Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Overview
Sa2 19:1, Joab causes the king to cease his mourning; Sa2 19:9, The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back; Sa2 19:11, David sends to the priests to incite them of Judah; Sa2 19:18, Shimei is pardoned; Sa2 19:24, Mephibosheth excused; Sa2 19:32, Barzillai dismissed, and Chimham his son taken into the king's family; Sa2 19:41, The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them.
Sa2 18:5, Sa2 18:12, Sa2 18:14, Sa2 18:20, Sa2 18:33; Pro 17:25
victory: Heb. salvation, or, deliverance
into the city: Sa2 19:32, Sa2 17:24
steal: Gen 31:27
covered: Sa2 15:30
O my son: It is allowed by competent critics that the lamentation of David over his son, of which this forms a part, is exceedingly pathetic; and Calmet properly remarks, that the frequent repetition of the name of the deceased is common in the language of lamentation. Sa2 18:33
Thou hast: Every one must admit that David's immoderate grief for his rebellious son was imprudent, and that Joab's firm and sensible reproof was necessary to arouse him to a sense of his duty to his people. but, in his manner, Joab far exceeded the bounds of that reverence which a servant owes to his master, or a subject to his prince.
saved: Neh 9:27; Psa 3:8, Psa 18:47, Psa 18:48
In that: etc. Heb. By loving, etc
thou regardest: etc. Heb. princes or servants are not to thee. then it had. Sa2 3:24, Sa2 3:25; Job 34:18; Pro 19:9, Pro 19:10; Act 23:5
comfortably unto thy: Heb. to the heart of thy, Gen 34:3; Pro 19:15; Isa 40:1; Hos 2:14 *marg.
there: Pro 14:28
all the evil: Psa 71:4-6, Psa 71:9-11, Psa 71:18-20, Psa 129:1, Psa 129:2
sat in the gate: How prudently and mildly David took the reproof and counsel given him! He shook off his grief, anointed his head, and washed his face, that he might not appear unto men to mourn, and then made his appearance at the gate of the city, which was the public place of resort for the hearing of causes and giving judgment, as well as a place to ratify special bargains. Thither the people flocked to congratulate him on his and their safety, and that all was well. When we are convinced of a fault, we must amend, though we are told of it by our inferiors in a way which is peculiarly painful to our natural feelings. This ancient custom still obtains in the East; for when Dr. Pococke returned from viewing the town of ancient Byblus, he says, "The sheik and the elders were sitting in the gate of the city, after the ancient manner, and I sat awhile with them." Sa2 18:4, Sa2 18:24
for Israel: Sa2 19:3, Sa2 18:6-8; Kg1 22:36; Kg2 14:12
strife: Gen 3:12, Gen 3:13; Exo 32:24; Jam 3:14-16
The king: Sa2 8:10; Sa1 17:50, Sa1 18:5-7, Sa1 18:25, Sa1 19:5
he is fled: Sa2 15:14
whom: Sa2 15:12, Sa2 15:13; Hos 8:4
is dead: Sa2 18:14
speak ye not a word: Heb. are ye silent, Jdg 18:9
sent: Sa2 15:29, Sa2 15:35, Sa2 15:36; Kg1 2:25, Kg1 2:26, Kg1 2:35
Speak: Co2 5:20
my bones: Sa2 5:1; Gen 2:23; Jdg 9:2; Eph 5:30
Amasa: Sa2 17:25; Ch1 2:16, Ch1 2:17, Ch1 12:18
room of Joab: Sa2 19:5-7, Sa2 3:29, Sa2 3:30, Sa2 8:16, Sa2 18:11
he bowed: The measures that he pursued were the best calculated that could be adopted for accomplishing this salutary end. 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 general of the army, instead of Joab.
even: Jdg 20:1; Psa 110:2, Psa 110:3; Act 4:32
Gilgal: Jos 5:9; Sa1 11:14, Sa1 11:15
Shimei: It appears that Shimei was a powerful chieftain in the land; for he had here in his retinue no less than a thousand men. Sa2 16:5-13; Kg1 2:8, Kg1 2:36-46
hasted: Job 2:4; Pro 6:4, Pro 6:5; Mat 5:25
Ziba: Sa2 19:26, Sa2 19:27, Sa2 9:2, Sa2 9:10, Sa2 16:1-4
And there: The LXX connecting this the with preceding verse, render, και κατευθυναν τον Ιορδανην εμπροσθεν του βασιλεως, και ελειτουργησαν την λειτουργιαν του διαβιβασαι τον βασιλεα, "and they made ready Jordan before the king, and did the necessary service to bring over the king."
The Vulgate has: et irrumpentes Jordanem, ante regem transierunt vada, ut traducerent domum regis, "and breaking into Jordan, they passed the fords before the king, to bring over the king's household." Josephus says they prepared a bridge over the Jordan, to facilitate his passage.
