2 Samuel Week 14

November 10, 2026

All Scripture are in NIV format unless otherwise noted.

2 Samuel 19:1-4

“1 Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. 4 The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

David hears of the death of his son Absalom and he is heartbroken; he is in mourning. But as the king, and as per the order given to the troops, David needed to be better at his mourning. He needed to mourn without his kingdom seeing it because of what Absalom did and how it put lots of people in harm’s way, and many more to lose their homes and lives. The troops then hear David is mourning for Absalom and it says they stole into the city that day. This should have been a day of celebration of victory for the troops and the people, but David turned it into a day of mourning and sadness.

Stole – Hebrew word is “GANAB” which means to sneak away.

What it means is that as the troops came back to Mahanaim, they came in quietly as likened to being sneaky, because they felt shame. They felt shame because of how David acted to his son being killed, even though the soldiers completed their mission. David then covers his face and cries out his sons name over and over.

Listen, I can see both sides here, David has lost a second son and he loved deeply. David loved the Lord greatly and that type of love poured into his family and into his people, so I can see why he was mourning so intensely. However, he just should have been conscious of how it would affect people and should have done it privately.

2 Samuel 19:5-6

“5 Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. 6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead.”

Joab then confronts David and says, look, you have humiliated your army, you have conveyed that you love the enemies of your people, those out to destroy them, and you hate those who love you and are loyal to you, unlike Absalom. The armies clearly believe that David wishes that Absalom would have been spared and his armies died instead. Listen, this is one way to lose your position and the loyalty of your people.

2 Samuel 19:7-8

“7 Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now.” 8 So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,” they all came before him. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes.”

Joab gives David this advice, command if you will, that he needs to make this right with his people. He tells David, go out there and encourage your men, the armies, and your people. If not, this will be worse than all you have ever been through. If you don’t, they will abandon you. Joab must have heard talk of this already to know this.

It says that David took his seat in the gateway. This was a statement that David had completed his mourning for Absalom and he was taking back his authority as king. This also means David embraced the death of his son and the restoration of his kingdom back to him, the very thing he needed to do. The people came because those who were loyal to the king wanted to hear what David had to say. The Israelites ran to their homes. They were those who supported Absalom and his takeover, so they left in fear for their lives, which they should have.

2 Samuel 19:9-10

“9 Throughout the tribes of Israel, all the people were arguing among themselves, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country to escape from Absalom; 10 and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”

We see here an argument after the death of Absalom and why David had not yet been restored to his throne. Israel, the other ten tribes other than Judah, talk about how David delivered the people repeatedly, but when Absalom showed up, David fled, which showed some cowardice. Now that Absalom is gone, why has David not been reinstalled as king? We may even see regret here from those who supported Absalom after turning their back on David, but remember, Absalom was very deceitful.

2 Samuel 19:11-13

“11 King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? 12 You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13 And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you are not the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.’”

King David then sends a message to the priests that are in the city of Jerusalem, and to the tribe of Judah because these were all of his own bloodline. David also states what to say to Amasa, who is also his own flesh and blood, his nephew. Amasa was the general of Absalom’s army, he betrayed David, but David knowing if he could unite all of Israel, including those who betrayed him, he would be king over the whole nation, and he could bring unity once again. He even makes Amasa a promise: if you will work with me, I will give you Joab’s position as my general. Joab had been faithful to David, even though he was quite rebellious at times.

2 Samuel 19:14-17

“14 He won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind. They sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your men.” 15 Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan. Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. 16 Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 With him were a thousand Benjamites, along with Ziba, the steward of Saul’s household, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan, where the king was.”

We see that David successfully reunited the tribe of Judah to restore himself as king. Then they sent word to David to come back to Jerusalem, him and all of his people and men. We see the people of Judah meet David at Gilgal at the Jordan River so they can escort the king back to his throne in Jerusalem. We also see something interesting here, if you remember who Shimei was, he was the man who came out while David was fleeing and he was throwing stones and dirt at him and cursing him, and now, we see him running out to meet David at the Jordan. We have to know he is doing this to seek a pardon, so his life is not taken from him as Abishai wanted to cut off his head. We also see Ziba showing up here as well. Remember, Ziba showed up and deceived David by telling him that Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, stayed in Jerusalem to become king! Ziba deceived David so David would give everything Mephibosheth had to him, and now, David would find out the truth, so he is also seeking a pardon! Amazing how true colors are revealed when lives are on the line.

2 Samuel 19:18-20

“18 They crossed at the ford to take the king’s household over and to do whatever he wished. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king 19 and said to him, “May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. 20 For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.”

We see that when David crosses the Jordan, Shimei comes to David and pleads with him for mercy. He pleads for his life, which is at stake for what he did. He tells David, “Look, I was wrong, I have sinned, please put it out of your mind, which means to forget everything he said and did. He then says, I am one of the first to be here today to come and show you my loyalty to you, I am here to stand with you.” But we know this is all to save his life!

2 Samuel 19:21-23

“21 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord’s anointed.” 22 David replied, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? What right do you have to interfere? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don’t I know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king promised him on oath.”

