2 Samuel 19

David Restored to the Throne

1 Joab was told, “The king is crying and mourning for Absalom.”2 The victory of that day was turned into mourning because all the troops heard that the king was grieving for his son.3 That day the troops sneaked into the city as if they had fled from battle and were ashamed of it.

4 The king covered his face and cried loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
5 Then Joab came into the house. “Today you have made all your men feel ashamed,” he said. “They saved your life and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives, and concubinest today.6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. Today, you have made it clear that your commanders and servants mean nothing to you. I think you would be pleased if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead.

7 Now, get up, go out, and encourage your men. I swear to you by the Lord that if you don’t go out, no one will stay with you tonight, and that will be worse than all the trouble you’ve had in your entire life.”
8 The king sat in the gateway. When all the troops were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,” they came to the king.Meanwhile, Israel had fled and went back to their own homes.9 All the people in all the tribes of Israel were arguing with one another, saying, “The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but now he has fled from Absalom and left the country.

10 However, Absalom, whom we anointed to rule us, has died in battle. Why is no one talking about bringing back the king?”
11 What all Israel was saying reached the king at his house. So King David sent this message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: “Ask the leaders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last tribe to bring the king back to his palace?12 You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. Why should you be the last to bring back the king?’

13 And tell Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God strike me dead unless you are given Joab’s place to serve me always as the commander of the army.’ ”
14 All the people of Judah were in total agreement. So they sent the king this message: “Come back with all your servants.”15 The king came back to the Jordan River, and the people of Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and bring him across the Jordan River.16 Shimei, Gera’s son from the tribe of Benjamin and the town of Bahurim, hurried down with the people of Judah to meet King David.17 One thousand people from Benjamin were with him. And Ziba, the servant of Saul’s family, rushed to the Jordan River across from the king. Ziba brought his 15 sons and 20 servants.

18 They crossed the river to bring over the king’s family and to do anything else the king wanted.
Shimei, Gera’s son, bowed down in front of the king as he was going to cross the Jordan River.19 He pleaded with the king, “Don’t remember the crime I committed the day you left Jerusalem. Don’t hold it against me or even think about it, Your Majesty.

20 I know I’ve sinned. Today I’ve come as the first of all the house of Joseph to meet you.”
21 But Abishai, Zeruiah’s son, replied, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for cursing the Lord’s anointed king?”22 David responded, “Are you sure we’re from the same family, sons of Zeruiah? You are my enemies today. Should anyone in Israel be killed today? Don’t I know that I’m king of Israel again?”23 The king promised Shimei, “You won’t die,” and the king swore to it.24 Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went to meet the king. He had not tended to his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until he came home safely.

25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”
26 He answered, “My servant deceived me, Your Majesty. Since I am disabled, I said, ‘Saddle the donkey for me, and I’ll ride on it and go with the king.’27 He told you lies about me, Your Majesty. However, you are like God’s Messenger. Do what you think is right.

28 You could have killed anyone in my entire family, Your Majesty. Instead, you’ve seated me with those who eat at your table. So I no longer have the right to complain to the king.”
29 The king asked him, “Why do you keep talking about it? I’ve said that you and Ziba should divide the land.”30 “Let him take it all,” Mephibosheth told the king. “It’s enough for me that you’ve come home safely.”31 Barzillai, the man from Gilead, came from Rogelim with the king to the Jordan River to send him on his way.

32 Barzillai was an elderly man, 80 years old. Because he was a very rich man, he had provided the king with food while he was staying at Mahanaim.
33 The king told Barzillai, “Cross the river with me. I’ll provide for you in Jerusalem.”34 Barzillai replied, “I don’t have much longer to live. I shouldn’t go with Your Majesty to Jerusalem.35 I’m 80 years old now. How can I tell what is pleasant and what is not? Can I taste what I eat or drink? Can I still hear the singing of men and women? Why should I now become a burden to you, Your Majesty?36 I’ll just cross the Jordan River with you. Why should you give me such a reward?

37 Please let me go back so that I can die in my city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is Chimham. Let him go across with you. And do for him what you think is right.”
38 “Chimham will go across with me,” the king said. “I will do for him whatever you want. Anything you wish I’ll do for you.”39 All the troops crossed the Jordan River, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai went back home.40 The king crossed the river to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops from Judah and half of the troops from Israel brought the king across.41 Then all the people of Israel kept coming to the king. They asked, “Why did our cousins, the people of Judah, kidnap you and bring Your Majesty and your family and men across the Jordan River?”42 All the people of Judah answered the people of Israel, “Because the king is our relative. Why are you angry about this? Did we eat the king’s food, or did he give us any gifts?”t43 The people of Israel answered the people of Judah, “We have ten times your interest in the king and a greater claim on David than you have. Why, then, do you despise us? Weren’t we the first to suggest bringing back our king?”But the people of Judah spoke even more harshly than the people 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.