2 Samuel 19:18 kjv
And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
2 Samuel 19:18 nkjv
Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan.
2 Samuel 19:18 niv
They crossed at the ford to take the king's household over and to do whatever he wished. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king
2 Samuel 19:18 esv
and they crossed the ford to bring over the king's household and to do his pleasure. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan,
2 Samuel 19:18 nlt
They crossed the shallows of the Jordan to bring the king's household across the river, helping him in every way they could. David's Mercy to Shimei As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him.
2 Samuel 19 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 32:10 | I am unworthy... for with my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. | Jacob's crossing Jordan: transition/new beginning. |
| Josh 3:15-17 | as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests... were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks...); the waters flowing down... stood still... | Israel crossing Jordan: divine aid for passage. |
| Judg 12:5-6 | when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead would say to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?”... If he said, “No,” then they would say to him, “Then say Shibboleth...” | Forcing passage, a place of testing and identification. |
| 2 Sam 16:5-8 | When King David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera... He cast stones at David and at all the servants... and Shimei said as he cursed... | Shimei's earlier cursing of David. |
| 2 Sam 19:16 | And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. | Shimei's immediate approach to David for clemency. |
| 1 Kgs 2:8-9 | And behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim... You yourselves know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood. | David's final instruction regarding Shimei to Solomon. |
| Ruth 1:16 | But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. | Dedication and loyalty, like those "doing good in his eyes." |
| 1 Sam 25:23-24 | When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted... and fell on her face before David and bowed to the ground... “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak...” | Abigail's prostration and appeal for mercy. |
| 1 Chr 29:20 | Then David said to all the assembly, “Bless the Lord your God.” And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the Lord and to the king. | Prostration as an act of homage to God and king. |
| Ps 72:11 | May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him. | Prophetic image of universal homage/submission to the King. |
| Ps 2:12 | Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. | Seeking favor and refuge from the King (Messianic). |
| Isa 11:15-16 | And the Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt... and the Lord will create a highway for the remnant... as it was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt. | Restoration depicted as crossing a transformed "sea." |
| Jer 31:11-12 | For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him... They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord... | Return and restoration for Israel. |
| Hos 11:11 | They shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord. | God's people returning from exile/scattering. |
| Matt 3:6 | and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. | Jordan as a place of repentance and new beginnings. |
| Matt 8:2 | And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” | Prostration before Jesus (the ultimate King) seeking mercy. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | Universal prostration/confession to Christ's authority. |
| Col 3:23-24 | Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. | Doing "good in his eyes" translated to serving Christ. |
| 1 Pet 5:6 | Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. | The principle of humbling oneself, as Shimei did. |
| Jam 4:10 | Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. | The act of humbling as a precursor to elevation by God. |
| Rev 11:16 | And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God. | Heavenly worship involves falling down before authority. |
2 Samuel 19 verses
2 Samuel 19 18 Meaning
2 Samuel 19:18 describes the moment of King David's triumphant return across the Jordan River following Absalom's rebellion. It focuses on the coordinated effort of the loyal contingent facilitating the passage of David's extensive household and their intention to serve him faithfully. Crucially, it pinpoints the exact moment of Shimei's dramatic prostration before the king, just as David was poised to cross the river, marking a critical juncture in the re-establishment of David's authority and the petition for pardon by one who had previously cursed him.
2 Samuel 19 18 Context
2 Samuel 19 details King David's tumultuous return to Jerusalem after the defeat of Absalom and the re-establishment of his reign. Following news of Absalom's death and David's grief, his commanders urged him to address his people. This chapter narrates various individuals and groups coming to meet David at the Jordan River, demonstrating a complex tapestry of loyalty, treachery, and seeking reconciliation. Earlier in the narrative, in 2 Samuel 16, Shimei, a Benjaminite from the family of Saul, had publicly and virulently cursed David and thrown stones at him as David fled Jerusalem. This act was seen as an expression of Saul's lingering supporters' resentment against David. Chapter 19 marks a shift, as David crosses back into the territory of Judah, signifying the reclaiming of his throne and land. The Jordan crossing is a powerful symbolic act, akin to the Israelites entering the Promised Land. Shimei's appearance at this exact moment is a strategic and desperate act to secure clemency from the re-asserting monarch, anticipating the need to face consequences for his earlier treasonous behavior.
