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New Defender's Study Bible Notes
19:8 sat in the gate. The gate was the standard place for a meeting; David followed Joab’s advice and “spoke comfortably” to the people.
19:9 were at strife. For some time, the people of the various tribes and their elders were uncertain what to do. Perhaps they feared David would take vengeance on all who had accepted Absalom as King.
19:13 Say ye to Amasa. Amasa was David’s nephew (II Samuel 17:25), and David offered him the job of commander-in-chief in place of Joab. This offer, plus the efforts of the priest, Zadok and Abiathar, persuaded the people of Judah to welcome David back. The demotion of Joab was probably because of his killing Absalom.
19:37 thy servant Chimham. Barzillai, a rich man, had been a gracious and generous host to David while he was in Mahanaim. Instead of accepting David’s grateful offer of a position in his court in Jerusalem, Barzillai requested that the honor be given Chimham, who was probably (at least according to Josephus) his son.