2 Samuel 19:10 Study Bible: Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you not speak a word of bringing the king back?" And the talk of all Israel came to the king.

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◄ 2 Samuel 19:10 ►

But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?"

But Absalom, the man we anointed over us,
This phrase highlights the people's choice to follow Absalom, David's son, who led a rebellion against his father. The anointing of Absalom signifies a significant shift in loyalty, reflecting the people's desire for change and perhaps dissatisfaction with David's rule. This act of anointing parallels the earlier anointing of Saul and David, indicating a formal recognition of leadership. Theologically, it underscores the human tendency to seek leaders who align with immediate desires rather than divine will, as seen in 1 Samuel 8:5-7 when Israel demanded a king.

has died in battle.
Absalom's death marks the end of his rebellion and serves as a divine judgment against his usurpation. His demise in battle fulfills the prophecy of Nathan in 2 Samuel 12:10-12, where God declared that the sword would never depart from David's house due to his sin with Bathsheba. Absalom's death also echoes the fate of other rebellious figures in Scripture, such as Korah in Numbers 16, emphasizing the consequences of opposing God's anointed.

So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”
This rhetorical question challenges the people of Israel to consider their silence regarding David's return to power. It reflects a moment of introspection and decision, urging the tribes to realign with God's chosen king. The call to restore David can be seen as a type of Christ, foreshadowing the ultimate restoration and reign of Jesus, the King of Kings, as prophesied in Isaiah 9:7. The people's hesitation may also reflect fear of retribution or uncertainty about David's response, highlighting the complexities of political and personal reconciliation.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Absalom
The son of King David who led a rebellion against his father. His death in battle marks a turning point in the account.

2. David
The rightful king of Israel, who is in exile due to Absalom's rebellion. The verse discusses the people's hesitation to bring him back as king.

3. Israelites
The people of Israel who had previously supported Absalom's rebellion but are now reconsidering their allegiance.

4. Battle
Refers to the conflict where Absalom was killed, leading to a shift in political power back to David.

5. Jerusalem
The capital city where David is expected to return as king.

Teaching Points

The Consequences of Rebellion
Absalom's death serves as a reminder of the consequences of rebelling against God's anointed leader. Rebellion against God’s order leads to chaos and destruction.

The Importance of Repentance and Restoration
The Israelites' hesitation to bring back David highlights the need for repentance and restoration. Just as they needed to restore David as king, we must restore our relationship with God when we stray.

God's Sovereignty in Leadership
Despite human actions and rebellion, God's sovereign plan prevails. David's return to the throne illustrates God's control over leadership and authority.

The Role of Community in Decision-Making
The Israelites' collective decision to bring back David emphasizes the importance of community in making decisions that align with God's will.

Bible Study Questions

1. What can we learn from Absalom's rebellion about the dangers of pride and ambition?

2. How does David's response to Absalom's death reflect his character and relationship with God?

3. In what ways can we apply the principle of submitting to God’s chosen leaders in our own lives?

4. How does the concept of restoration in this passage relate to the New Testament teachings on reconciliation with God?

5. What steps can we take as a community to ensure our decisions align with God's will, as seen in the Israelites' decision to bring back David?

Connections to Other Scriptures

2 Samuel 15-18
Provides the background of Absalom's rebellion and the events leading to his death.

1 Samuel 16
Describes David's anointing as king, establishing his divine right to rule.

Psalm 51
David's psalm of repentance, reflecting his heart and relationship with God, which contrasts with Absalom's rebellion.

Romans 13:1
Discusses the importance of submitting to governing authorities, which can be related to the Israelites' need to recognize David's kingship.

Sermons

Bringing the King Back	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	2 Samuel 19:10
David, a King and Saviour in Israel	R. E. Faulkner.	2 Samuel 19:10
David's Policy on His Return to Jerusalem	The Century Bible	2 Samuel 19:8-30
The Peaceful Return	C. Bosanquet, M. A.	2 Samuel 19:8-30
The Restoration of David	G. T. Coster.	2 Samuel 19:8-30

People

Abiathar, Abishai, Absalom, Amasa, Barzillai, Benjamin, Benjamites, Chimham, David, Gera, Israelites, Joab, Joseph, Mephibosheth, Saul, Shimei, Zadok, Zeruiah, Ziba

Places

Bahurim, Gilgal, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Mahanaim, Rogelim

Topics

Absalom, Ab'salom, Anointed, Battle, Bring, Bringing, Dead, Died, Fight, Getting, However, Nothing, Rule, Ruler, Saying, Silent, Speak

Dictionary of Bible Themes

2 Samuel 19:10

2230 Messiah, coming of

Library

National Sorrows and National Lessons
On the illness or the Prince of Wales. Chapel Royal, St James's, December 17th, 1871. 2 Sam. xix. 14. "He bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man." No circumstances can be more different, thank God, than those under which the heart of the men of Judah was bowed when their king commander appealed to them, and those which have, in the last few days, bowed the heart of this nation as the heart of one man. But the feeling called out in each case was the same--Loyalty, …
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

Barzillai
BY REV. GEORGE MILLIGAN, M.A., D.D. "There is nothing," says Socrates to Cephalus in the Republic, "I like better than conversing with aged men. For I regard them as travellers who have gone a journey which I too may have to go, and of whom it is right to learn the character of the way, whether it is rugged or difficult, or smooth and easy" (p. 328 E.). It is to such an aged traveller that we are introduced in the person of Barzillai the Gileadite. And though he is one of the lesser-known characters …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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