2 Samuel 19

1  IT WAS told Joab, Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.2  So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for they heard it said, The king grieves for his son.3  The people slipped into the city stealthily that day as humiliated people steal away when they flee in battle.4  But the king covered his face and cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!5  And Joab came into the house to the king and said, You have today covered the faces of all your servants with shame, who this day have saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines.6  For you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have declared today that princes and servants are nothing to you; for today I see that if Absalom had lived and all the rest of us had died, you would be well pleased.7  So now arise, go out and speak kindly and encouragingly to your servants; for I swear by the Lord that if you do not go, not a man will remain with you this night. And this will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.8  Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And all [his followers] were told, The king is sitting in the gate, and they all came before the king. Now Israel [Absalom’s troops] had fled, every man to his home.9  And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us from the hands of our enemies, and he saved us from the hands of the Philistines. And now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.10  And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. So now, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?11  And King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Say to the elders of Judah, Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king, to bring him to his house?12  You are my kinsmen; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?13  And say to Amasa, Are you not of my bone and of my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of my army hereafter in place of Joab.14  He inclined the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so they sent word to [him], Return, you and all your servants.15  So [David] returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king, to conduct him over the Jordan.16  And Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, hastily came down with the men of Judah to meet King David,17  And 1,000 men of Benjamin with him. And Ziba, the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him, rushed to the Jordan and pressed quickly into the king’s presence.18  And there went over a ferryboat to bring over the king’s household and to do what he thought good. And Shimei son of Gera fell down before the king as David came to the Jordan,19  And said to the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity to me and hold me guilty, nor remember what your servant did the day my lord went out of Jerusalem [when Shimei grossly insulted David]; may the king not take it to heart.20  For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, behold, I am today the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.21  But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?22  David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be an adversary to me today? Shall anyone be put to death today in Israel? For do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?23  Therefore the king said to Shimei, You shall not die [at my hand]. And the king gave him his oath. 24  Mephibosheth the son [grandson] of Saul came down to meet the king, and had not dressed his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until he returned in peace and safety.25  And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, David said to him, Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?26  He said, My lord O king, my servant [Ziba] deceived me; for I said, Saddle me the donkey that I may ride on it and go to the king, for your servant is lame [but he took the donkey and left without me].27  He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But the king is as an angel of God; so do what is good in your eyes.28  For all of my father’s house were but doomed to death before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I to cry any more to the king?29  The king said to him, Why speak any more of your affairs? I say, You and Ziba divide the land.30  Mephibosheth said to the king, Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has returned home in safety and peace.31  Now Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went on to the Jordan with the king to conduct him over the Jordan.32  Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old; and he had provided the king with food while he remained at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.33  And the king said to Barzillai, Come over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.34  And Barzillai said to the king, How much longer have I to live, that it would be worthwhile for me to go up with the king to Jerusalem?35  I am this day eighty years old. Could I now [be useful as a counselor to] discern between good and evil? Can your servant appreciate what I eat or drink? Can I any longer enjoy the voices of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be still a burden to my lord the king?36  Your servant will only go over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward?37  Let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city and be buried by the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king. And do to him what shall seem good to you.38  The king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him what seems good to you; and whatever you ask of me I will do for you.39  So all the people went over the Jordan. When the king had crossed over, he kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and [the great man] returned to his own place.40  Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him; and all the people of Judah and also half the people of Israel escorted the king.41  And all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, Why have our kinsmen, the men of Judah, stolen you away and have brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?42  But all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us. Why then be angry about it? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?43  Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, We have ten [tribes’] shares in the king; and we have more right to David than you have. Why then did you despise and ignore us? Were we not the first to speak of our bringing back our king? But the words of the men of Judah were more violent than the charges of the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 19

1 Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.”2 So the victory of that day was turned to mourning as far as all the people were concerned. For the people heard on that day, “The king is grieved over his son.”3 That day the people stole away to go to the city the way people who are embarrassed steal away in fleeing from battle.

4 The king covered his face and cried out loudly,t “My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
5 So Joab visitedt the king at his home. He said, “Today you have embarrassed all your servants who have saved your life this day, as well as the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines.6 You seem to love your enemies and hate your friends! For you have as much as declared today that leaders and servants don’t matter to you. I realize nowt that ifs Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today,s it would be all right with you.

