📖 2 Samuel — Chapter 19 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Samuel 19:1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
2 Samuel 19:2 And the Tvictory that day was Rturned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
2 Samuel 19:3 And the people gat them by stealth that day Rinto the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
2 Samuel 19:4 But the king Rcovered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
2 Samuel 19:5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have Rsaved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;
2 Samuel 19:6 RTIn that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, Tthat thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.
2 Samuel 19:7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak RTcomfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
2 Samuel 19:8 Then the king arose, and Rsat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
2 Samuel 19:9 And all the people were at Rstrife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.
2 Samuel 19:10 And Absalom, Rwhom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why Tspeak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
2 Samuel 19:11 And king David Rsent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
2 Samuel 19:12 Ye are my brethren, ye are Rmy bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
2 Samuel 19:13 And say ye to RAmasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
2 Samuel 19:14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, Reven as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.
2 Samuel 19:15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to RGilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
2 Samuel 19:16 And RShimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
2 Samuel 19:17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and RZiba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.
2 Samuel 19:18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do Twhat he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera Rfell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
2 Samuel 19:19 RAnd said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.
2 Samuel 19:20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, RI am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
2 Samuel 19:21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, RShall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?
2 Samuel 19:22 And David said, RWhat have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
2 Samuel 19:23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, RThou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
2 Samuel 19:24 And RMephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.
2 Samuel 19:25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, RWherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?
2 Samuel 19:26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, RI will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.
2 Samuel 19:27 And he hath Rslandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.
2 Samuel 19:28 For all of my father’s house Rwere but Tdead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?
2 Samuel 19:29 And the king said unto him, RWhy speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.
2 Samuel 19:30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, RYea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.
2 Samuel 19:31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.
2 Samuel 19:32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even Rfourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.
2 Samuel 19:33 And the king said unto Barzillai, RCome thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 19:34 And Barzillai said unto the king, RTHow long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
2 Samuel 19:35 I am this day fourscore years old: and Rcan I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
2 Samuel 19:36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
2 Samuel 19:37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that RI may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
2 Samuel 19:38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt Trequire of me, that will I do for thee.
2 Samuel 19:39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king Rkissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.
2 Samuel 19:40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and TChimham went on with him: and Rall the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.
2 Samuel 19:41 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, RWhy have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan?
2 Samuel 19:42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, RBecause the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s cost? or hath he given us any gift?
2 Samuel 19:43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have Rten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye Tdespise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 19:1–15 — David returns to public responsibility
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Joab challenges David to speak to the people who defended him. David takes his place at the gate, while Israel debates his return. He appeals to Judah and offers Amasa the army command. His grief continues, but the people still need leadership; Joab’s harsh accusations should not be treated as a complete description of David’s heart.
Key Truth: Grief and responsibility may need to be carried together.
Check What You Remember
1. For which son was David mourning? (2 Samuel 19:1)
Find it in 2 Samuel 19:1 (KJV).
2. Where did David sit to receive the people? (2 Samuel 19:8)
Find it in 2 Samuel 19:8 (KJV).
3. Whom did David offer the captaincy in Joab’s place? (2 Samuel 19:13)
Find it in 2 Samuel 19:13 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 19:16–30 — Mercy for Shimei and Mephibosheth’s answer
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Shimei admits his sin and receives David’s promise that he will not die. Mephibosheth then answers the earlier accusation, saying his servant deceived and slandered him. David orders the land divided, while Mephibosheth places the king’s safe return above possession. His explanation must be heard alongside Ziba’s claim in chapter 16.
Key Truth: Hear the person accused before treating a charge as settled truth.
Check What You Remember
1. Who confessed to cursing David? (2 Samuel 19:19)
Find it in 2 Samuel 19:19 (KJV).
2. Who said his servant had deceived him? (2 Samuel 19:26)
Find it in 2 Samuel 19:26 (KJV).
3. With whom did David order Mephibosheth to divide the land? (2 Samuel 19:29)
Find it in 2 Samuel 19:29 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 19:31–43 — Barzillai’s care and renewed division
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
David offers to care for the elderly Barzillai, who had supplied him at Mahanaim. Barzillai prefers home and asks David to take Chimham. After the crossing, Israel and Judah argue over their share in bringing the king back. Gratitude and generosity appear beside rivalry that remains unresolved.
Key Truth: Honor faithful service without turning belonging into competition.
Check What You Remember
1. How old was Barzillai? (2 Samuel 19:32)
Find it in 2 Samuel 19:32 (KJV).
2. Whom did Barzillai ask David to take? (2 Samuel 19:37)
Find it in 2 Samuel 19:37 (KJV).
3. Which group’s words were fiercer in the final dispute? (2 Samuel 19:43)
Find it in 2 Samuel 19:43 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Proverbs 15:1 — This proverb contrasts a soft answer with words that stir anger.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Where do you need to listen more carefully or acknowledge someone’s faithful help? Consider how your words might ease rivalry rather than make it sharper.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does the king’s mourning affect the returning army?
2. What action follows Joab’s severe warning to David?
3. What does Mephibosheth’s appearance before David contribute to his account?
4. How does Mephibosheth respond to the order to divide the land?
5. Why does Barzillai decline the offered life at court?
Notes
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