2 Samuel 19:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle.

NIV: The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle.

NASB: And the people entered the city surreptitiously that day, just as people who are humiliated surreptitiously flee in battle.

CSB: So they returned to the city quietly that day like troops come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle.

NLT: They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle.

KJV: And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

NKJV: And the people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

Second Samuel 19:1–4 demonstrates how much David grieves over recent events. His son Absalom spent four years conspiring against his father (2 Samuel 15:1–12). He drove David out of Jerusalem, built an army, and attempted to kill the king (2 Samuel 15:13–14; 17:2, 11–14). David's men defeated Absalom's, and Joab killed the rebellious son (2 Samuel 18:6–8, 14–15). The kingdom is saved and many men are dead, but David only cares that his son is lost. Joab will confront David about this dishonorable display of grief for a traitor (2 Samuel 19:5–7).

David comes home after a tragic and costly rebellion. His son Absalom is dead, and rebel fighters have fled back home (2 Samuel 18). David falls into self-indulgent grief until Joab reminds him of his soldiers' honor. On the journey back to the Jordan, David reconciles with Shimei, Mephibosheth, and the elders of Judah, and blesses Barzillai. The elders of the northern tribes arrive and argue with Judah over who loves the king more—the king they tried to kill. The first chance they get, the men from Israel leave and try to start another rebellion (2 Samuel 20:1–2).

David's son, Absalom, manipulated the elders of the tribes, convincing them that he would make a better king than David (2 Samuel 15—17). During the one-day civil war, Joab killed Absalom, against David's orders (2 Samuel 18). David falls into a very public expression of mourning until Joab tells him to honor his living servants, not his dead, traitorous son. On the way to Jerusalem, David tries to forgive his enemies. The elders of Israel claim to welcome him back. But after squabbling with the elders from Judah, they join a new rebellion (2 Samuel 10:1–2).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

Accessed 5/4/2026 3:41:50 AM