Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
David weeps for his son. He makes his way back to Jerusalem, pardons those who wronged him, and honors those who honored him.
II. Photo
David is dejected: “The king was shaken. He went up to the upper chamber of the gateway and wept, moaning these words as he went, ‘My son Absalom! O my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son!’” (v. 1)
III. Important Verses
1: The king was shaken. He went up to the upper chamber of the gateway and wept, moaning these words as he went, “My son Absalom! O my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
6-9a: Joab came to the king in his quarters and said, “Today you have humiliated all your followers, who this day saved your life, and the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and concubines, by showing love for those who hate you and hate for those who love you. For you have made clear today that the officers and men mean nothing to you. I am sure that if Absalom were alive today and the rest of us dead, you would have preferred it. Now arise, come out and placate your followers! For I swear by the LORD that if you do not come out, not a single man will remain with you overnight; and that would be a greater disaster for you than any disaster that has befallen you from your youth until now.” So the king arose and sat down in the gateway; and when all the troops were told that the king was sitting in the gateway, all the troops presented themselves to the king.
19b-24: Shimei son of Gera flung himself before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan. He said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty, and do not remember the wrong your servant committed on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem; let Your Majesty give it no thought. For your servant knows that he has sinned; so here I have come down today, the first of all the House of Joseph, to meet my lord the king.” Thereupon Abishai son of Zeruiah spoke up, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for that — insulting the LORD’s anointed?” But David said, “What has this to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should cross me today? Should a single Israelite be put to death today? Don’t I know that today I am again king over Israel?” Then the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die”; and the king gave him his oath.
30-31: The king said to [Mephibosheth], “You need not speak further. I decree that you and Ziba shall divide the property.” And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take it all, as long as my lord the king has come home safe.”
IV. Outline
1-5. David laments his son; The troops are ashamed
6-8. Joab castigates David
9a. David meets with the troops
9b-15. David is invited to Jerusalem
16-24. David pardons Shimei at the Jordan river
25-31. David makes amends with Mephibosheth; Ziba’s property is split in two
32-39. David honors Barzillai by watching over Chimham
40-41. David’s camp crosses the Jordan
42-44. The men of Judah and Israel debate
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Anderson, A. A. “2 Samuel” Word Biblical Commentary, vol. 11 (Waco Texas: Wordbooks, 1989).
Campbell, Antony F. “2 Samuel” The Forms of the Old Testament Literature, vol 8 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eedrdmans, 2005).
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
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