what he thought good: Heb. the good in his eyes
fell down: Psa 66:3, Psa 81:15; Rev 3:9
And said: Ecc 10:4
Let not: Sa1 22:15; Psa 32:2; Rom 4:6-8; Co2 5:19
remember: Psa 79:8; Isa 43:25; Jer 31:34
did perversely: Sa2 16:5-9, Sa2 16:10-14; Exo 10:16, Exo 10:17; Sa1 26:21; Mat 27:4
take it: Sa2 13:20, Sa2 13:33; Sa1 25:25
I am come: Psa 78:34-37; Jer 22:23; Hos 5:15
Joseph: Sa2 19:9, Sa2 16:5; Gen 48:14, Gen 48:20; Kg1 12:20, Kg1 12:25; Hos 4:15-17, Hos 5:3
Shall not: Exo 22:28; Kg1 21:10, Kg1 21:11
cursed: Sa2 16:5, Sa2 16:7, Sa2 16:13; Sa1 24:6, Sa1 26:9
What have: Sa2 3:39, Sa2 16:10; Sa1 26:8; Mat 8:29
shall there any man: Sa1 11:13; Isa 16:5; Luk 9:54-56
Thou shalt: Kg1 2:8, Kg1 2:9, Kg1 2:37, Kg1 2:46
sware: Sa1 28:10, Sa1 30:15; Heb 6:16
Mephibosheth: Sa2 9:6, Sa2 16:3
dressed his feet: Literally, made his feet, which seems to mean washing the feet paring the nails, and perhaps anointing or otherwise perfuming them, if not tinging the nails with henna; see note on Deu 21:12. Sir John Chardin, in his manuscript note on this place, informs us, that it is customary in the East to have as much care of the feet as the hands; and that their barbers cut and adjust the nails with a proper instrument, because they often go barefoot. The nails of the toes of the mummies inspected in London in 1763, of which an account is given in the Philosophical Transactions for 1764, seem to have been tinged with some reddish colour. Sa2 15:30; Isa 15:2; Jer 41:5; Mat 6:16; Rom 12:15; Heb 13:3
trimmed: Literally, made his beard, which may mean, combing, curling, and perfuming it. But Mr. Morier says that they almost universally dye the beard black, by successive layers of a paste made of henna, and another made of the leaf of the indigo. the first tinging with an orange colour, and the next with a dark bottle green, which becomes jet black when exposed to the air for twenty-four hours.
Wherefore: Sa2 16:17
I will saddle: Sa2 16:2, Sa2 16:3
thy servant: Sa2 4:4
slandered: Sa2 16:3; Exo 20:16; Psa 15:3, Psa 101:5; Jer 9:4
as an angel: Sa2 14:17, Sa2 14:20; Sa1 29:9
were: Gen 32:10
dead men: Heb. men of death, Sa1 26:16
didst thou: Sa2 9:7, Sa2 9:8, Sa2 9:10, Sa2 9:13
to cry: Kg2 8:3
Why speakest: Job 19:16, Job 19:17; Pro 18:13; Act 18:15
Thou: Deu 19:17-19; Psa 82:2, Psa 101:5
Yea: Sa2 1:26; Act 20:24; Phi 1:20
fourscore: Gen 5:27, Gen 9:29, Gen 25:7, Gen 47:28, Gen 50:26; Deu 34:7; Psa 90:3-10; Pro 16:31
provided: Sa2 17:27
Come thou: Sa2 9:11; Mat 25:34-40; Luk 22:28-30; Th2 1:7
How long have I to live: Heb. How many days are the years of my life, Gen 47:9; Job 14:14; Psa 39:5, Psa 39:6; Co1 7:29; Jam 4:14
can I discern: Job 6:30, Job 12:11; Heb 5:14; Pe1 2:3
taste: Ecc 12:1-5
I hear: Ezr 2:65; Neh 7:67; Exo 2:8, Exo 12:4
a burden: Sa2 13:25, Sa2 15:33
the king: Luk 6:38
Let thy: The whole of this little episode is extremely interesting, and contains an affecting description of the infirmities of old age. The venerable and kind Barzillai was fourscore years old; his ear was become dull of hearing, and his relish for even royal dainties was gone. the evil days had arrived in which he was constrained to say, "I have no pleasure in them" (Ecc 12:1). As he was too old either to enjoy the pleasures of a court, or to be of any further service to the king, he finishes his affecting address to the aged monarch with the request, that he would suffer him to enjoy what old men naturally desire, to "die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and mother;" at the same time commending his son Chimham to his kind offices.
I may die: Gen 48:21; Jos 23:14; Luk 2:29, Luk 2:30; Ti2 4:6; Pe2 1:14
by the grave: Gen 47:30, Gen 49:29-31, Gen 50:13; Kg1 13:22
Chimham: Sa2 19:40; Kg1 2:7; Jer 41:17
require: Heb. choose, Sa2 19:38
the king: The kiss was the token of friendship and farewell; the blessing was a prayer to God for his prosperity. probably a prophetical benediction.
kissed Barzillai: Gen 31:55, Gen 45:15; Rut 1:14; Kg1 19:20; Act 20:37; Th1 5:26
blessed: Sa2 6:18, Sa2 6:20, Sa2 13:25; Gen 14:19, Gen 28:3, Gen 47:7, Gen 47:10; Luk 2:34
returned: Gen 31:55; Num 24:25; Sa1 24:22
Chimham: Heb. Chimhan
all the people: Sa2 19:11-15; Gen 49:10; Mat 21:9
Why have: Jdg 8:1, Jdg 12:1; Joh 7:5, Joh 7:6
stolen: Sa2 19:3; Gen 31:26, Gen 31:27
Because: Sa2 19:12, Sa2 5:1; Ch1 2:3-17
We have: Sa2 20:1, Sa2 20:6; Kg1 12:16
despise us: Heb. set us at light
our advice: Sa2 19:9, Sa2 19:14; Gal 5:20, Gal 5:26; Phi 2:3
the words: Jdg 8:1, Jdg 9:23, Jdg 12:1-6; Pro 15:1, Pro 17:14, Pro 18:19; Rom 12:21; Gal 5:15, Gal 5:20; Jam 1:20, Jam 3:2-10, Jam 3:14-16, Jam 4:1-5; Whatever value or respect the men of Israel at this time professed for their king, they would not have quarrelled so fiercely about their own credit and interest in recalling him, if they had been truly sorry for their former rebellion.