Daily Tanach Thursday Shmuel 2 Chapter 19: Dovid’s monarchy is re-established

* The article below is an excerpt from the above Sefer

1.     Reinstating Dovid as the king:

  • The discussion amongst the nation: The entire nation from amongst all the tribes entered into discussion, a discussion and argument regarding whether the king should be reinstated to his position. Those who professed that the King should be returned to his position argued that the king had saved them from their enemies and from the Philistines and was forced to run away from the land because of Avshalom. Now, Avshalom who was anointed as king in the interim has died in the war and therefore there is no reason for anyone to delay reinstating the king back to his post.
  • A message to the elders of Judah: King Dovid sent as emissaries Tzadok and Avyasar the priests, that they should go and speak to the elders of Judah to persuade them to reinstate Dovid as king and rejoin him as his nation. He told them as follows, “Why should you be the last ones to return the king to his home, after all, the entire Jewish people have accepted the king to return back to his palace. You are my brothers, my flesh and bone, and therefore why should you be the last ones to reinstate the king.”
  • A message to Amasa: King Dovid also sent with them a message to give to Amasa: “Tell Amasa as follows, are you not my own flesh and bone [i.e. my sister Avigail’s son[1]]? I swear by the name of G-d that I shall appoint you to become general for my army throughout all my days and that you will replace my current general Yoav [as Dovid was furious at him for having killed his son Avshalom[2]].”
  • The persuasion is successful: The messengers were successful in convincing the hearts of the men of Judah to once again reunite under the kingship of Dovid. They sent a message to the king saying that he and his servants should return to their home.
  • The tribe of Judah helps King Dovid travel home: The king traveled until the Jordan and there he was met by the tribe of Judah who came to greet him in Gilgola [which was across the Jordan], to help the king and his household pass the Jordan River.

[1] Metzudos Dovid 19:14

[2] Radak 19:14

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