2 Samuel 19:11

_AND ABSALOM, WHOM WE ANOINTED OVER US, IS DEAD IN BATTLE. NOW THEREFORE WHY SPEAK YE NOT A WORD OF BRINGING THE KING BACK?_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

9-15 God's providence, by the priests' persuasions and Amasa's interest, brought the people to resolve the recall of the king. David stirred not till he received this invitation. Our Lord Jesus will rule in those that invite him to the throne in their hearts, and not till he is invited. He first bows the heart, and makes it willing in the day of his power, then rules in the midst of his enemies, Psalms 110:2; Psalms 110:3....

Verse 2 Samuel 19:11. _SPEAK UNTO THE ELDERS OF JUDAH_] David was afraid to fall out with this tribe: they were in possession of Jerusalem, and this was a city of great importance to him. They had joined Absalom in his rebellion; and doubtless were now ashamed of their conduct. David appears to take no notice of their infidelity, but rather to place confidence in them, that their confidence in him might be naturally excited: and, to oblige them yet farther, purposes to make Amasa captain of the host in the place of Joab....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 19:2 THE VICTORY (Hebrew, _the salvation_) THAT DAY WAS turned INTO MOURNING. Naturally, the people did not understand the poignant emotions caused by the activity of David's conscience, and were pained at this seeming ingratitude to them for their brave exertions in his behalf, and at what they must have regarded as indifference to the welfare of the nation. Nor would it be easy for us to understand his conduct during the flight from Jerusalem, and in bearing Shimei's imprecations so tamely, did we not find in the psalms written at this time that David was suffering extreme and even excessive self-reproach and mental anguish at his past sin. It was a relief to bear Shimei's rudeness, for God might remember it for good. Racked thus with self-

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 so deep in the rebellion, which was formed and cherished among them, and brought to the height it was, through their connivance and encouragement, both at Hebron and Jerusalem; and therefore they might fear the resentment of David, and that he would not be easily reconciled unto them: SEEING THE SPEECH OF ALL ISRAEL IS COME TO THE KING, [EVEN] TO HIS HOUSE: or he has received invitations from all the tribes...

9. THE RETURN OF THE KING CHAPTER 19 _ 1. The continued grief of the king (2 Samuel 19:1)_ 2. The return of the king (2 Samuel 19:9) 3. Mercy shown to Shimei (2 Samuel 19:17) 4. Mephibosheth's joy (2 Samuel 19:24) 5. Barzillai and Chimham (2 Samuel 19:31) 6. Strife between Judah and Israel (2 Samuel 19:41) What grief must have been David's that “the victory of that day was turne

Joab induces the king to present himself to the people. 1 SAMUEL 19:9. THE RETURN OF DAVID (J). 2 SAMUEL 19:9. The two parts of 2 Samuel 19:11 must be transposed with the LXX, giving the following: Absalom's death left Western Palestine in a state of anarchy; the obvious remedy was the restoration of David, so that men said, Why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? And the king learned what was being said throughout Israel; 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? They were to promise Amasa that he should supplant Joab as commander-in-chief. The men of Judah invite the king

Negotiations for David's Restoration. His return 10. _whom we anointed_ The anointing of Absalom is not elsewhere mentioned. At the end of the verse the Sept. adds, "And the word of all Israel came to the king," that is, either he heard of the movement for his restoration, or he actually received overtures from Israel. The clause is necessary to introduce 2 Samuel 19:11....

SPEAK UNTO THE ELDERS OF JUDAH, &C.— The authors of the Universal History charge this message with partiality, and with being, on that account, the cause of jealousy and revolt among the other ten tribes: but I see nothing in the history to justify this reflection. Instead of "inviting the elders of Judah to come foremost to relieve him," as these writers suppose, he only gently reproved them for being the _last;_ urging his being of their own tribe as a reason why they should return to their loyalty, and immediately come to receive him: in all which there appears no sign of partiality....

_The Return to the Jordan._ 2 Samuel 19:9-15 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. 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? 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. 12 Ye _are_ my brethren, ye _are_ my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king? 13 And say ye to Amasa, _Art_ thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more