The Meaning of 2 Samuel 19:11 Explained

2 Samuel 19:11

KJV: And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.

YLT: And king David sent unto Zadok and unto Abiathar the priests, saying, 'Speak ye unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye last to bring back the king unto his house? (and the word of all Israel hath come unto the king, unto his house;)

Darby: And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, to his house.

ASV: And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, to bring him to his house.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And king  David  sent  to Zadok  and to Abiathar  the priests,  saying,  Speak  unto the elders  of Judah,  saying,  Why are ye the last  to bring  the king  back  to his house?  seeing the speech  of all Israel  is come  to the king,  [even] to his house. 

What does 2 Samuel 19:11 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 19:9-20 - Bringing The King Back
Joab's remonstrance, though expressed in rough and uncourteous phrase, was perfectly just. The royal troops, instead of being welcomed with acclamation, had slunk into the city, as if defeated, immediate steps must be taken to counteract their depression. Private grief must yield to public interests.
The revulsion of loyalty to David began with the ten tribes; but the concurrence of Judah was essential, and it was secured by the mission of the two priests and by the overtures of Amasa. These turned the scale, and Judah welcomed the king with joy, 2 Samuel 19:14. What a glimpse all this gives of the change that will be wrought when our Lord comes again-and apparently His advent is very nigh! Previous verdicts will be reversed. Shimeis will sue for mercy. Mephibosheths will be justified and Barzillais rewarded. What are we doing as individuals to secure the return of the King? Compare 2 Samuel 19:10 with 2 Peter 3:12. But have we brought the King back to His throne in our own hearts! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 19

1  Joab causes the king to cease his mourning
9  The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back
11  David sends to the priest to incite them of Judah
18  Shimei is pardoned
24  Mephibosheth excused
32  Barzillai dismissed, and Chimham his son taken into the king's family
41  The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 19:11 mean?

So King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests saying speak the elders of Judah saying why are you the last to bring back - the king his house since the words of all Israel have come the king his [very] house
וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד שָׁ֠לַח אֶל־ צָד֨וֹק וְאֶל־ אֶבְיָתָ֥ר הַכֹּהֲנִים֮ לֵאמֹר֒ דַּבְּר֞וּ זִקְנֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לָ֤מָּה תִֽהְיוּ֙ אַֽחֲרֹנִ֔ים לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ ؟ בֵּית֑וֹ וּדְבַר֙ כָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בָּ֥א הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בֵּיתֽוֹ

וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ  So  King 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
דָּוִ֗ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
שָׁ֠לַח  sent 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
צָד֨וֹק  Zadok 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: צָדֹוק  
Sense: the high priest, son of Ahitub of the house of Eleazar the son of Aaron, and th in descent from Aaron; joined David after Saul’s death and supported him against Absalom and Adonijah; anointed Solomon as king.
אֶבְיָתָ֥ר  Abiathar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶבְיָתָר  
Sense: priest, son of Ahitub (Ahimelech), faithful to David, but later rebelled with Adonijah.
הַכֹּהֲנִים֮  the  priests 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
לֵאמֹר֒  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
דַּבְּר֞וּ  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
זִקְנֵ֤י  the  elders 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: old.
יְהוּדָה֙  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
לֵאמֹ֔ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לָ֤מָּה  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
תִֽהְיוּ֙  are  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
אַֽחֲרֹנִ֔ים  the  last 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אַחֲרֹון  
Sense: behind, following, subsequent, western.
לְהָשִׁ֥יב  to  bring  back 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
؟ בֵּית֑וֹ  his  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
וּדְבַר֙  since  the  words 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
כָּל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
בָּ֥א  have  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
בֵּיתֽוֹ  his  [very]  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.