2 Samuel 19

1 And Joab was told, Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, The king is grieved for his son.3 And the people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!5 Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,6 in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.7 Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that 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 they told all the people, saying, There is the king, sitting in the gate. So all the people came before the king. For everyone of Israel had fled to his tent.

David Returns to Jerusalem

9 Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?11 So King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house?12 You are my brethren, 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 my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.14 So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: Return, you and all your servants!15 Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king across the Jordan.16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.17 There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king.18 Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the kings household, and to do what he thought good.

Davids Mercy to Shimei

19 Then he said to the king, Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart.20 For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lords anointed?22 And David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, You shall not die. And the king swore to him.

David and Mephibosheth Meet

24 Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace.25 So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king, because your servant is lame.27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.28 For all my fathers house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?29 So the king said to him, Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, You and Ziba divide the land.30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.

Davids Kindness to Barzillai

31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan.32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man.33 And the king said to Barzillai, Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.34 But Barzillai said to the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?35 I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?36 Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward?37 Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.38 And the king answered, Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.39 Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.

The Quarrel About the King

40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel.41 Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and all Davids men with him across the Jordan?42 So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the kings expense? Or has he given us any gift?43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise uswere we not the first to advise bringing back our king? Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words 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.