2 Samuel 19 18 Word analysis
- And they crossed over: Hebrew: וְעָבְרָה (
wəʿāḇərah). This indicates that not only was David preparing to cross, but others had already commenced the process or were actively engaged in facilitating it. It implies a significant operation, not just an individual act. - the ford: Hebrew: הַמַּעֲבָרָה (
hammaʿăḇārâ). A specific, shallow place in the river where one could cross, likely a known point of passage. This detail emphasizes the practicality and strategic importance of the location for a large entourage. - with the king's household: Hebrew: בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ (
bêṯ hammelek). Refers to David's extended family, close retainers, servants, and all who belonged to him and traveled with him. This highlights the scale of the royal party and the logistical challenge of moving them. - to bring over the king's household: Hebrew: לְהַעֲבִיר (
ləhaʿăḇîr) This active Hiphil infinitive emphasizes the purposeful action of facilitating the movement of David's entire entourage, highlighting a prepared and executed operation. It was a service rendered. - and to do what was good in his eyes: Hebrew: לַעֲשׂוֹת הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינָיו (
laʿăśôṯ haṭṭôḇ bəʿênāw). This is a common biblical idiom, often used of God, signifying obedience or pleasing action (e.g., "doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord"). Here, it applies to King David, underscoring the absolute submission and loyalty of those assisting him. Their actions were intended to satisfy and please their restored sovereign, affirming his authority. - And Shimei the son of Gera: Hebrew: וְשִׁמְעִי בֶן־גֵּרָא (
wəšimʿî ḇen-gērāʾ). Introduces the character known for previously cursing David (2 Sam 16). His specific lineage highlights his connection to the family of Saul and his Benjaminite identity, emphasizing the ongoing political and tribal tensions. - fell down before the king: Hebrew: וַיִּפֹּל לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ (
wayyipōl lip̄nê hammelek). This physical act of prostration or falling face-down is a sign of profound submission, homage, and often a desperate plea for mercy in the ancient Near East. It conveys humility and acknowledgement of superior authority. - when he was about to cross the Jordan: Hebrew: בְּעָבְרוֹ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן (
bəʿoḇrô ʾeṯ hayYarDēn). This precise timing is crucial. David is at the threshold of re-entering his kingdom definitively, signifying a transition from flight to restored rule. Shimei’s timing implies a recognition of David’s impending power and the urgent need for a pardon before David fully re-established his control on the western side of the Jordan.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "And they crossed over the ford with the king's household to bring over the king's household": This phrase details the logistical preparations for the king's return. The repetition of "king's household" emphasizes the size and importance of David's entourage, necessitating a dedicated crossing effort. It reflects careful planning and a large retinue supporting the returning monarch.
- "and to do what was good in his eyes": This adds a significant layer of loyalty and intent beyond mere logistical support. It signifies a profound demonstration of subservience and willingness to please the newly reinstated king, highlighting David's reasserted authority and the willingness of his subjects to comply. This also contrasts with Absalom's reign which sought personal pleasure and power without regard for legitimate authority.
- "And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he was about to cross the Jordan": This conjunction of character, action, and precise timing is critical. Shimei's desperate, last-minute prostration as David prepares for a symbolic passage (crossing the Jordan) underscores the political calculation behind his act and his acknowledgment of David's undeniable restoration. It also sets the stage for David's difficult decision regarding mercy versus justice.
2 Samuel 19 18 Bonus section
The mention of "the ford" implicitly suggests a place that could have been contested or presented a geographical barrier, similar to how crossing the Jordan often represents overcoming an obstacle in biblical narratives (e.g., Israel's entry into Canaan, Elijah and Elisha crossing). This precise setting for Shimei's submission amplifies the significance of his appeal. He's not simply seeking pardon; he's seeking it at the very moment David reclaims the land, suggesting a calculated recognition that David’s rule is divinely sanctioned and irreversible. David's response to Shimei, seen later in 2 Sam 19, involves an initial promise of safety, but ultimately his fatherly instruction to Solomon regarding Shimei (1 Kgs 2) shows the complex balance between immediate grace and long-term justice for treason.
2 Samuel 19 18 Commentary
2 Samuel 19:18 captures a pivotal moment in David's restoration to the throne. The verse simultaneously describes the logistical triumph of the king's loyalists facilitating his passage and the personal drama of Shimei's last-ditch plea for clemency. The crossing of the Jordan is not merely geographical; it's deeply symbolic, marking David's transition from exile and defeat to re-established sovereign. The phrase "to do what was good in his eyes" elevates the assistance rendered to an act of profound loyalty and willing subservience, acknowledging David's restored kingship. Shimei's public and physical act of prostration before David at this precise threshold of re-entry is an acute display of political acumen and desperate humility. It contrasts sharply with his prior defiant curses and foreshadows the complexities David will face in exercising mercy or justice over his enemies and those who had wronged him during his period of vulnerability. The verse thus blends the practicalities of a royal procession with the profound theological and political themes of divine restoration, human loyalty, and the pursuit of forgiveness.