2 Samuel 19 22

2 Samuel 19:22 kjv

And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

2 Samuel 19:22 nkjv

And David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?"

2 Samuel 19:22 niv

David replied, "What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? What right do you have to interfere? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don't I know that today I am king over Israel?"

2 Samuel 19:22 esv

But David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?"

2 Samuel 19:22 nlt

"Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!" David exclaimed. "Why have you become my adversary today? This is not a day for execution, for today I am once again the king of Israel!"

2 Samuel 19 verses

2 Samuel 19 22 Meaning

This verse captures King David's stern rebuke to Abishai (and by extension, his brother Joab, both sons of Zeruiah) who sought to put Shimei, a recent defiler of the king, to death. David's declaration, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah," signals his rejection of their vengeful and ruthless approach. He asserts his kingship as a reign characterized by mercy and reconciliation on a day marking his victorious return to Jerusalem after Absalom's rebellion. The act of forgiveness on such a pivotal day establishes a tone of peace and unity for his re-established rule, contrasting sharply with the common practice of purges by restored monarchs.

2 Samuel 19 22 Context

King David is returning to Jerusalem after his son Absalom's rebellion and death. The nation is deeply divided and fragile. Upon David's return, various factions come to greet him: loyal followers like Barzillai, opportunistic defectors like Mephibosheth seeking to clear their name, and even former enemies seeking forgiveness, notably Shimei of Benjamin (2 Sam 16:5-13), who had cursed and thrown stones at David during his flight. David, having just endured a traumatic period of civil war, understands the paramount need for unity and healing rather than continued bloodshed and retribution. His nephews, Abishai and Joab, known for their fiercely loyal but also impulsive and violent nature (e.g., assassinating Abner), urge him to execute Shimei. This verse highlights David's decision to forgo immediate vengeance, using his re-established royal authority to proclaim a new era of grace, seeking to bind the fractured nation together. His proclamation, "today I am king," signifies his deliberate exercise of royal prerogative to establish justice not through immediate vengeance, but through a magnanimous act of pardon.

Word Analysis

• "But David said,"
  • Word: "David" (Hebrew: דָּוִד, Dāwiḏ).
  • Significance: Refers to King David, divinely chosen monarch of Israel, often characterized by both great triumphs and personal failures. His identity as king and a "man after God's own heart" (1 Sam 13:14) influences his decisions. Here, he acts decisively as a king restored to power.
• "What have I to do with you,"
  • Word: "What" (מַה, mah), "have I to do with you" (לִּי וָלָכֶם, li wālakhem – literally "what to me and to you").
  • Significance: This is an idiom expressing strong disapproval, separation, or rejection. It denotes a decisive break, implying "Why are you interfering?" or "Your counsel is inappropriate for my reign." David distances himself from their violent proposal. Similar phrases appear when there's a disconnect or challenge (e.g., Jesus to Mary at Cana, John 2:4).
• "you sons of Zeruiah,"
  • Word: "sons of Zeruiah" (בְּנֵי צְרוּיָה, Benê Ts'rūyâ).
  • Significance: Refers to Joab, Abishai, and Asahel (though Asahel is dead by this point). They are David's nephews, his sister Zeruiah's children. While intensely loyal and capable warriors, they are also infamous for their ruthlessness, impulsiveness, and sometimes, outright defiance of David's will (e.g., Joab's assassination of Abner, 2 Sam 3; Amasa, 2 Sam 20). This group represents a pragmatic, often brutal, approach to power.
• "that you should this day be an adversary to me?"
  • Word: "this day" (הַיּוֹם, hayyōm).
  • Significance: Emphasizes the critical, present moment. This is a day of national reunification and the re-establishment of David's rightful rule. Actions on "this day" set the tone for the restored kingdom.
  • Word: "adversary" (שָׂטָן, śāṭān).
  • Significance: The Hebrew word śāṭān literally means "opponent," "accuser," or "adversary." While often translated as "Satan" (the spiritual entity), here it functions as a common noun. David sees Abishai's desire for retribution as an opposing force, an obstacle to his intention to unify the kingdom and begin his renewed reign with an act of mercy rather than a purge. It indicates their stance is counter to his divine mandate or kingly purpose for the day.
• "Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day?"
  • Word: "put to death" (יוּמַת, yûmat - from the root מוּת, mūṯ, to die).
  • Significance: Rhetorical question anticipating a negative answer. David makes it clear that bloodshed is not acceptable. This is a deliberate policy statement for his kingdom's fresh start, contrasting with the often brutal consolidations of power common among Near Eastern kings after quelling rebellion. It implicitly polemicizes against a "rule by terror" approach.
• "For I know that today I am king over Israel.'"
  • Word: "For I know" (כִּי יָדַעְתִּי, kî yāda‘tî).
  • Significance: David's profound certainty, rooted in his anointing and God's promise. It's not a mere statement of fact, but a declaration of divinely endowed authority to act as he chooses.
  • Word: "today" (הַיּוֹם, hayyōm).
  • Significance: Repetition of "this day," reinforcing the pivotal nature of the moment. This is not just a day; it's the day David's kingdom is affirmed and reborn after crisis.
  • Word: "I am king over Israel" (מֶלֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, melek ‘al-Yiśrā’ēl).
  • Significance: David’s divine appointment and restoration is undeniable. His kingship carries the authority to pronounce forgiveness, showing clemency rather than harsh justice. It implies his authority stems from God, making his decision binding and righteous. This act of grace mirrors God's own character.

2 Samuel 19 22 Bonus section

David's decision here demonstrates political wisdom married with a theological understanding of his role. By granting clemency to Shimei, he neutralizes a potential hotbed of Benjaminite resentment, fostering a fragile unity at a crucial time. His actions could be seen as an immediate polemic against the standard practice of "vengeance killings" upon a king's restoration, asserting a different, more covenantal approach to kingship in Israel. While David later instructs Solomon to deal with Joab and Shimei (1 Kgs 2:5-9), this instance on his day of restoration underscores a specific moment of grace that sets the tone for his renewed reign. The reoccurrence of "this day" highlights its unique, almost sacred, significance in the history of his kingship, mirroring a new covenant moment.

2 Samuel 19 22 Commentary

2 Samuel 19:22 reveals David as a leader prioritizing national unity and healing over personal retribution, a vital trait for the kingdom's recovery after civil war. His stern rebuke to the "sons of Zeruiah" (Joab and Abishai) underscores his struggle with their impulsive and violent methods, which, though often beneficial in battle, were ill-suited for the spiritual and political restoration of the nation. By asserting "What have I to do with you," David rejects their counsel and declares his intention to govern with mercy rather than bloodshed on this pivotal day of his return. His pronouncement that no one should die on "this day" emphasizes a new beginning, reflecting a king who seeks to bind up rather than wound further. The concluding declaration, "For I know that today I am king over Israel," is not mere self-assertion but an affirmation of his divine mandate to lead, implying his authority to extend grace and pardon, an attribute that aligns with the character of God (Exod 34:6-7; Ps 103:8-10). This act sets a precedent for his rule, choosing a path of magnanimity and reconciliation over vengeance, which was counter-cultural to the typically ruthless political purges of ancient monarchs. It serves as a profound biblical example of merciful leadership.