2 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;_ Thou hast shamed ... the faces of all thy servants - by withdrawing thyself to indulge in grief, as if their services were disagreeable, and their devotion irksome to thee. Instead of hailing their return with joy and gratitude, thou hast refused them the small gratification of seeing thee. Joab's remonstrance was right and necessary, but it was made with harshness. He was one of those persons who spoil their important services by the insolence of their manners, and who always awaken a feeling of obligation in those to whom they render any services. He spoke to David in a tone of hauteur that ill became a subject to show toward his kin...

1-8 To continue to lament for so bad a son as Absalom, was very unwise, and very unworthy. Joab censures David, but not with proper respect and deference to his sovereign. A plain case may be fairly pleaded with those above us, and they may be reproved for what they do amiss, but it must not be with rudeness and insolence. Yet David took the reproof and the counsel, prudently and mildly. Timely giving way, usually prevents the ill effects of mistaken measures....

Verse 2 Samuel 19:5. _THOU HAST SHAMED THIS DAY_] Joab's speech to David on his immoderate grief for the death of his rebellious son is not only remarkable for the _insolence of office_, but also for good sense and firmness. Every man who candidly considers the state of the case, must allow that David acted imprudently at least; and that Joab's firm reproof was necessary to arouse him to a sense of his duty to his people. But still, in his _manner_, Joab had far exceeded the bonds of that reverence which a servant owes to his master, or a subject to his prince. Joab was a good soldier, but in every respect a bad man, and a dangerous subject....

Had Absalom gained the victory, it is likely that, according to the manner of Oriental despots, he would have sought to secure his throne by killing all possible competitors Judges 9:5; 1 Kings 15:29....

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 JOAB CAME INTO THE HOUSE TO THE KING,.... For by this time he was removed from the chamber over the gate to his own dwelling house or palace, where he continued the same doleful ditty as at first: AND SAID, THOU HAST SHAMED THIS DAY THE FACES OF ALL THY SERVANTS; they cannot lift up their heads, and look any in the face, nor one another; but behave as if they had committed some very great fault, in fighting with the rebels, and beating them: 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; which in all probability would have been taken away if the victory had been on the side of Absalom....

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

LIFE... LIVES. soul... souls. Hebrew. _nephesh._ App-13 and note the Figure of speech _Polysyndeton._ App-6....

_Joab came into the house to the king_ The crisis illustrates the good as well as the bad features of Joab's character his loyalty to David, and his practical sagacity, as well as his hard unsympathetic nature. Exaggerated and unfeeling as his speech was, it roused David from the extravagance of his grief to a sense of his duty, and saved him from flinging away the fruits of the victory. _Thou hast shamed_, &c. Disappointed their hopes of rejoicing for the victory: treated them like offenders instead of benefactors. _have saved thy life_, &c. For had Absalom been victorious, he would doubtless have put to death all rival claimants to the throne, and possibly other members of the king's household. Cp. Judges 9:5; 1 Kings 15:29; 1Ki 16:11;...