Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 19:6

In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

6. neither princes nor servants ] Neither the captains of the army (ch. 2Sa 18:1; 2Sa 18:5), nor the soldiers.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

This is not to be understood as exactly true in the rigour of it, but only comparatively and hyperbolically spoken; for David desired their preservation and Absaloms too: but it must be considered that Joab was now in a high transport of passion, which might easily hurry him into indecent expressions; and that Davids carriage gave too much colour to such a suggestion; and that such sharpness of speech was in a manner necessary to awaken the king out of his lethargy, and to preserve him from the impendent mischiefs.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends,…. Which though not strictly true, there was some appearance of it, which is here greatly exaggerated; in that he expressed so much grief and sorrow for Absalom his enemy, who had rebelled against him, and showed so little regard to his friends, that had exposed their lives for him:

for thou hast declared this day: by his conduct and behaviour, mourning for his rebellious son, and taking no notice of his faithful servants:

that thou regardest neither princes nor servants; neither the officers of the army, the generals and captains, nor the common soldiers: since neither the one were admitted into his presence privately, nor had the other public thanks as they entered the city, as might have been expected: or “that thou hast no princes and servants” g; none that are accounted of as such; they are nothing with thee, in no esteem at all, as if thou hadst none:

for this day I perceive that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well; this was carrying the matter too far; for though it would have been agreeable to David if Absalom had lived, and not been slain, yet not that his army should perish, or his people be destroyed; it would have pleased him well if both had lived.

g “non tibi principes et servi”, Pagninus, Montanus; “nihil tibi sint principes et servi”, Piscator.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

6. Thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends Certainly David’s conduct justified this charge.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2Sa 19:6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

Ver. 6. And hatest thy friends. ] This was not true: neither did David love Absalom as an enemy, but as a son, through a nimium excessively of natural affection.

Then it had pleased thee well. ] But what, then, would have become of good David? and how would his darling son have served him? would he not have been forced, if he escaped with life, to supplicate Absalom in like sort as old Andronicus, the great emperor, to this effect did his young nephew? ‘Reverence my miserable old age, which of itself promiseth unto me shortly death, but unto thee a rest after long cares; reverence the hands which have oftentimes most lovingly embraced thee, yet crying in thy swathing clothes; reverence those lips which have oftentimes most lovingly kissed thee and called thee mine other self; have pity upon a bruised reed cast down by fortune, and do not thou again tread upon it. And seeing thou art thyself a man, be not too proud of thy present condition, but consider the uncertainty and variety of worldly things, taking by me example. See in me the end of long life, and marvel how one might, having received me an emperor of many years, leave me now subject unto another man’s power for ever.’ a Thus he, and much more to the same purpose.

a Turk. Hist., fol. 172.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

declared = made clear.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

In that: etc. Heb. By loving, etc

thou regardest: etc. Heb. princes or servants are not to thee. then it had. 2Sa 3:24, 2Sa 3:25, Job 34:18, Pro 19:9, Pro 19:10, Act 23:5

Reciprocal: 2Sa 3:12 – Whose 2Sa 3:39 – too hard

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge