David’s passionate grief over Absalom’s death changed the glory of victory into gloom. We can sympathize with the bitterness of his fatherly sorrow; yet, from the soldiers’ point of view, it seemed as if the monarch had failed to appreciate the value of the services which they had rendered and the personal risks which they had taken. They had periled their lives in their devotion to his cause, and they had ended the rebellion in the very first battle. And when they might have hoped to be congratulated and loaded with honors, the king was invisible; and nothing was heard from him except the echo of his cries for Absalom.

The soldiers’ feelings found vent in Joab’s words of stinging reproach. Perhaps the king did need to hear something like this, but Joab was not the best man to say it; and he certainly did not say it in the most tender and considerate manner. Nevertheless, his advice was not offered a moment too soon, for the troops were rapidly disbanding; and before long, the confidence and affection of the people would have been entirely alienated from their king. However, when they heard that David was sitting in the gate again, they speedily returned.

But although David had thus regained the attachment of his troops, he still remained at Mahanaim, and took no steps to return to Jerusalem. He had been called to the throne at first by the choice of the people, as well as by the designation of Jehovah; and he would not move in the direction of resuming his regal dignity until – in some form or another – the desire of the tribes had been indicated to him. Hence it was with satisfaction that he heard how – almost everywhere throughout the land – the inhabitants were speaking of inviting him back. But the people of the tribe of Judah were silent! Probably they felt that they had been more deeply committed to the revolt of Absalom than others, since David had first ascended the throne at Hebron in the tribe of Judah. Perhaps they were afraid that David would return their treachery with severe punishment. But David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar, begging them to speak to the elders of Judah on this matter. And in order to alleviate any fears of vengeance on his part, he announced his intention to elevate Amasa (who had been the captain of Absalom’s forces) to the post of commander-in-chief of his own army, instead of Joab. This message had the desired effect. The people of Judah went to Gilgal to bring their king back over the Jordan River.

But as soon as David landed from the ferryboat which carried him over the Jordan River, Shimei made his appearance. He made a humble confession of his guilt in cursing the king, and he requested forgiveness. Again, Abishai offered to put this man to death. But the day of David’s restoration was not to be stained by any deed of blood, however righteously it might have been shed. Amnesty was to be proclaimed everywhere. So Shimei was pardoned; and the king swore that he himself, at least, would not put him to death.

Mephibosheth also came to meet David, with every token of respect and affection. From the day of the king’s departure from Jerusalem, the son of Jonathan had not even trimmed his beard or washed his clothes; and now (having doubtless heard of Ziba’s dishonesty) he approached his father’s friend and his own benefactor with mingled feelings of satisfaction and regret – satisfaction that David had returned to his throne in safety, but regret that he had innocently fallen under royal suspicion. Indeed, he presented a very different story from that which Ziba told on the day of David’s flight from Jerusalem. And it seems that David himself was convinced of his innocence; for now, realizing that he had been deceived when he granted Mephibosheth’s lands to Ziba, he revoked that grant and confirmed his former settlement of it – in which, the property was divided between Mephibosheth and Ziba in the sense that the former owned the land, with the latter occupying it and paying rent. To this, Mephibosheth nobly replied that he did not care if Ziba had entire possession of the lands – just as long as his rightful sovereign was able to come home in peace. Like Mephibosheth (verse 28), we – by nature – were dead men before our Lord and King; and yet He has set us among them that eat at His own table! And as long as King Jesus lives and reigns, nothing else truly matters; all other earthly enjoyments or worldly privileges are only trifling nothings.

After David had safely passed over the Jordan River, the venerable Barzillai approached to bid him farewell. With touching earnestness – which shows how deeply he had been moved by his great kindness – the king begged Barzillai to accompany him to Jerusalem and be honored at the royal table. But the aged chief was not willing to barter the happiness of his homely life, and the prospect of being buried in the tomb of his fathers, for all the glitter of a court – even when such a man as David was at its head. So he delicately declined the invitation for himself, but he commended his son Chimham to the favor of his king.

When David arrived in Gilgal, an angry altercation arose between the members of the tribe of Judah and those of the other tribes, over the fact that the former has played a greater part in bringing David back home. In the midst of the controversy, a Benjamite named Sheba blew the trumpet of revolt and raised the shout, “To your tents, O Israel!” But more on this in chapter 20.

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