Ver. 1. And it was told Joab.] By Ahimaaz and Cushi, likely. And mourneth.] Showeth his sorrow by habit and gesture, as Exodus 33:4.
Ver. 2. Was turned into mourning unto all the people.] Nullos habitura triumphos, as the poet saith of the civil wars of Rome. The king was grieved.] This marred all the mirth of that day.
Ver. 3. And the people gat them by stealth.] As if they had fled in the battle, and were ashamed of their cowardice; or like a dog that claps his tail between his legs, and getteth away as he can.
Ver. 4. But the king covered his face.] After the manner of mourners. See 2 Samuel 15:20. Aut prae pudore, ne flere videtur, saith Vatablus, -for shame, lest he should be seen to weep. O my son Absalom,] He had never done with this doleful ditty. How much sweeter sang David, when—like a bird that having got a note by the end, recordeth it over and over—he so oft repeateth in one psalm, “For his mercy endureth for ever!”
Ver. 5. And Joab came into the house to the king.] For by this time, it seemeth, he had got home to his house or quarters, having first vented his passion in the chamber over the gate, but not wholly eased himself of it. Thou hast shamed this day, &c.] A rough and rude reproof, such as David could never digest, though for the present he prudently gave place to it, and said little: At manet alta mente repostum. Josephus addeth, that he asked him if he were not ashamed to be thus affected with sorrow for a son that had been of so hostile a mind against him; and bade him come forth and speak friendly to the people, and give them thanks, threatening that if he did not, he would give the army and kingdom to another. The truth is, Joab had some reason to speak, and much of that he speaketh stands with good reason; but byssina verba, better language to his sovereign, had better becomed him. Mountfort, Earl of Leicester, gave our Henry III the lie.— Dan. Hist., 172.
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.’ Thus he, and much more to the same purpose. Turk. Hist., fol. 172.
Ver. 7. Now therefore arise, go forth.] Good counsel, but ill administered: like a good potion ill prepared, or not well sweetened. How much better Melancthon, who when he found on a time Luther overcome by his passions, overcame both him and them by saying, “ Vince animos, iramque tuam, qui caetera vincis. ” There will not tarry one with thee.] They will choose them a ruler that can better rule his passions, and use his great place and power with more sobriety and moderation: they will depose thee, and expose thee to the greatest miseries. And all this Joab bindeth with an oath (but not well), to startle and scare David. Non pernoctaturum, sc., ex meo iussu. -Piscat.
Ver. 8. Then the king arose, and sat in the gate.] Though thus harshly roused out of his passions and rattled up, as we call it, he showeth himself gentle and persuadable: he sat in the gate and did justice, which was an excellent means to allay his passions: neither henceforth hear we any more of his “O Absalom,” &c.
Ver. 9. And all the people were at strife.] Hereby it appeareth that David was not readmitted without some dispute, some great thoughts of heart: the devil doubtless stickled hard to have hindered it. Saying, The king saved us.] The prevailing and better part said so.
Ver. 10. And Absalom…is dead.] By “the wrath of God revealed from heaven” against both him and us for so mad an attempt: and should we not now return to our right minds?
Ver. 11. Speak unto the elders of Judah.] Who having been most forward in the late horrid rebellion, might haply most despair of pardon, and thereupon hang back. To these David sendeth and sueth; like as Christ also doth to his greatest enemies for reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:20) His grace doth in a manner kneel to us, who are naturally both averse and adverse thereunto.