2 Samuel 19

Joab Disapproves of David’s Mourning

11Then it was reported to Joab, “Behold, 2the king is weeping and he mourns for Absalom.” 2So the 3victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, because the people heard it said that day, “The king is in mourning over his son.” 3And the people entered the city surreptitiously that day, just as people who are humiliated surreptitiously flee in battle. 4And the king 4covered his face and 5cried out with a loud voice, “6My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!” 5Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed 7all your servants, who have saved your life today 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 revealed today that 8commanders and servants are nothing to you; for I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then it would be right 9as far as you are concerned. 7Now therefore arise, go out and speak 10kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, 11no man will stay the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the misfortune that has 12happened to you from your youth until now!”

David Restored as King

8So the king got up and sat at the gate. When they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is 13sitting at the gate,” then all the people came before the king.

Now 14Israel had fled, each to his tent. 9And all the people were quarreling throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “15The king rescued us from the 16hands of our enemies and 17saved us from the 18hands of the Philistines, but now 19he 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 word to 20Zadok 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; 21you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13And say to 22Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? 23May God do so to me, and more so, if you will not be 24commander of the army 25for me continually, 26in place of Joab.’” 14So he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah 27as 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 the men of Judah came to 28Gilgal in order to go to meet the king, to escort the king across the Jordan.

16Then 29Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and 30Ziba 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 crossed the shallow places repeatedly 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. 19And he said to the king, “31May my lord not consider me guilty, nor call to mind what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king went out from Jerusalem, so that the king would 32take it to heart. 20For your servant knows that I have sinned; so behold, I have come today, 33the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” 21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah responded, “34Should Shimei not be put to death for this, 35the fact that he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” 22David then said, “36What 37is there between you and me, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be an adversary to me today? 38Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?” 23So the king said to Shimei, “39You shall not die.” The king also swore to him.

24Then 40Mephibosheth the 41grandson of Saul came down to meet the king; but 42he had neither 43tended to his feet, nor 44trimmed his mustache, nor 45washed his clothes since the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace. 25And it was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “46Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26So he said, “My lord the king, my servant betrayed me; for your servant said, ‘I will 47saddle the donkey for myself so that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ 48since your servant cannot walk. 27Furthermore, 49he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is 50like the angel of God, therefore do what is good in your sight. 28For 51all my father’s household was only people worthy of death to my lord the king; 52yet you placed your servant among those who ate at your own table. So what right do I still have, that I should 53complain anymore to the king?” 29So the king said to him, “Why do you still speak of your affairs? I have 54decided, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’” 30And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has come safely to his own house.”

31Now 55Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he went on to the Jordan with the king to 56escort him over the Jordan. 32Barzillai was very old: eighty years old; and he had 57provided the king food while he stayed in Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. 33So the king said to Barzillai, “You cross over with me, and I will provide you food in Jerusalem with me.” 34But Barzillai said to the king, “58How long 59do I still have to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35I am 60now 61eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I still hear 62the voice of men and women singing? 63Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king. So why should the king compensate me with this reward? 37Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant 64Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.” 38And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you 65require of me, I will do for you.” 39All the people crossed over the Jordan and the king crossed too. The king then 66kissed 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 67half the people of Israel 68accompanied the king. 41And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “69Why have our brothers, 70the men of Judah, abducted you 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 71the king is a close relative to 72us. Why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all 73at the king’s expense, or has anything been taken for us?” 43But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “7475We have ten parts in the king, therefore 76we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat 77us with contempt? Was it not 78our 79advice first to bring back 80our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.