2 Samuel 19

Joab Scolds David

1 People told Joab, “Look, the king is sad and crying because of Absalom.”2 David’s army had won the battle that day. But it became a very sad day for all the people, because they heard that the king was very sad for his son.3 The people came into the city quietly that day. They were like an army that had been defeated in battle and had run away.

4 The king covered his face and cried loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
5 Joab went into the king’s house and said, “Today you have shamed all your men. They saved your life and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives, and slave women.6 You have shamed them because you love those who hate you, and you hate those who love you. Today you have made it clear that your commanders and men mean nothing to you. What if Absalom had lived and all of us were dead? I can see you would be pleased.

7 Now go out and encourage your servants. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, no man will be left with you by tonight! That will be worse than all the troubles you have had from your youth until today.”
8 So the king went to the city gate. 

David Goes Back to Jerusalem

9 People in all the tribes of Israel began to argue, saying, “The king saved us from the Philistines and our other enemies, but he left the country because of Absalom.

10 We appointed Absalom to rule us, but now he has died in battle. We should make David the king again.”
11 King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, that said, “Speak to the elders of Judah. Say, ‘Even in my house I have heard what all the Israelites are saying. So why are you the last tribe to bring the king back to his palace?12 You are my brothers, my own family. Why are you the last tribe to bring back the king?’

13 And say to Amasa, ‘You are part of my own family. May God punish me terribly if I don’t make you commander of the army in Joab’s place!’ ”
14 David touched the hearts of all the people of Judah at once. They sent a message to the king that said, “Return with all your men.”

15 Then the king returned as far as the Jordan River. The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and to bring him across the Jordan.
16 Shimei son of Gera, a Benjaminite who lived in Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David.17 With Shimei came a thousand Benjaminites. Ziba, the servant from Saul’s family, also came, bringing his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him. They all hurried to the Jordan River to meet the king.18 The people went across the Jordan to help bring the king’s family back to Judah and to do whatever the king wanted. As the king was crossing the river, Shimei son of Gera came to him and bowed facedown on the ground in front of the king.19 He said to the king, “My master, don’t hold me guilty. Don’t remember the wrong I did when you left Jerusalem! Don’t hold it against me.

20 I know I have sinned. That is why I am the first person from Joseph’s family to come down and meet you today, my master and king!”

21 But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shimei should die because he cursed you, the Lord’s appointed king!”
22 David said, “This does not concern you, sons of Zeruiah! Today you’re against me! No one will be put to death in Israel today. Today I know I am king over Israel!”

23 Then the king promised Shimei, “You won’t die.”
24 Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet King David. Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet, cut his beard, or washed his clothes from the time the king had left Jerusalem until he returned safely.

25 When Mephibosheth came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Mephibosheth, why didn’t you go with me?”
26 He answered, “My master, my servant Ziba tricked me! I said to Ziba, ‘I am crippled, so saddle a donkey. Then I will ride it so I can go with the king.’27 But he lied about me to you. You, my master and king, are like an angel from God. Do what you think is good.

28 You could have killed all my grandfather’s family. Instead, you put me with those people who eat at your own table. So I don’t have a right to ask anything more from the king!”

29 The king said to him, “Don’t say anything more. I have decided that you and Ziba will divide the land.”

30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let Ziba take all the land now that my master the king has arrived safely home.”
31 Barzillai of Gilead came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan River with the king.32 Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old. He had taken care of the king when David was staying at Mahanaim, because Barzillai was a very rich man.

33 David said to Barzillai, “Cross the river with me. Come with me to Jerusalem, and I will take care of you.”
34 But Barzillai answered the king, “Do you know how old I am? Do you think I can go with you to Jerusalem?35 I am eighty years old! I am too old to taste what I eat or drink. I am too old to hear the voices of men and women singers. Why should you be bothered with me?36 I am not worthy of a reward from you, but I will cross the Jordan River with you.

37 Then let me go back so I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is Kimham, your servant. Let him go with you, my master and king. Do with him whatever you want.”
38 The king answered, “Kimham will go with me. I will do for him anything you wish, and I will do anything for you that you wish.”

39 The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai returned home, and the king and all the people crossed the Jordan.

40 When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel led David across the river.

41 Soon all the Israelites came to the king and said to him, “Why did our relatives, the people of Judah, steal you away? Why did they bring you and your family across the Jordan River with your men?”

42 All the people of Judah answered the Israelites, “We did this because the king is our close relative. Why are you angry about it? We have not eaten food at the king’s expense or taken anything for ourselves!”

43 The Israelites answered the people of Judah, “We have ten tribes in the kingdom, so we have more right to David than you do! But you ignored us! We were the first ones to talk about bringing our king back!”
But the people of Judah spoke even more unkindly 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.