With 2 Samuel 19, the rebellion of Absalom comes to an end. David fled Jerusalem and took refuge with his band of supporters in the village of Mahanaim. Absalom took possession of Jerusalem, but he needed to kill his father to solidify his claim to the throne. The two armies clash in the forest of Ephraim and Absalom and his men are defeated. With Absalom dead, Joab blows the trumpet to end the battle and the civil war is over.
Except David is still in exile. Now we have a guilty nation before a vindicated king. How do you approach your king after you’ve been sinful or rebellious? Three individuals plus the tribes of Judah and Israel give us 5 different responses to the returning king.
Israel (north) versus Judah (south)
9And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?” 11And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king? 12You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.'” 14And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.” 15So the king came back to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan.- 2 Samuel 19:9-15
- The northern tribes take no blame for siding with Absalom (“David fled”) instead of remaining loyal to God’s anointed king.
- Yet they condemn themselves (“Absalom whom we anointed over us”) since only prophets had the right to anoint a king.
- David appeals to Judah based on their pride (19:11) and their relationship (19:13).
- In response to their fear of retribution (19:13), he promises to make Amasa his top general.
- Just as David grieved more for Absalom than rejoiced over God’s delivering him and his kingdom, David again chooses family over national good.
- Gilgal is where Joshua first made his camp after crossing the Jordan river (Joshua 4:19-24), where Samuel ministered (1 Samuel 7:15-17) and were Saul was publicly anointed king (1 Samuel 11:14-15).
41Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?” 42All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is our close relative. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?” 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. – 2 Samuel 19:41-43
- In addition to failing to admit their guilt, the northern tribes demand their rights.
- The northern tribes think David owes them a proportionally larger share of his favor and they want what is due them.
- Judah relies on their birthright: David is related to them by blood.
- Absalom’s rebellion first broke out at Hebron in the heart of Judah. In a sense, the southern tribes are more guilty than the north, because they started the rebellion.
- Like Israel, they make no mention of their guilt. Instead they relay on who they are.
Shimei
16And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17And with him were a thousand men from Benjamin. And Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, rushed down to the Jordan before the king, 18and they crossed the ford to bring over the king’s household and to do his pleasure. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan, 19and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart. 20For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” 21Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?” 22But David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?” 23And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king gave him his oath. – 2 Samuel 19:16-23
- Shimei admits he was wrong, but he has many reasons why his misguided actions should be overlooked.
- He is the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet the king. He “hurried” (vs 16), he rushed (vs 17) and he got there first (vs 20).
- In addition to his verbal argument, he brought an impressive visual argument: one thousand men from the tribe of Benjamin (vs 17).
- Shimei does only what is politically necessary to save his life.
Mephibosheth
24And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had neither taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back in safety. 25And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said to him, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ For your servant is lame. 27He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you. 28For all my father’s house were but men doomed to death before my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to cry to the king?” 29And the king said to him, “Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.” 30And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.” – 2 Samuel 19:24-30
- Like Shimei, Mephibosheth’s apology consists of both a sign and a speech. But while Shimei’s sign was military strength, Mephibosheth’s sign is his unkempt appearance.
- Mephibosheth refers to David as “my lord, the King.”
- Mephibosheth acknowledges the new king owes him nothing. He expects nothing but death. His only concern is that the rightful king be restored to the throne.
Barzillai
31Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, and he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan. 32Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. 33And the king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.” 34But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him go over with my lord the king, and do for him whatever seems good to you.” 38And the king answered, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you, and all that you desire of me I will do for you.” 39Then all the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over. And the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own home. 40The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. All the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, brought the king on his way. – 2 Samuel 19:31-40
- While Mephibosheth is a picture of the repentant sinner coming to faith, Barzillai is a picture of the mature believer acting on his faith and serving when needed.
- Barzillai’s story shows you are never too old to serve the kingdom.
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Previous: 19 2Samuel 18 The Death of Absalom
Series: The Rebellion of Absalom
Also: 2Samuel: David as King
Scripture quotes are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.