2 Samuel 19

Joab Reproves David’s Lament

1Then it was told Joab, “Behold, 1the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom.” 2The 2victory that day was turned to mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3So the people went by stealth into the city that day, as people who are humiliated steal away when they flee in battle. 4The king 3covered his face and 4cried out with a loud voice, “5O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 5Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have shown today that 6princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then 7you would be pleased. 7Now therefore arise, go out and speak 8kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, surely 9not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”

David Restored as King

8So the king arose and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is 10sitting in the gate,” then all the people came before the king.

Now 11Israel had fled, each to his tent. 9All the people were quarreling throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “12The king delivered us from the 13hand of our enemies and 14saved us from the 15hand of the Philistines, but now 16he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?”

11Then King David sent to 17Zadok 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 word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house? 12You are my brothers; 18you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13Say to 19Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? 20May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be 21commander of the army before me continually 22in place of Joab.’” 14Thus he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah 23as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.” 15The king then returned and came as far as the Jordan. And Judah came to 24Gilgal in order to go to meet the king, to bring the king across the Jordan.

16Then 25Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, with 26Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they rushed to the Jordan before the king. 18Then they kept crossing the ford to bring over the king’s household, and to do what was good in his sight. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan. 19So he said to the king, “27Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king came out from Jerusalem, so that the king would 28take it to heart. 20For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, 29the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” 21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, “30Should not Shimei be put to death for this, 31because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” 22David then said, “32What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be an adversary to me? 33Should any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?” 23The king said to Shimei, “34You shall not die.” Thus the king swore to him.

24Then 35Mephibosheth the 36son of Saul came down to meet the king; and 37he had neither 38cared for his feet, nor 39trimmed his mustache, nor 40washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace. 25It was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “41Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26So he answered, “O my lord, the king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ 42because your servant is lame. 27Moreover, 43he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is 44like the angel of God, therefore do what is good in your sight. 28For 45all my father’s household was nothing but dead men before my lord the king; 46yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have yet that I should 47complain anymore to the king?” 29So the king said to him, “Why do you still speak of your affairs? I have 48decided, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’” 30Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has come safely to his own house.”

31Now 49Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he went on to the Jordan with the king to 50escort him over the Jordan. 32Now Barzillai was very old, being eighty years old; and he had 5152sustained the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. 33The king said to Barzillai, “You cross over with me and I will 53sustain you in Jerusalem with me.” 34But Barzillai said to the king, “54How long 55have I yet to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35I am 56now 57eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I hear anymore 58the voice of singing men and women? 59Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king compensate me with this reward? 37Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant 60Chimham, let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.” 38The king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you 61require of me, I will do for you.” 39All the people crossed over the Jordan and the king crossed too. The king then 62kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.

40Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; and all the people of Judah and also 63half the people of Israel 64accompanied the king. 41And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “65Why had our brothers 66the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him over the Jordan?” 42Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because 67the king is a close relative to 68us. Why then 69are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense, or has 70anything been taken for us?” 43But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “7172We have ten parts in the king, therefore 73we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not 74our advice first to bring back 75our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.