“And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. victory: Heb. salvation, or, deliverance”
Hebrew, salvation , or deliverance .
“In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well . in: Heb. By loving, etc that thou regardest: Heb. that princes or servants are not to thee”
Or, captains. Hebrew, been right in thine eye s .
“Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now. comfortably: Heb. to the heart of thy servants”
Hebrew, to the heart of thy servant .
“Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.”
Where the most resort of the people haunted.
“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.”
Everyone blamed another and strove who should first bring him home.
“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.”
That they should reprove the negligence of the Elders, seeing the people were so forward.
“And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.”
By this policy David thought that by winning of the captain, he should have the hearts of all the people.
“And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.”
Who had before reviled him, 2 Sam. 16:13 .
“And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.”
Cross references: : 2 Sam. 16:2
“And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.”
For in his adversity he was his most cruel enemy, and now in his prosperity, seeketh by flattery to creep into favor. 2 Sam. 16:15
“For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”
By Joseph he meaneth Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin (whereof he was) because these three were under one standard, Num. 2:18 .
“Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.”
By my hands, or during my life, as read 1 Kings 2:8 , 9 .
“And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?”
When Mephibosheth being at Jerusalem had met the King.
“And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.”
Able for his wisdom to judge in all matters. 2 Sam. 16:3
“For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? dead: Heb. men of death”
Worthy to die for Saul’s cruelty toward thee.
“And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.”
David did evil in taking his lands from him before he knew the cause, but much worse, that knowing the truth, he did not restore them.
“And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live , that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? How: Heb. How many days are the years of my life”
Hebrew, how many days are the years of my life ?
“I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?”
He thought it not meet to receive benefits of him to whom he was not able to do service again.
“Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel. Chimham: Heb. Chimhan”
Which had taken part with the King. Where the tribe of Judah tarried to receive him.
“And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. despise: Heb. set us at light”
Or, have not we first spoken to bring home the King? verse 11 .