Summary: David continues to weep for Absalom (v.4), and Joab rebukes David for this (vv.5-6). David replaces Joab with Amasa as his military commander (v.13). David went out and won over the crowds to follow him again (v.14). The chapter ends with certain men coming forward to speak with David. The men of Judah and Israel bicker over who has more rights to David as their king, and this is how the chapter ends (v.43).
(19:1-4) Joab hears that David is mourning Absalom (v.1). This must feel like a slap in the face to him, because he is the one who killed Absalom. David’s mourning completely diffuses the celebration of the war (vv.2-3). The victorious soldiers literally “make themselves move around like thieves.”[] That is, they act guilty, rather than encouraged by the victory.
(19:5-7) It’s easy to identify with Joab: He just saved the lives of innumerable people by killing Absalom, and he rescued the nation without more military losses. Yet David’s son is dead! The two men are simply at odds on this depressing situation.
Joab uses hyperbole to describe David’s “hate” for the people who “love” him. He is arguing that David’s emotions are unstable and irrational—much like Amnon (2 Sam. 13:15).
Joab claims that David would wish all of the men to be dead, rather than Absalom (v.6). In reality, David wished himself dead, rather than his son (2 Sam. 18:33).
Joab demands that David go out and congratulate their men for their service.
(19:8) The people who were loyal to Absalom scattered like cockroaches into their nests.
(19:9-10) The Israelites who sided with Absalom want to save face and welcome back David as their king.
(19:11-12) David sends the priests to the Israelite leaders, asking them to welcome back their king.
(19:13) David doesn’t want Joab to lead his army anymore, and he replaces him with Amasa.
(19:14) Amasa gathers the people to return to David.
(19:15) This outcome is the best of possible scenario. The leaders of Israel could’ve doubled-down and led a civil war against David. But instead, they choose a peaceful alternative.
(19:16) Remember, Shimei was the man who cursed David and threw rocks at him before the battle (2 Sam. 16:5-13). Now that the battle went in David’s favor, will he have the same attitude toward David?
(19:17) Ziba was the man who sold out Mephibosheth earlier (2 Sam. 16:1-4), and Mephibosheth tells this to David (vv.26-27).
(19:18-20) Would Shimei have had this response if David had lost the battle? How will David respond to this traitor?
(19:21) Abishai—one of David’s commanders—had wanted to kill Shimei earlier (2 Sam. 16:7).
(19:22) David’s response is interesting. He seems to be saying that there has already been enough bloodshed. Also, he doesn’t need to kill Shimei to vindicate himself.
(19:23) David promises not to kill Shimei—though he doesn’t make his Solomon keep the same oath! (1 Kings 2:8)
(19:24-28) This description sounds like Mephibosheth was in mourning since David was dethroned. This makes his account of Ziba’s treachery believable (vv.26-27). Ziba had slandered Mephibosheth to David earlier (2 Sam. 16:3-4). Mephibosheth puts his life in David’s hands (v.28).
(19:29) David decides to divide the property 50/50 between Mephibosheth and Ziba. Apparently, he isn’t sure whom to believe.
(19:30) Mephibosheth isn’t in it for the money. He seems like the loyal man in this situation.
(19:31-39) Barzillai was one of the men who took care of David and his men with food during his short exile (2 Sam 17:27-29). Later, on his deathbed, David tells Solomon to take care of Barzillai’s sons (1 Kin 2:7). Kinham (Barzillai’s son) goes with David. Barzillai was an old man, and just wanted to die at home.
(19:39-40) Why do only “half” of the Israelites come with David? It could be that the rest of them are still in their homes—afraid to come out (2 Sam. 19:8).
(19:41-43) The men of Judah and Israel argue over who has more of a right to have David as their king. The men of Judah argue that David is from their bloodline (v.42), but the men of Israel argue that they have 10 out of the 12 tribes in the nation (v.43). These people go from exiling David to fighting over him as their king.
Was David right to be at odds with Joab? In his favor, he had told Joab not to kill Absalom in advance, and Absalom was his son. However, in Joab’s favor, he killed a seditious and rebellious man who would’ve ruined the nation and killed incalculable people.
David’s peaceful solution to the traitors led to peace in the land of Israel. If David had played this differently, he would’ve started a civil war.
James is an elder at Dwell Community Church, where he teaches classes in theology, apologetics, and weekly Bible studies.