Abishai speaks up again, he was the one who wanted to cut off this guy’s head, and David says the same thing to him, what of this is your business? Why are you interfering in the king’s business? David sees a great victory, and he is being restored as king, so he is in a good mood and he is rejoicing. Honestly, if he had somebody killed at this point, as fragile as things have been, it may not look good, so David makes an oath with Shimei, and he promises him he will not be put to death. Even though Abishai makes a great point, doing what Shimei did to the king’s anointed, it could have called for his death.

2 Samuel 19:24-25

“24 Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”

We see here Mephibosheth meets David and when David sees him it says he had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or even washed his clothes which are all signs of ancient ways to mourn. He was mourning that David had left the city and he was mourning all that was happening to him. He was loyal to David. David then asks Mephibosheth, looking at him, why did you not go with me, and we are now about to see some truth come out, once again.

2 Samuel 19:26-28

“26 He said, “My lord the king, since I your servant am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.’ But Ziba, my servant betrayed me. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so, do whatever you wish. 28 All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table. So, what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?”

Mephibosheth than tells the king what happened. He was ready to go with him, he had a donkey saddled, but then Ziba stepped in and betrayed him, which we saw when he told David that Mephibosheth was staying in Jerusalem to become king. All lies. Mephibosheth then says, look, with all Ziba did, who am I to complain or worry about it, with all my grandfather Saul did, and most of the rest of my family. I deserved to die, but you gave me a place at your table; (meaning David took him in as family), so he believed he did not have a right to ask David for any appeals, like going to David about Ziba, even now.

2 Samuel 19:29-30 – “29 The king said to him, “Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the land.” 30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.”

Interesting enough here though, David commands Ziba to divide the land with Mephibosheth instead of restoring it all to him and commanding his family to work for him. I guess showing up at the border, and the kingdom being restored, worked for Ziba and his family. Mephibosheth is like, let Ziba have it all, you are back, you are taking care of me, so let him have it. Let’s be honest as well, for the time that Ziba and his family took care of everything for Mephibosheth, he probably has plenty of money, just letting the king take care of him means he has nothing to worry about anymore with the land and possessions he had to oversee, and remember, his feet were crippled.

2 Samuel 19:31-33 – “31 Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. 32 Now Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. 33 The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you.”

We have spoken of Barzillai before briefly, all we know about this man is he is an 80-year-old that showed loyalty and great kindness to King David, and his men when they were in Mahanaim. David has such high regard for him that he asks him to go with him to the palace so David can take care of him. What an honor.

2 Samuel 19:34-37

“34 But Barzillai answered the king, “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? 35 I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? 37 Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you wish.”

Barzillai answers David that he is old, we know he is wealthy so he can take care of himself, and I am sure he has people to take care of him as well. He says he does not want to be a burden to the king since he has enough to live on. He also lets David know that since he is old, he cannot taste anything, meaning the king would have the best of everything but he would not know it, so he just wants to go home to his house and finish out his life there. Barzillai enjoyed his time with the king though, he could have left from there, but he tells David he will cross the Jordan with him and travel and fellowship with him for a while but then he will go home. He said when he died, he wanted to be buried with his parents. I can understand that. He does say to David though, here is my servant Kimham, let him go with you. He says I am giving him to you, do whatever you please.

2 Samuel 19:38-40

“38 The king said, “Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever you wish. And anything you desire from me I will do for you.” 39 So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and bid him farewell, and Barzillai returned to his home. 40 When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.”

David then says to Barzillai, Kimham will cross over with me, David also says I will do for him whatever you ask. David owed this guy for taking care of him, and his people, while they were in exodus from Absalom. We see Barzillai goes with Kimham, after a while, Barzillai goes home and Kimham goes with the king to Jerusalem. We see that after they cross over the Jordan, all of Judah and half the troops of Israel lead David back to his palace and to where the king’s throne is in Jerusalem to reestablish him as king over all Israel.

2 Samuel 19:41-42

“41 Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?” 42 All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”

So, the people of Israel come to the king, and asked why the people of Judah stole him from them. What is being said here is that the northern tribes were upset that Judah went to David alone without waiting for the other tribes. If you remember though, David actually pressured the tribe of Judah to come to him to show the loyalty of Judah to the other tribes to get them all to reestablish David as king. We then see how Judah says look, we did it because David belongs to our tribe, but this response caused the others to think there was favoritism in the tribes.

Judah does say then, look, we did not take any of the king’s provisions, in fact, they did not take anything from the king, so why are they mad? The truth is this is all driven by jealousy and the fact they all wanted favor with the king. It also shows here that the nation of Israel, including Judah, showed some dissent, even jealousy and division. Not a way to get off on the right foot as a newly reestablished kingdom. Remember, people from both of these groups also rebelled against David as well.

2 Samuel 19:43

“43 Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; so, we have a greater claim on David than you have. Why then do you treat us with contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the men of Judah pressed their claims even more forcefully than the men of Israel.”

We see here the tribes of Isarel claim they have ten shares of King David. What they are saying is they have ten tribes in comparison to the one tribe of Judah, they are saying those ten tribes far outweigh the single tribe they have. The tribes of Israel ask why they are being treated with contempt.

Contempt – Hebrew word is “HEQILLATANI” which means to be slighted or to have little account.

The tribes of Israel then claim they were the first to start the talks with David, which they did, but remember, David then reached out to Judah to come down because they were the first to be loyal to him, they were the first tribe to install David as king, so this is why David reached out to them! This is not good; this is a division that will rear its ugly head sooner rather than later as we are about to see.