So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

2 SAMUEL 19:15KJV
Know the Bible

2 Samuel 19:15 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 19:15 mean?

2 Samuel 19:15 describes King David returning to the Jordan River after his exile, with the people of Judah coming to meet him at Gilgal to help him cross back over the river. The verse shows the tribe of Judah taking the lead in welcoming David back as king after the conflict with his son Absalom.

In this scene, David is coming back toward Jerusalem after fleeing from Absalom’s rebellion. The people of Judah, his own tribe, gather at Gilgal, which is near the Jordan River, to greet him and escort him across. This act signals their support for David’s kingship and marks a key moment in his restoration to the throne.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 19:15

  • The word for "king" is מֶלֶךְ (melek), which appears several times in this verse, emphasizing David’s restored authority and the focus on his role.
  • "Returned" is שׁוּב (shuv), often meaning to turn back or come back, highlighting that David is not just traveling but being restored to his position.
  • "Conduct" and "over" both use עָבַר (avar), meaning to cross or pass over, which underscores the physical and symbolic act of David crossing the Jordan River to reclaim his place as king.

Why 2 Samuel 19:15 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Judah, David’s own tribe, is the first to act in bringing him back, which sets up later tensions with the other tribes over loyalty and leadership.
  • The crossing of the Jordan River is a loaded image in Israel’s history, often marking significant transitions, so David’s return here echoes earlier moments of God’s guidance and restoration.
  • Seeing the people of Judah come to Gilgal to meet David shows a deliberate, public act of support, which helps explain the political dynamics in the chapters that follow.

Where else these words appear

“Gilgal” Hebrew H1537 · used in 39 verses

  • Deuteronomy 11:30 Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?
  • Joshua 14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
  • 1 Samuel 15:12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.

“meet” Hebrew H7125 · used in 117 verses

  • Genesis 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.
  • Judges 6:35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
  • 1 Kings 2:8 And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.