Reinstatement

When David quit focusing on his pain and reached out to the people, they responded willingly.  Even the people who had supported Absalom remembered what David had done for Israel and began to reconsider having him as king, especially since Absalom was dead, as II Samuel 19:9-10 tells us.  “And all the people were at strife 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.  And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?”  They began to question why the leaders were not moving to restore him as king. 

Hearing the people wanted him back as king, David sent the priest to ask members of his own tribe why they were not recommending it, in II Samuel 19:11-12.  “And king David sent 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.  Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?”  If anyone had a vested interest in him as king, it should have been his own tribe and family.   

David had learned about Joab’s role in killing Absalom, and remembering how he had hindered uniting Israel by murdering Abner, David decided to replace him with his cousin Amasa,  in II Samuel 19:13.  “And say ye to Amasa, 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.”  Though Joab was a tremendous general, his insistence on doing things his own way without concern for other people made him undependable. 

When he reached out to them, the leaders of Judah united in support of his kingdom, as well as a thousand men of the tribe of Benjamin and several of Saul’s descendants, according to II Samuel 19:14-18a.  “And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.  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.  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.  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.

As soon as he was ferried over the river, Shimei, the man who had cursed David on his way out came to apologise, knowing David had every reason of rhating him.  He had not hesitated when he thought David was disgraced and would be killed, but when David was gaining fame, he wanted to get on his good side by saying he was sorry that he had gotten carried away in the moment, in II Samuel 18b-20.  “…And 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.”

Shimei had no idea how close his mouth had come to getting him killed the fwhen he cursed David.   Abishai, Joab’s brother had asked permission to kill him then but David refused to let him.   Abishai was still angry about what he said and said they ought to still kill him.  David was concerned that his cousins were so quick to kill people, insisting that the celebration of his restoration not be marred by and execution, in II Samuel 19:21-23.  “ 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.”  In showing mercy and not having Shimei executed, David was doing what Paul commands in Romans 12:17-21.  “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Though David had mercy on Shimei, he didn’t believe his apology was sincere.  Years later, in I Kings 2:8-9 he advised Solomon to not let him think he had gotten by with his sin.