719 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the watchman said, me thinketh,.... Or, "I see" (b); I perceive, so it appears to me: that the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok; who it seems was well known, and famous for his manner of running and swiftness in it, having been employed in carrying expresses before from Jerusalem to David, and his army,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Ahimaaz called and said unto the king,.... As soon as he came so near as to be heard by him, before he came up to him, he said with a loud voice: all is well; the king's army has had success, beat the rebels, and obtained a complete victory: or "peace" (e); for it is but one word in the original, which signifies all happiness and prosperity,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the king said, is the young man Absalom safe?.... Or, is there "peace" (f) to him? you say there is peace, and that prosperity and success have attended my army; but what peace has Absalom? is he well, and in safety? David seemed more concerned for him than for his army and the success of it; and even suggests as if it was nothing if Absalom...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the king said [unto him], turn aside, [and] stand here,.... On the side of him, not far from him, until the other messenger came, that he might learn from them both the true state of the case: and he turned aside, and stood still; saying nothing more to the king, nor he to him.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And, behold, Cushi came,.... A little after: and Cushi said, tidings, my lord the king; news is sent and brought by me, and good news it is: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee; they are either killed or dispersed; there is an entire victory over them, and deliverance from them.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the king said unto Cushi, is the young man Absalom safe?.... The same question that was put to Ahimaaz, 2 Samuel 18:29; which shows what lay nearest his heart, and was uppermost in his mind, and Cushi answered, the enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do [thee] hurt, be as [that] young man [is], which was tacitly...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the king was much moved,.... His affections were moved, his passions were stirred up; he was greatly troubled, distressed, and grieved: and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; got out of sight and company as soon as he could; as his own dwelling was at some distance, he made haste to the chamber in the watchtower, over the gate of...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 19 David indulging to too much grief for the death of his son, is rebuked by Joab, and threatened with a revolt of the people from him, if he did not change his conduct, which be accordingly did, 2 Samuel 19:1; upon which the men of Israel were the first that moved for the bringing him back to Jerusalem, and the men...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And it was told Joab,.... When returned to Mahanaim, or on his way to it; perhaps by the messengers he sent; and this report he had before he saw the king: behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom; for the death of him, instead of rejoicing at the victory obtained, and the deliverance from his enemies.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the victory that day was [turned] into mourning unto all the people,.... They also mourned too, instead of expressing joy upon the occasion: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son; this report was spread among them, which damped their joy, and hindered them from giving any tokens of it, as were usual at such...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the people got them by stealth that day into the city,.... Did not march into it in companies, in a public and triumphant manner, as conquerors used to do; but entered in a private manner, one by one, or a very few together, not caring to be seen or known, at least by the king, as fearing they had incurred his displeasure: but as people being...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
But the king covered his face,.... And would not see his generals, and thank them for their services: but wrapped himself in his mantle, after the manner of mourners: and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son! and this was some time, perhaps some days after he had received the news of his death, since Joab...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Joab came into the house to the king,.... For by this time he was removed from the chamber over the gate to his own dwelling house or palace, where he continued the same doleful ditty as at first: and said, thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants; they cannot lift up their heads, and look any in the face, nor one another; but...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends,.... Which though not strictly true, there was some appearance of it, which is here greatly exaggerated; in that he expressed so much grief and sorrow for Absalom his enemy, who had rebelled against him, and showed so little regard to his friends, that had exposed their lives for him: for...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Now therefore arise, go forth,.... Arise from his couch, he was watering with his tears, and go forth from his house, where he had shut himself up retired from all company, to the gate of the city, where the people passed and repassed, and there was a concourse of them: this he said not by way of command, but by way of advice; though all along he...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Than the king arose, and sat in the gate,.... Of the city, a public place, where the inhabitants met on divers accounts at times, and where there were always people passing and repassing: and they told unto all the people; or it was reported to the soldiers particularly: saying, behold the king doth sit in the gate; has laid aside his mourning,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And all the people were at strife through all the tribes of Israel,.... Excepting the tribe of Judah; they blamed and reproved one another for taking part with Absalom in the rebellion, and especially for their coldness and backwardness in bringing back David to Jerusalem: saying, the king saved us out of the hand of our enemies; exposed his life...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Absalom, whom we anointed over us,.... To be king; which either was really done by Absalom's party, or in effect by proclaiming and appointing him king: is dead in battle; which shows the thing was not of God, and by which means they were released from their oath of allegiance to him: now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests,.... Who were at Jerusalem, and in his interest; perhaps by Ahimaaz and Jonathan their sons: saying, speak unto the elders of Judah; particularly those that were at Jerusalem, with whom they had an interest: saying, why are ye the last to bring back the king to his house? to his palace at...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Ye [are] my brethren, ye [are] my bones and my flesh,.... Being of the same tribe, and therefore he should deal gently with them, as if they were parts of his body; and not be severe upon them, for the hand they had in the conspiracy, as they might fear: and wherefore then are ye the last to bring the king back? since they were so nearly related...