Chapter 19 opens with the news of the consequences of David’s response to Absalom’s death. His army was expecting a victory celebration but instead they returned to mourning and weeping. Joab confronted David and told him to change his attitude, saying “Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now” (19:7).
David needed to reunify the country and command the loyalty of all the tribes and people within them. He promised the leadership of his army to Amasa in place of Joab (19:13) and called on the priesthood and other visible leaders to support him. He did not kill Shimei for his previous attack and he restored half of Mephibosheth’s estate after learning that Ziba may have deceived him in portraying Mephibosheth as an enemy. The chapter concludes with a display of animosity between the people of Judah and those of Israel (19:41-43). This is only a taste of the division that will take place after Solomon’s death when the kingdom splits into northern and southern nations.
Out of this scene Sheba from Ephraim rebelled and Amasa was sent to rouse the men of Judah but when he took longer than expected David sent Joab out with those men present. When Joab met up with Amasa he killed him in cold blood and once again took control of the whole army. He reached Abel Beth Maakah and persuaded the townspeople to hand over Sheba. No comment is made here about Joab’s murder of Amasa although the statement that his dagger “dropped out of its sheath” (20:8) may be an attempt to lessen the cold blooded nature of his act.
Chapter 21 is ethically difficult in that Saul’s descendants are put to death for “his” crime in killing the Gibeonites who had made a treaty of protection with Israel but who were almost annihilated by Saul. They requested that seven of his Saul’s male descendants be put to death to avenge them (21:6). David allowed this but protected Mephibosheth on account of his oath to Jonathan. After these events, Saul and Jonathan’s bodies were properly buried at Zela in Benjamin. The chapter concludes with a number of victories over Philistine forces and the deaths of the descendants of Rapha in Gath.