7 So get up now and go out and give some encouragement tot your servants. For I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out there, not a single man will stay here with you tonight! This disaster will be worse for you than any disaster that has overtaken you from your youth right to the present time!”

8 So the king got up and sat at the city gate. When all the people were informed that the king was sitting at the city gate, theyt all came before him.
But the Israelite soldierst had all fled to their own homes.t

David Goes Back to Jerusalem

9 All the people throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies. He rescued us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.

10 But Absalom, whom we anointed as our king,t has died in battle. So now why do you hesitate to bring the king back?”s
11 Then King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests saying, “Tell the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you delay any further in bringing the king back to his palace,t when everything Israel is saying has come to the king’s attention.s12 You are my brothers – my very own flesh and blood!t Why should you delay any further in bringing the king back?’

13 Say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my flesh and blood?t God will punish me severely,t if from this time on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’”
14 Het won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. Then they sent word to the king saying, “Return, you and all your servants as well.”

15 So the king returned and came to the Jordan River.t
Now the people of Judaht had come to Gilgal to meet the king and to help himt cross the Jordan.16 Shimei son of Gera the Benjaminite from Bahurim came down quickly with the men of Judah to meet King David.17 There were a thousand men from Benjamin with him, along with Ziba the servantt of Saul’s household, and with him his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They hurriedly crossedt the Jordan within sight of the king.

18 They crossed at the ford in order to help the king’s household cross and to do whatever he thought appropriate.
Now after he had crossed the Jordan, Shimei son of Gera threw himself down before the king.19 He said to the king, “Don’t think badly of me, my lord, and don’t recall the sin of your servant on the day when you, my lord the king, leftt Jerusalem!s Please don’t call it to mind!

20 For I, your servant,t know that I sinned, and I have come today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”
21 Abishai son of Zeruiah replied, “For this should not Shimei be put to death? After all, he cursed the Lord’s anointed!”22 But David said, “What do we have in common,t you sons of Zeruiah? You are like my enemy today! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don’t you realize that today I am king over Israel?”

23 The king said to Shimei, “You won’t die.” The king vowed an oatht concerning this.

24 Now Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson,t came down to meet the king. From the day the king had left until the day he safelyt returned, Mephiboshetht had not cared for his feett nor trimmedt his mustache nor washed his clothes.
25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”26 He replied, “My lord the king, my servant deceived me! It said, ‘Let me get my donkey saddled so that I can ride on it and go with the king,’ for It am lame.27 But my servantt has slandered met to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like an angel of God. Do whatever seems appropriate to you.

28 After all, there was no one in the entire house of my grandfathert who did not deserve death from my lord the king. But instead you allowed me to eat at your own table!t What further claim do I have to askt the king for anything?”
29 Then the king replied to him, “Why should you continue speaking like this? You and Ziba will inherit the field together.”

30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him havet the whole thing! My lord the king has returned safelyt to his house!”
31 Now when Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, he crossed the Jordan with the king so he could send him on his way from there.s32 But Barzillai was very old – eighty years old, in fact – and he had taken care of the king when he stayed in Mahanaim, for he was a very richt man.

33 So the king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will take care of you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”
34 Barzillai replied to the king, “How many days do I have left to my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?35 I am presently eighty years old. Am I able to discern good and bad? Can It taste what I eat and drink? Am I still able to hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should It continue to be a burden to my lord the king?36 I will cross the Jordan with the king and go a short distance.t Why should the king reward me in this way?

37 Let met return so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But look, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems appropriate to you.”

38 The king replied, “Kimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever I deem appropriate. And whatever you choose, I will do for you.”
39 So all the people crossed the Jordan, as did the king. After the king had kissed him and blessed him, Barzillai returned to his home.t

40 When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimhamt crossed over with him. Now all the soldierst of Judah along with half of the soldiers of Israel had helped the king cross over.s

41 Then all the men of Israel began coming to the king. They asked the king, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, sneak the king away and help the king and his household cross the Jordan – and not only him but all of David’s men as well?”
42 All the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “Because the king is our close relative! Why are you so upset about this? Have we eaten at the king’s expense?t Or have we misappropriated anything for our own use?”

43 The men of Israel replied to the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and we have a greater claim on David than you do! Why do you wantt to curse us? Weren’t we the first to suggest bringing back our king?” But the comments of the men of Judah were more severe than those of the men of Israel.