2 Samuel 19:24

_AND MEPHIBOSHETH THE SON OF SAUL CAME DOWN TO MEET THE KING, AND HAD NEITHER DRESSED HIS FEET, NOR_ _ 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._ Mephibosheth ... came down to meet the king. The reception given to Mephibosheth was less creditable to David. The sincerity of that prince's grief for the misfortunes of the king cannot be doubted. He "had neither dressed his feet" (not taken the bath), "nor trimmed his beard" х_ `AASAAH_ (H6213) _ SªPAAMOW_ (H8222), trimmed the lip, beard, or moustache (cf. Leviticus 13:45; Micah 3:7

24-30 David recalls the forfeiture of Mephibosheth's estate; and he expressed joy for the king's return. A good man contentedly bears his own losses, while he sees Israel in peace, and the Son of David exalted....

Verse 2 Samuel 19:24. _NEITHER DRESSED HIS FEET_] He had given the fullest proof of his sincere attachment to David and his cause; and by what he had done, amply refuted the calumnies of his servant Ziba....

BEARD - The “moustache,” the beard of the upper lip. The fact related in this verse tends to clear Mephibosheth from the suspicion of unfaithfulness to David....

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 MEPHIBOSHETH THE SON OF SAUL CAME DOWN TO MEET THE KING,.... Not down to Jordan, but Jerusalem; when the king was come thither, he came from his own dwelling to the king's palace; he is called the son of Saul, though he was his grandson, and grandsons are sometimes called sons; though in the Septuagint it is, the son's son of Saul; and the Syriac and Arabic versions are, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul: AND HAD NEITHER DRESSED HIS FEET; had not cut his nails, as the Septuagint adds, his toenails; or rather had not washed his feet, as the Targum paraphrases it; which was frequently done in those countries, partly for refreshment, and partly to remove the filth of them contracted by walking barefooted, or only with sandals; as also because of the ill smell of them, which was offensive: NOR TRIMMED HIS BEARD; or shaved his upper lip, and took no care that the hair of his chin sho...

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

SON. grandson. NEITHER DRESSED, &c.. symbol and proof of great grief:...

David's return. Episodes on the journey 16 23. Shimei sues for pardon...