John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And all the people were at strife through all the tribes of Israel , etc.] Excepting the tribe of Judah; they blamed and reproved one another for taking part with Absalom in the rebellion, and especially for their coldness and backwardness in bringing back David to Jerusalem: saying, the king saved us out of the hand of our enemies ; exposed his life to danger, fought our battles for us, and gained us victory over our enemies, and saved us from them, especially those next mentioned: and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines ; in the times of Saul, and since; which were benefits which ought to have endeared him to them, and were aggravations of the crime of those who had been concerned in the late rebellion; and were such as ought not to be buried in oblivion, and were proper arguments to engage them to return to their allegiance to him, and abide by it: and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom ; being obliged to quit Jerusalem, and the land of Judea on this side Jordan, and to pass that river; not from a spirit of cowardice, but from tenderness to his son, he did not choose to fight against; and from a concern for his metropolis Jerusalem, lest that should be hurt, as well as for the safety of his person.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 9-15 - God's providence, by the priests' persuasions and Amasa's interest brought the people to resolve the recall of the king. David stirred no till he received this invitation. Our Lord Jesus will rule in thos that invite him to the throne in their hearts, and not till he is invited. He first bows the heart, and makes it willing in the day of his power, then rules in the midst of his enemies, Ps 110:2, 3.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 כל3605 העם5971 נדון1777 בכל3605 שׁבטי7626 ישׂראל3478 לאמר559 המלך4428 הצילנו5337 מכף3709 איבינו341 והוא1931 מלטנו4422 מכף3709 פלשׁתים6430 ועתה6258 ברח1272 מן4480 הארץ776 מעל5921 אבשׁלום׃53
