Thursday, May 9, 2013

David Returns Across Jordan

II Samuel 19:15-30

“So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.” (II Samuel 19:15)

David remained in Mahanaim until Judah formally accepted him as king.  He did not spend the time in political maneuvering to become king but waiting until they were ready.  When Judah came to escort him across Jordan, it was their decision, and they were again as committed to him as when they chose him the first time.

“And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.” (II Samuel 19:16)

Shimei had not hesitated to blaspheme David, accusing him of killing Saul’s family and usurping the kingdom when  he didn’t think David could do anything about it.  The moment he suspected David might be restored to power, he made real effort to smooth things over so he wouldn’t be taken to task for his actions.  He was a Benjamite, and a distant relative of Saul’s, and was quite bitter that Saul’s family was no longer ruling.

“And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba 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.  And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good.” (II Samuel 19:17-18a) 

David was accompanied by about a thousand Benjamite warriors, as well as Saul’s retainers and former servants.  Clearly, Shimei’s attitude was not shared by the rest of the tribe or Saul’s associates.

 "Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; And 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.  For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” (II Samuel 19:18b-20)

Like most people who allow their anger to control their tongue, Shimei said things he ought not because he thought he could get by with it.  When he realized he might have to pay for his actions, he rushed to apologize in hopes of persuading David not to kill him.  Obviously, he knew his actions were unacceptable, as he told David,  His apology was not a result of sincere regret or repentance, but an attempt to avoid punishment.  His rush to apologize is typical of people who realize their actions made people angry, but do not consider themselves as having done any thing truly wrong.

“But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?

And David said, What 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? 

Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.’ (II Samuel 19:21-23) 

Abishai recognized the insincerity of Shimei’s apology and recommended that he be killed.  It was the standard approach of his Aunt Zeruiah’s children, to kill those who opposed them.  David was beginning to despair of them ever looking beyond their immediate concerns.  To just put everybody to death who disagreed with him would bring the judgment of God on David, as well as creating enemies and weakening the kingdom.

David knew he had the necessary authority and did not need to kill somebody to prove it to anybody.  Only a very insecure person needs to demonstrate their power.  David would not put anybody to death for their part in Absalom’s rebellion, because he was sure of his position as king.

“And Mephibosheth 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.

 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. 

And he hath slandered 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.  For all of my father's house were but dead 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?” (II Samuel 19:24-28)

Mephibosheth was actually Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson.  David had befriended him’ supporting hem when the standard custom would have been to kill him or exile him.  David had been concerned when Mephibosheth’s servant, Ziba showed up in support but Mephibosheth himself did not.  Ziba had said that he was hoping that with David dead, they would give the kingdom to him, and David was offended by such ingratitude, and offered Ziba the land that he had held for Mephibosheth.

When he met Mephibosheth on his return, he questioned his reason for not going.  Mephibosheth was cripple in both feet, and could hardly walk.  When Ziba and the others left to accompany David, they told him they were going to catch a donkey for him to ride and left without telling him.  By the time he caught one for himself, it was too late.

Ziba had lied about him not wanting to go and hoping for David’s death. But mephibosheth was willing to accept whatever David might decide because he realized that except for David’s mercy, he would already have been dead years before., and he was just glad to see him alive.

 “And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. 

And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.” (II Samuel 19:29-30)

David regretted his haste in offering the land to Ziba, and asked Mephibosheth to share it with him.  Mephibosheth said Ziba was welcome to it all as thanks for helping David return safely.





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