V. 23. Thou shalt not die] That is, neither at this time, nor during my reign; though his offence was so haynous and scandalous, that he did not think it just that it should be wholly remitted, but that his successour should call him to account for it, 1 King. 2. 8, 9, 36.
V. 24. son] That is, the nephew or grand-son of Saul.
dressed] That is, washed; by which neglect both of his person and habite, he testified his mourning and grief for Davids exile and trouble.
V. 25. to Jerusalem] Wanting (as it seemeth) opportunity of coming sooner to him, through Ziba's treachery. Or thus; when he w…s come from Jerusalem to meet, &c.
V. 26. servant said] That is, I made known my purpose to Ziba, and commanded him to make ready my asse, and he neglected and disappointed me.
to the king] Or, with the king.
V. 27. he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king] Cha. 16. 3.
As an angel] That is, of excellent wisdom to discern between truth and falsehood, good and evill, Chap. 14. 20.
do therefore] That is, if thou doest judge me faulty, punish me how thou pleasest, for thou mayest justly do it, seeing all my fathers house deserved to be punished with losse of goods and life, by rising against thee our lawfull king, and siding with Ish-bosheth.
V. 28. dead men] Heb. men of death.
to cry] That is, to make further complaints of my servants ill dealing, with me and losing both my honour and lands.
V. 29. Why speakest] As if he had said, There needs no more words, seeing I accept thy excuse.
I have said] That is, I have adjudged and fully determined the matter, and will not alter my sentence of dividing the lands between you. And thus this just king, now blinded with Ziba's lies, sycophancy, flattery, and bribes, and with a kingly jealously of his crown and kingdom, judgeth unjustly, and rewardeth a perfidious villain, who for his treachery deserved severe punishment. Some think that he doth here but recall his former sentence, Chap. 16. 4. and ratifieth his first order, Chap. 9. 10. But he doth not speak of dividing the fruits for tillage, but of the land it self, and Mephibosheth his answer implyeth so much, Let him take all, that is, both land and fruits.
V. 30. forasmuch] That is, seeing it goeth well with the king and state, this joyeth me so much, that I can easily dispence with my own private losse.
V. 31. Rogelim] A city beyond Jordan, where he dwelled.
V. 32. he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim] Chap. 17. 27.
great man] In power and riches.
V. 34. How long have I to live] Heb. How many dayes are the yeers of my life? That is, I cannot in respect of my great age live long, and therefore have no reason to change my habitation and course of life for so little a time, especially being unsit by reason of age, to enjoy the pleasures of the court.
V. 35. fourscore yeers old] And therefore high time it is, to prepare for death, rather then delight and solace, and yet if I would, I am not in this age capable of it.
good and evil?] To wit, in meats, drinks, and other delights.
a burthen] To wit, being unable to do thee any service in this decrep…t age.
V. 36. recompense it] That is, my poor kindnesse in supplying thy late wants, with so rich a reward, whereas all I did was but my duty.
V. 37. Chimham] That is, one of my sons, 1 King. 2. 7. of him, see Jerem. 41. 17.
V. 38. over] To wit, to the other side of Jordan, and so to the court.
require] Heb. cheose.
V. 39. blessed him] That is, giving him thanks, wished unto him all peace and prosperity. So Chap. 14. 22.
V. 40. half the people] That is, either those that had not rebelled, or had reconciled themselves to the king, or so many of them, as in that great haste could make themselves ready to go out to meet him.
V. 41. stolen thee] That is, have fetched thee homewards unawares to us, and not expecting our company, thereby appropriating to themselves all the glory of the action.
the king] They change their speech from the second person to the third, which is usuall in the Hebrew phrase, when the inferiour speaketh to the superiour, that he may exalt him and abase himself.
V. 42. of kin] That is, of our tribe, and dwelleth amongst us.
have we eaten] That is, have we done him this service for our own advantage, and not rather in the former respects?
V. 43. ten parts] As if they had said, If David be considered as a private man, you have more interest in him; but consider him as a king over the whole land, and then we have a greater share in him then you, being ten tribes for one, and so far the greatest part of his kingdom.
despise us] Heb. set us at light.