2 Samuel 19:40

“Then the king went on to Gilgal, etc.] Which, according to Josephus f332, was fifty furlongs from Jordan, six miles and a quarter: and Chimham went on with him; after Barzillai had left them, and accompanied the king to Jerusalem: and all the people of Judah conducted the king; to Jerusalem; who came to meet him, (<101915>2 Samuel 19:15); and also half the people of Israel; or a part of them, as the word used signifies, and not always an equal half, so Kimchi observes; even such of Israel as went out with David at first, and the a thousand men of Benjamin that came to meet him, (<101917>2 Samuel 19:17).”

“the king went on to Gilgal, . . . and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel--Whether from impatience to move on or from some other cause, David did not wait till all the tribes had arrived to conduct him on his return to the capital. The procession began as soon as Amasa had brought the Judahite escort, and the preference given to this tribe produced a bitter jealousy, which was nearly kindling a civil war fiercer than that which had just ended. A war of words ensued between the tribes--Israel resting their argument on their superior numbers; "they had ten parts in the king," whereas Judah had no more than one. Judah grounded their right to take the…”

“Half - Whereas the men of Judah came entirely and unanimously to the king, the Israelites of the other tribe came in but slowly, and by halves, as being no less guilty of the rebellion, than the tribe of Judah; but not encouraged to come in by such a gracious message as they were. And this is here mentioned as the occasion both of the contention here following, and of the sedition, 2Sa. 20:1-22. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 19:41”

“19:40 Gilgal, a natural stop along David’s westward route, was also a politically significant location: It was where the people had proclaimed Saul king (1 Sam 11:15) and Samuel later announced the end of Saul’s reign (1 Sam 13:13-15). David’s kingship now had a new beginning at Gilgal.”

“Chimham: Heb. Chimhan all the people: Sa2 19:11-15; Gen 49:10; Mat 21:9 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 19:41”

“Quarrel between Israel and Judah about the restoration of the king. - Sa2 19:40. David went across to Gilgal (in the plain of the Jordan: Jos 4:19), and Chimham (Chimhan is a modified form for Chimham: Sa2 19:37) had gone over with him, and all the people of Judah had brought the king over (the Keri העבירוּ is an easier reading than the Chethib ויּעבירוּ, "and as for the people, they had," etc.), and also "half the people of Israel," namely, beside the thousand Benjaminites who came with Shimei ( Sa2 19:17), other Israelites who dwelt in the neighbourhood. Sa2 19:41 All the men of Israel, i.e., the representatives of the other tribes of Israel, came to meet the king in Gilgal; and being…”