2 Samuel 19:2-40

2So the 1victory 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 2covered his face and 3cried out with a loud voice, “4My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!” 5Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed 5all 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 6commanders 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 7as far as you are concerned. 7Now therefore arise, go out and speak 8kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, 9no man will stay the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the misfortune that has 10happened to you from your youth until now!” 8So the king got up and sat at the gate. When they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is 11sitting at the gate,” then all the people came before the king.

Now 12Israel had fled, each to his tent. 9And all the people were quarreling throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “13The king rescued us from the 14hands of our enemies and 15saved us from the 16hands of the Philistines, but now 17he 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 18Zadok 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; 19you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13And say to 20Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? 21May God do so to me, and more so, if you will not be 22commander of the army 23for me continually, 24in place of Joab.’” 14So he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah 25as 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 26Gilgal in order to go to meet the king, to escort the king across the Jordan.

16Then 27Shimei 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 28Ziba 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, “29May 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 30take it to heart. 20For your servant knows that I have sinned; so behold, I have come today, 31the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” 21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah responded, “32Should Shimei not be put to death for this, 33the fact that he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” 22David then said, “34What 35is there between you and me, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be an adversary to me today? 36Should 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, “37You shall not die.” The king also swore to him.

24Then 38Mephibosheth the 39grandson of Saul came down to meet the king; but 40he had neither 41tended to his feet, nor 42trimmed his mustache, nor 43washed 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, “44Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26So he said, “My lord the king, my servant betrayed me; for your servant said, ‘I will 45saddle the donkey for myself so that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ 46since your servant cannot walk. 27Furthermore, 47he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is 48like the angel of God, therefore do what is good in your sight. 28For 49all my father’s household was only people worthy of death to my lord the king; 50yet you placed your servant among those who ate at your own table. So what right do I still have, that I should 51complain anymore to the king?” 29So the king said to him, “Why do you still speak of your affairs? I have 52decided, ‘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 53Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he went on to the Jordan with the king to 54escort him over the Jordan. 32Barzillai was very old: eighty years old; and he had 55provided 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, “56How long 57do I still have to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35I am 58now 59eighty 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 60the voice of men and women singing? 61Why 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 62Chimham; 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 63require of me, I will do for you.” 39All the people crossed over the Jordan and the king crossed too. The king then 64kissed 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 65half the people of Israel 66accompanied the king.