2 Samuel 19 Explained - 5 Minute Bible Study

2 Samuel 19 Short Summary

After the death of Absalom, Joab rebukes David for weeping for him rather than honoring the soldiers who fought to keep him on the throne. The men of Judah invite David to cross the Jordan and be reappointed king in Jerusalem. On his journey to Jerusalem, David is met by Shemei, Mephibosheth, and Barzillai. The end of the chapter records an argument between the men of Israel and the men of Judah, which will result in a rebellion in 1 Chronicles 20.

2 Samuel 19 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Saul died in approximately 1055 B.C., after reigning over Israel for 40 years.

• David became king over Judah the same year. He reigned over Judah for 7 years and 6 months, before becoming king over all Israel. His reign over all Judah and Israel lasted 33 years.

CHARACTERS:

• David – The second king over all Israel and Judah.

• Absalom – David’s son by Maacah (2 Sam 3:3). He killed his brother Amnon and betrayed David to steal the throne. He was killed by Joab in 2 Samuel 18.

• Joab – A seasoned warrior in David’s army. He led a third of David’s army against the forces of Absalom.

• Zadok and Abiathar – David’s allies and priests in Jerusalem.

• Shemei – A Benjaminite who cursed David as he fled from Absalom.

• Mephibosheth - The son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul.

• Barzillai – A very wealthy man who provided food for David in Mahanaim. He was very old, 80 years old.

WHERE:

• After fleeing Jerusalem under threat from Absalom, David went to Mahanaim.

• It appears he remained in Mahanaim until the men of Judah invited him back to reappoint him as their king.

• David crossed the Jordan River near Gilgal and returned to Jerusalem.

OUTLINE:

• JOAB REBUKES DAVID FOR MOURNING ABSALOM (19:1-8):

  • 2 Samuel 18 ended with David mourning for his son, Absalom, after he was killed in battle following a failed attempt to take the throne.

  • When Joab heard that David was mourning, rather than welcoming home the men who fought for him, he confronted David and rebuked him.

  • Joab reminded David that his soldiers had risked their lives fighting for him, and that it was an insult to them that David was in his room weeping for his enemies.

  • Joab told David to go out and encourage his soldiers, because if he didn’t, none of them would be loyal to him by the morning.

  • David heeded Joab’s admonition, he left his house, and went to the city gate.

• DAVID SENDS MESSENGERS TO JUDAH (19:9-15):

  • After the death of Absalom, the men of Israel disagreed about who should be king.

  • The men of Judah, David’s own tribe, had not made an effort to reappoint him, so David sent messengers to them to encourage them.

  • He offered Amasa, the commander of Absalom’s army (17:25), the role of commanding his army, in place of Joab.

  • David’s messenger won over the hearts of the men of Judah. They encouraged the king to return, and they met him at Gilgal as he crossed over the Jordan River.

• SHEMEI, MEPHIBOSHETH, AND BARZILLAI (19:16-40):

  • When David and his entourage crossed the Jordan, Shemei met him with 1,000 men from Benjamin.

  • Shemei begged David not to punish him for cursing him and throwing rocks at him when he was fleeing from Absalom (2 Sam 16).

  • Abishai, Joab’s brother, wanted to kill Shimei but David forbade him.

  • David forgave Shemei and gave him his word that he would not put him to death.

  • Then Mephibosheth approached David. David asked him why he hadn’t accompanied him across the Jordan.

  • Mephibosheth told David his servant had deceived him and slandered him, and being a lame man, he was not able to go with David.

  • David divided Mephibosheth’s land, giving half to Mephibosheth and half to Ziba.

  • Finally, David spoke to Barzillai, a very old man who cared for him in Mahanaim.

  • He invited him to Jerusalem, but Barzillai chose to remain in his own city and sent his servant, Chimham, to Jerusalem with David.

• DISPUTE BETWEEN THE MEN OF JUDAH AND THE MEN OF ISRAEL (19:41-43):

  • The men of Israel were angry that the men of Judah had brought David from the Jordan without including them.

  • An argument began and fierce words were exchanged.

APPLICATION:

• Nepotism is a quick way to lose people’s respect.

• David’s choice to weep for Absalom instead of honor his soldier’s bravery almost cost him the loyalty of all his men.

• Joab understood this when he said, “you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased” (19:6).

• When leaders give grace and honor to their own relatives, and then exhibit harshness and unappreciation towards others, they’ll quickly lose the respect of their people.

• We must be careful this doesn’t happen in our churches. Elders will quickly discredit themselves if they freely rebuke others while turning a blind eye to the sins of their own family.