2 Samuel 19:1-7

1Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom.

2As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness.

3They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle.

4The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

5Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves.

6You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased.

7Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.”