aIn some versions, this verse is labeled as 18.33, and chapter 19 starts with the next verse. The king was shaken. He went up to the upper chamber of the gateway and wept, moaning these words as he went,bwent Some Septuagint mss. read “wept.” “My son Absalom! O my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Word-by-Word Analysis
וירגז
226
המלך
95
ויעל
116
עלעלית
610
השער
575
ויבך
38
וכה
31
אמר
241
בלכתו
458
בני
62
אבשלום
379
בני
62
בני
62
אבשלום
379
מייתן
510
מותי
456
אני
61
תחתיך
838
אבשלום
379
בני
62
בני
62
II Samuel 19:2
Gematria: 1182
ויגדליואבהנההמלךבכהויתאבלעלאבשלום
Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning over Absalom.
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 servicemen 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 GOD that ifcif So Septuagint, 4QSamᵃ, and some other Heb. mss., and an ancient masoretic tradition; ordinary texts omit “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.Now the Israelites had fled to their homes.
All the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing: Some said, “The king saved us from the hands of our enemies, and he delivered us from the hands of the Philistines; and just now he had to flee the country because of Absalom.
The talk of all Israel reached the king in his quarters. So King David sent this message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: “Speak to the elders of Judah and say, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace?
Word-by-Word Analysis
והמלך
101
דוד
14
שלח
338
אלצדוק
231
ואלאביתר
650
הכהנים
130
לאמר
271
דברו
212
אלזקני
198
יהודה
30
לאמר
271
למה
75
תהיו
421
אחרנים
309
להשיב
347
אתהמלך
496
אלביתו
449
ודבר
212
כלישראל
591
בא
3
אלהמלך
126
אלביתו
449
II Samuel 19:13
Gematria: 3283
אחיאתםעצמיובשריאתםולמהתהיואחרניםלהשיבאתהמלך
You are my kin, my own flesh and blood! Why should you be the last to escort the king back?’
And to Amasa say this, ‘You are my own flesh and blood. May God do thus and more to me if you do not become my army commander permanently in place of Joab!’”
So [Amasa] swayed the hearts of Judah’s entire contingent without opposition; and they sent a message to the king: “Come back with all your followers.”
accompanied by a thousand Benjaminites. dMeaning of parts of the rest of vv. 18 and 19 uncertain. And Ziba, the servant of the House of Saul, together with his fifteen sons and twenty slaves, rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king
while the crossing was being made, to escort the king’s family over, and to do whatever he wished. 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.
But David said, “What has this to do with you,eWhat has this to do with you See note at 16.10. you sons of Zeruiah, that you should cross me today? Should even a single Israelite be put to death today? Don’t IfI Some Septuagint mss. read “you.” know that today I am again king over Israel?”
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויאמר
257
דוד
14
מהלי
85
ולכם
96
בני
62
צרויה
311
כיתהיולי
491
היום
61
לשטן
389
היום
61
יומת
456
איש
311
בישראל
543
כי
30
הלוא
42
ידעתי
494
כי
30
היום
61
אנימלך
151
עלישראל
641
II Samuel 19:24
Gematria: 2259
ויאמרהמלךאלשמעילאתמותוישבעלוהמלךס
Then the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die”; and the king gave him his oath.
Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul, also came down to meet the king. He had not pared his toenails, or trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day that the king left until the day he returned safe.
When he came [from]gcame [from] So Septuagint. Heb. “entered.” Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?”
He replied, “My lord the king, my own servanthmy own servant I.e., Ziba (cf. v. 30 and 9.2ff.). deceived me. Your servant planned to saddle his donkey and rideiYour servant planned to saddle his donkey and ride Ancient versions read “Your servant said to him, ‘Saddle my donkey, that I may ride…’” on it and go with Your Majesty—for your servant is lame.
For all the members of my father’s family deserved only death from my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your table. What right have I to appeal further to Your Majesty?”
Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim and passed on to the Jordan with the king, to see him off atjpassed on … to see him off at Meaning of Heb. uncertain. the Jordan.
I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between good and bad? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still listen to the singing of men and women? Why then should your servant continue to be a burden to my lord the king?
Word-by-Word Analysis
בןשמנים
492
שנה
355
אנכי
81
היום
61
האדע
80
ביןטוב
79
לרע
300
אםיטעם
170
עבדך
96
אתאשר
902
אכל
51
ואתאשר
908
אשתה
706
אםאשמע
452
עוד
80
בקול
138
שרים
550
ושרות
912
ולמה
81
יהיה
30
עבדך
96
עוד
80
למשא
371
אלאדני
96
המלך
95
II Samuel 19:37
Gematria: 2504
כמעטיעברעבדךאתהירדןאתהמלךולמהיגמלניהמלךהגמולההזאת
Your servant could barely cross the JordankYour servant could barely cross the Jordan Meaning of Heb. uncertain. with Your Majesty! Why should Your Majesty reward me so generously?
Let your servant go back, and let me die in my own town, near the graves of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross with my lord the king, and do for him as you see fit.”
lMeaning of parts of vv. 40–44 uncertain. All the troops crossed the Jordan; and when the king was ready to cross, the king kissed Barzillai and bade him farewell; and [Barzillai] returned to his home.
The king passed on to Gilgal, with ChimhammChimham Heb. Chimhan. accompanying him; and all the Judahite soldiers and part of the Israelite army escorted the king across.
Then Israel’s entire contingent came to the king—and said to the king, “Why did our kindred, Judah’s contingent, steal you away and escort the king and his family across the Jordan, along with all David’s men?”
Judah’s side replied to Israel’s side, “Because the king is our relative! Why should this upset you? Have we consumed anything that belongs to the king? Has he given us any gifts?”
But Israel’s side answered Judah’s side, “We have ten shares in the king, and in David, too, we have more than you.nin David, too, we have more than you Septuagint reads “we are the first-born, rather than you.” Why then have you slighted us? Were we not the first to propose that our king be brought back?” However, Judah’s side prevailed over Israel’s side.