What does 2 Samuel chapter 19 mean?

In 2 Samuel 18, David won a war; in this chapter, he tries to win the peace. His forces defeated the larger rebel army, and the enemy fighters have run back home (2 Samuel 18). But he feels like he's lost. His son is dead. David climbs to the chamber above the city gates of Mahanaim. David's soldiers heard his command to "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom" (2 Samuel 18:5). They don't know that Joab killed the prince until they reach the gates and hear their king's cries of despair. Believing they failed their king, they skulk into the city in shame (2 Samuel 19:1–4).

When Joab hears, he tells David he's bringing shame on everyone who risked their lives to save him and his family. The king is acting like he hates those who love him and loves only those who hate him. Joab sees that David would be happier if Absalom had lived and all his servants and soldiers had died. David will lose the support of everyone if he doesn't pull himself together. Properly chastised, David shakes himself off and returns to the city gate to meet his people (2 Samuel 19:5–8).

The path towards restoration is more complicated than the road which led to the war. Some factions within tribes that followed Absalom insist David must be restored. Their reasons are simple: Absalom is dead, and David has always protected them. Others aren't as enthusiastic. But they do promise David their allegiance (2 Samuel 19:9–10).

Meanwhile, the elders of Judah who followed Absalom haven't said a word. David enlists the priests Zadok and Abiathar to persuade them in a way showing both David's impatience with his kinsmen and his willingness to reconcile. He even goes so far as to replace Joab with Amasa, Absalom's general. Judah welcomes David back, and he brings his people to the east side of the Jordan River (2 Samuel 19:11–15).

At the river, David finds a measure of closure with four men. The first are Shimei and Ziba. Shimei, a relative of King Saul, cursed David for "stealing" the kingdom from Saul's heirs (2 Samuel 16:5–14). This time, Shimei comes with one thousand Benjaminites, groveling for forgiveness and offering to carry David's household back across the river. Again, Abishai offers to kill Shimei and, again, David stays his hand. Ziba was Saul's servant who claimed that David's ward, Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, had betrayed David. David gave him Mephibosheth's estate (2 Samuel 16:1–4). Ziba adds his fifteen sons and twenty servants to the Benjaminite couriers (2 Samuel 19:16–23).

Next, Mephibosheth arrives, disheveled and unwashed. He explains that Ziba refused to help him saddle and mount his donkey. With his crippled feet, he couldn't follow while the king fled Absalom. Despite any desire to punish Ziba, David knows this isn't the day to cause conflict. Instead, he returns half of the estate to Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth insists the land means nothing compared to David's return (2 Samuel 19:24–30).

Finally, David says farewell to Barzillai. Barzillai is a wealthy eighty-year-old man of Gilead who provided food and supplies for David and his servants (2 Samuel 17:27–29). As a reward for the old man's care, David invites him to live in Jerusalem and have a place at his table. Barzillai graciously refuses, insisting he is too old to enjoy such luxuries. He'd rather live out his few remaining years at home. Barzillai asks David to honor Chimham, perhaps a son or grandson, instead. David agrees (2 Samuel 19:31–39).

Finally, the elders of the northern tribes appear, complaining that Judah got there first. Judah snaps back, and the two sides argue over who has the most love for a king they just went to war against (2 Samuel 19:40–43).

The northern tribes lose the argument. A Benjaminite named Sheba shouts that they "have no portion in David" (2 Samuel 20:1). The men of the northern tribes leave, and David must deal with another short but very messy civil war (2 Samuel 20).