2 SamuelChapter 19

Commentary on the chapter (in Russian)

Возвращение Давида в западное Заиорданье.

1It was told Joab, "Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom."

2The victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people; for the people heard it said that day, "The king grieves for his son."

3The people sneaked into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

4The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, "My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!"

5Joab came into the house to the king, and said, "You have shamed this day the faces of all your servants, who this day have saved your life, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines;

6in that you love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. For you have declared this day, that princes and servants are nothing to you. For today I perceive that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it would have pleased you well.

7Now therefore arise, go out, and speak to comfort your servants; for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not a man will stay with you this night. That would be worse to you than all the evil that has happened to you from your youth until now."

Commentary, vv. 5–7 (in Russian)

. "Это говорит сам убийца Авессалома, ненавистный Давиду; но в его словах было столько правды и практического благоразумия, что умный царь подавил в себе горе и волнение, встал и вышел к народу на площадь при городских воротах" (Я. Богородский, "Еврейские цари", с. 236).

8Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. They told to all the people, saying, "Behold, the king is sitting in the gate." All the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent.

Commentary, v. 8 (in Russian)

. Израильтяне же, т. е. последователи Авессалома (ср. XVIII:17).

9All the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.

10Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you not speak a word of bringing the king back?"

Commentary, vv. 9–10 (in Russian)

. "Резиденция Давида была теперь в Маханаиме, и фактически Давид был царем только за Иорданом. Евреи по эту сторону Иордана, ставшие на сторону Авессалома, оказались теперь в странном положении. Только что признанный ими царь погиб, а от Давида они отказались и поднимали против него оружие. Давид оказался непобедимым и царствовал за Иорданом, а они, как стадо без пастуха, оказались в положении, подверженном серьезным опасностям. Не было иного исхода, как изъявить покорность Давиду и возвратить его на Иерусалимский престол. Первые голоса в пользу Давида раздались в северных коленах" (Я. Богородский, "Еврейские цари", с. 237).

11King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? Since the speech of all Israel has come to the king, to return him to his house.

12You are my brothers, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?'

Commentary, vv. 11–12 (in Russian)

. "Колено Иудино сохраняло загадочное молчание, не подавая никаких надежд для Давида. Это обстоятельство представляется несколько странным и требует некоторого объяснения". Возможно то предположение, что, не получив от Давида никаких особенных привилегий сравнительно с другими коленами (ст. 42), колено Иуды примкнуло к Авессалому сколько по чувству недовольства Давидом, столько и из ожидания получить желаемые привилегии от Авессалома. "Когда же предприятие Авессалома не удалось, и оставалось только возвратиться к старому порядку вещей, колено Иудино глубже других чувствовало свое заблуждение и стыдилось своего поступка. Его представителям совестно было явиться на глаза Давиду с повинной и с предложением верноподданства, сделавшегося столь сомнительным, и они медлили. Давид понял затруднение своего колена и, все-таки считая его, несмотря на временное увлечение, более верным оплотом своего дома, решился ободрить его кротким приглашением и напоминанием его обязанности" (Я. Богородский, "Еврейские цари", с. 237-238).

13Say to Amasa, 'Aren't you my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you aren't captain of the army before me continually in the room of Joab.'"

Commentary, v. 13 (in Russian)

. Не кость ли ты моя и плоть моя - ты? См. XVII:25.

Вместо Иоава, навсегда: резкая самостоятельность Иоава и случай явного нарушения им воли своего царя (XVIII:5, 9-17), помимо же того, что предметом последней своевольной выходки Иоава было лицо, особенно близкое Давиду, - не могли не оттолкнуть от него Давида.

14He bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as one man; so that they sent to the king, saying, "Return, you and all your servants."

15So the king returned, and came to the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan.

16Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

Commentary, v. 16 (in Russian)

. См. XVI:5-11.

17There 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 through the Jordan in the presence of the king.

Commentary, v. 17 (in Russian)

. См. XVI:1-4.

18A ferry boat went to bring over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he had come over the Jordan.

19He said to the king, "Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, nor remember that which your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

20For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore behold, I have come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king."

21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, "Shall Shimei not be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed?"

22David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries to 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?"

23The king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." The king swore to him.

Commentary, vv. 18–23 (in Russian)

. См. XVI:5-11. - Из всего дома Иосифова; по тексту 70-ти: первее всего Исраиля и дому Иосифля. В объяснение того, почему дом Иосифа ставится во главу всего Израиля, см. 1 Пар V:1.

24Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither groomed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.

25It happened, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?"

26He answered, "My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, I will saddle me a donkey, that I may ride thereon, and go with the king; because your servant is lame.

27He has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God. Do therefore what is good in your eyes.

28For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more to the king?"

Commentary, vv. 24–28 (in Russian)

. Ср. XVI:1-4.

Ты посадил раба твоего между ядущими за столом твоим. См. гл. IX.

29The king said to him, "Why do you speak any more of your matters? I say, you and Ziba divide the land."

Commentary, v. 29 (in Russian)

. Трудно было решить, кто был действительно виноват - Сива ли, или Мемфивосфей. "Во всяком случае Давиду тяжело было слушать униженные речи сына своего друга Ионафана, и он угрюмо прервал Мемфивосфея: "к чему ты говоришь все это?" Находя же свое прежнее распоряжение об отнятии у Мемфивосфея всего имущества в пользу Сивы слишком жестоким, но и не желая отменять его совсем, так как считал донесение Сивы не вполне безосновательным, Давид, чтобы уладить как-нибудь это неприятное дело, прибавил: "я говорю, чтобы ты и Сива разделили поля поровну" (Я. Богородский, "Еврейские цари", с. 240-241).

30Mephibosheth said to the king, "Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house."

31Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim; and he went over the Jordan with the king, to conduct him over the Jordan.

32Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old: and he had provided the king with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

Commentary, vv. 31–32 (in Russian)

. См. XVII:27-29.

33The king said to Barzillai, "Come over with me, and I will sustain you with me in Jerusalem."

34Barzillai said to the king, "How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

35I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?

36Your servant would but just go over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward?

37Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you."

38The king answered, "Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you. Whatever you require of me, that I will do for you."

39All the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over. Then the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own place.

40So the king went over to Gilgal, and Chimham went over with him. All the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel.

41Behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, "Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king, and his household, over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?"

Commentary, v. 41 (in Russian)

. "Когда Давид был уже в Галгале и когда явились сюда представители северных колен, они были неприятно поражены тем, что царь был, так сказать, уже дома и более как бы не нуждался в них. Они рассчитывали найти Давида в его заиорданском убежище и обрадовать его своим появлением и торжественным заявлением своих верноподданических чувств. И вдруг видят царя по эту сторону Иордана, во главе могущественного колена, почти не нуждающегося в их депутации. Разочарование северян перешло в подозрение, а потом и досаду на предупредившее их колено Иуды" (Я. Богородский, "Еврейские цари", с. 242).

42All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is a close relative to us. Why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king's cost? Or has he given us any gift?"

43The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, "We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more claim to David than you. Why then did you despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king?" The words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

Text: New Heart English Bible. Commentary: The Explanatory Bible, ed. A. P. Lopukhin (in Russian).