2 Samuel 16:12

2Sa 16:12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

Ver. 12. It may be the Lord will look on mine affliction.] Heb., On mine eye, or tears; for Iisdem quibus videmus oculis flemus; et lachrymas angustiae exprimit Crux.

And that the Lord will requite good for his cursing.] Restore me to my kingdom, or some way else reward my patience, of his free grace, and according to his usual dealing with his poor afflicted. Howsoever, if he bring not down his will to theirs, he will bring up their will to his: which will make infinite amends for all their patience.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Sa 16:12. It may be the Lord will look on mine affliction, &c. — He means that, although this was a chastisement from God upon him, yet if he bore it as became him, it might become a means of mercy to him. His humble submission and resignation might call down the divine commiseration upon his patience and penitence.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Or, my tears.

Meaning, that the Lord will send comfort to his, when they are oppressed.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(12) Look on mine affliction.—The English here follows the LXX. and Vulg. The Hebrew margin has mine eye, but the text has my iniquity, which is probably the true sense. David expresses the hope that God will mercifully look upon his sin, of which he has repented, and for which he is now bearing punishment: a part of this punishment is the cursing of Shimei, and God may be well pleased that it should be patiently borne.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. mine affliction] This reading is supported by the Sept. and Vulg. and is probably right. Cp. Psa_25:18. The Qrî has mine eye, which is explained to mean my grief, but the expression is unparalleled. The Kthîbh gives mine iniquity, meaning, ‘perhaps the Lord will look graciously upon my guilt and pardon it,’ but this does not suit the following clause so well.

will requite me good] Cp. Psa_109:26-28.

for his cursing] The E. V. follows the Qrî. The Kthîbh has my cursing, i.e. the curse invoked upon me.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction,.... Through the rebellion of his son, and now aggravated by the cursing of Shimei; that is, with an eye of pity and commiseration, and deliver him out of it: or "look upon my eye" (x); for there is a various reading; the tear of mine eye, as the Targum; so Jarchi and R. Isaiah; the tears in it, which fell plentifully from it, on account of his troubles, and particularly the curses and reproaches of Shimei:

and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day; he does not speak with assurance, yet with hope; he knew his sins deserved such treatment, but also that God was gracious and merciful, and pitied his children, and resented all ill usage of them; and therefore hoped he would favour him with such intimations of his love as would support him, comfort, refresh him, and do him good, see Rom 8:28.

(x) "in oculum meum", Montanus; "oculum meum lachrymantem", Munster.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

His cursing - Another reading has “my curse,” i. e., the curse that has fallen upon me. David recognizes in every word and action that he was receiving the due reward of his sin, and that which Nathan had foretold.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Affliction, of which he makes a sort of sacrifice, being convinced that God will not reject the contrite and humble heart, Psalm l. 19. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

It may be; he speaks doubtfully, because he was conscious that by his sins he had forfeited all his claim to God’s promises.

The Lord will look on mine affliction with an eye of commiseration.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Mine affliction. This reading is supported by the Septuagint and Vulgate. The Syriac has "my subjection," possibly a free translation of the same reading. But the written text (K"tib) has "my wrong," either the wrong I have done, and of which I am bearing the punishment, or, as in the Revised Version, "the wrong done unto me." The correction of the Massorites (K"ri), is literally "my eye," that is, "my team."

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

God will see [the tears] in my eyes. [Yonoson translates:] "The tears of my eyes."

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.