2 Samuel 19 5

2 Samuel 19:5 kjv

And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

2 Samuel 19:5 nkjv

Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, "Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,

2 Samuel 19:5 niv

Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines.

2 Samuel 19:5 esv

Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines,

2 Samuel 19:5 nlt

Then Joab went to the king's room and said to him, "We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves.

2 Samuel 19 verses

2 Samuel 19 5 Meaning

This verse captures Joab’s harsh but necessary confrontation with King David following Absalom’s defeat and death. Joab accuses David of showing extreme disrespect and ingratitude toward his loyal soldiers who risked and saved David’s life and the lives of his entire household. Joab declares that David has shamed his victorious servants by prioritizing his grief for his rebellious son, Absalom, over acknowledging their immense sacrifice and victory. He frames David's behavior as loving his enemy (Absalom) while hating his loyal friends (the army). This severe rebuke highlights David’s distorted emotional state and its immediate danger to his reign.

2 Samuel 19 5 Context

This verse is set immediately after the decisive battle where King David's loyal forces, led by Joab, defeated Absalom's rebellion, and Absalom himself was killed. Despite the momentous victory that secured his kingdom and dynasty, David plunged into inconsolable grief over Absalom's death, lamenting loudly for his rebellious son (2 Sam 18:33). His overwhelming sorrow cast a pall over the returning army; the celebratory mood turned to mourning, and the victorious soldiers felt disgraced and shamed (2 Sam 19:1-4). They slunk back into the city as if defeated. Joab, ever pragmatic and keenly aware of the army's morale and David's kingly responsibilities, confronts David directly and brutally to force him to abandon his self-indulgent grief for the sake of his kingdom's stability. Joab’s words are not just an expression of frustration but a grave warning about the immediate danger David’s conduct posed to his throne and the future loyalty of his subjects.

2 Samuel 19 5 Word analysis

• Then Joab: יואב (Yo'av), David's powerful and often ruthless commander. His entrance signifies a direct and forceful intervention, characteristic of his blunt and pragmatic nature. He takes on a role of confronting the king for the sake of the kingdom.
• came into the house: David, consumed by grief, was sequestered, possibly indicating a private space where he indulged his sorrow. Joab's unannounced entry emphasizes his bold initiative and access to the king, asserting the urgency of the situation.
• to the king: מֶלֶךְ (melech). Joab addresses David not merely as a grieving father, but as the reigning monarch with supreme responsibilities. This underscores that David's behavior is impacting his sacred office.
• and said: A direct, declarative statement, lacking deferential language typically used when addressing a king.
• “Today”: הַיּוֹם (hayyom). This temporal marker highlights the present moment and its profound significance. It was meant to be a day of triumph, not sorrow, making David's actions acutely ironic and painful.
• “you have disgraced”: בֹּשְׁתָּה (bōshṯâ), from the root בוש (bush), meaning "to be ashamed," "disappointed," "put to shame." This is a severe accusation, suggesting David actively brought shame upon his victorious and loyal army, stripping them of their honor and morale. They risked their lives for David and were rewarded with disgrace.
• “all your servants”: Refers collectively to the entire loyal army who fought on David’s behalf. Their identity is tied to serving the king, and this sense of shared shame profoundly affects morale.
• “who this day have saved your life”: יֶשֶׁקֶר אֶת־נַפְשְׁךָ (yešeqer ’eṯ-nafšeḵā). "Saved" (literally "redeemed" or "delivered") stresses the life-saving, heroic action of the army. It contrasts sharply with David’s reaction, which implies a lack of value for their sacrifice. The use of "this day" reiterates the immediate context of their valiant service.
• “and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines”: This comprehensive listing of David’s family emphasizes the vast scope of the salvation secured by the army’s victory. They preserved David’s entire lineage and household, reinforcing the magnitude of David’s ingratitude.
• “in that you love your enemies and hate your friends”: כִּי־אַהֲבְךָ אֶת־שׂנְאֶיךָ וַתְּשַׂנֵּא אֶת־אֹהֲבֶיךָ (kî-’ahaḇḵā ’eṯ-śon’eḵā waṯšeśaḵka ’eṯ-’ōhaḇeḵā). This is the climactic accusation.
  • “love your enemies”: The "enemy" here is Absalom, who had actively rebelled and sought David's life and kingdom. Joab sarcastically accuses David of prioritizing the love for his deceased enemy son over his loyal supporters. While biblical teaching promotes love for enemies, Joab employs this concept ironically to highlight a perversion of leadership duty where loyalty is devalued.
  • “hate your friends”: "Friends" are David's loyal soldiers and commanders who stood by him. David’s grief-driven actions are interpreted by Joab as demonstrating hatred or utter disregard for those who faithfully served him. His neglect made them feel despised rather than honored. This is a powerful, shocking reversal of natural and moral order in a king's behavior towards his subjects.

2 Samuel 19 5 Bonus section

This incident highlights the concept of "tough love" applied to leadership. Joab's rebuke, though harsh and devoid of typical royal deference, functioned as a critical act of loyalty, albeit in his own often-questionable ethical framework. He prioritized the immediate stability of the kingdom and the morale of the army over David's personal emotional process. It underscores that leadership, particularly in times of crisis, requires balancing personal feelings with public responsibility and acknowledging the sacrifices of one's subordinates. David's intense, albeit understandable, grief for Absalom demonstrates how personal attachment, when unchecked, can lead to actions that alienate one's most vital support base, illustrating a significant failure in kingly discernment at that moment. The narrative thus presents a dynamic where even flawed individuals like Joab can be instrumental in redirecting God's chosen leader towards his proper responsibilities.

2 Samuel 19 5 Commentary

Joab's confrontation in 2 Samuel 19:5 is a critical turning point following the Absalom rebellion. David, consumed by overwhelming grief for his deceased, rebellious son, allowed his personal sorrow to eclipse his public duties as king. His public lament effectively disgraced his loyal army, turning their hard-won victory into an occasion of shame and alienation. Joab, demonstrating his unique brand of brutal loyalty and pragmatic insight into state affairs, understood that David’s continued mourning threatened to unravel the kingdom itself. He bluntly highlights David's distorted affection – grieving his enemy more than he celebrates his saviors. This bold rebuke, while bordering on insubordination, was a vital intervention, forcing David to confront the severe political and military consequences of his unchecked emotional state. It compelled David to reassume his role as a public leader and honor his people, demonstrating that even a king's personal feelings must sometimes yield to the well-being and morale of the realm. This situation exemplifies the tension between private suffering and public responsibility, underscoring the necessity for a leader to value and affirm those who serve faithfully.