2 SamuelChapter 19
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1Then Joab was told, "The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom." 2So for all the people, that day's win turned into mourning. That was because they heard that day, "The king is grieving for his son." 3So they slipped back into the city quietly that day. They acted like people who sneak away in shame after running from a battle. 4But the king covered his face. He cried out in a loud voice, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!" 5Then Joab went into the house to the king. He said, "Today you have shamed all your servants. They saved your life today. They saved the lives of your sons and daughters. They saved your wives and your concubines too. 6You love those who hate you, and you hate those who love you! Today you have made it clear. Your commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. Now I know this. If Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, you would be pleased! 7So get up now! Go out and speak kindly to your servants. I swear by the LORD, if you don't go out, not one man will be left with you tonight. That will be worse for you than all the trouble you've had from your youth until now!" 8So the king got up and sat in the gate. All the people were told, "Look, the king is sitting in the gate." So they all came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had run away, each man to his home. 9All through the tribes of Israel the people were arguing. They said, "The king saved us from our enemies. He rescued us from the Philistines. But now he has run away from the land because of Absalom. 10And Absalom, the man we anointed as our king, has died in battle. So why don't you say anything about bringing the king back?" 11Then King David sent a message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar. He said, "Say to the leaders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace? After all, the king has heard what all Israel is saying, even where he is staying. 12You are my brothers. You are my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring the king back?' 13And say to Amasa, 'Aren't you my own flesh and blood? From now on you will be the commander of my army in place of Joab. If not, may God punish me, and punish me very hard!'" 14So he won the hearts of all the men of Judah. They were united as if they were one man. They sent word to the king, "Come back, you and all your servants." 15So the king started back and came to the Jordan. The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him. They came to bring him across the Jordan. 16Shimei son of Gera was a Benjamite from Bahurim. He hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17A thousand men of Benjamin were with him. Ziba was with him too. Ziba was the servant in charge of Saul's household. His fifteen sons and twenty servants came with him. They rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king. 18They crossed at the shallow place in the river. They came to carry the king's family across and to do whatever he wanted. Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan. Then he fell down before the king. 19He said, "My lord, please don't count me guilty. Don't remember the wrong your servant did on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Please, king, don't keep thinking about it. 20I, your servant, know that I have sinned. That is why I'm here today. I am the first of all the house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king." 21But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the LORD's anointed!" 22David answered, "You sons of Zeruiah, what do I have to do with you? Why should you act like my enemies today? Should anyone in Israel be put to death today? Don't I know that today I am king over Israel?" 23So the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." And the king made a promise to him with an oath. 24Then Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache. He had not washed his clothes. He had done none of this from the day the king left until the day he came back safely. 25He came from Jerusalem to meet the king. The king asked him, "Mephibosheth, why didn't you go with me?" 26He answered, "My lord the king, I am lame. So I said, 'I will have my donkey saddled. Then I can ride it and go with the king.' But my servant Ziba tricked me. 27And he has told lies about me, your servant, to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God. So do whatever you think is good. 28My grandfather's whole family deserved death from my lord the king. But you gave me, your servant, a place among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to keep asking the king for anything more?" 29The king answered, "Why say any more? I have decided. You and Ziba will divide the land." 30Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let Ziba have it all instead! My lord the king has come home safely." 31Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim. He came to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there. 32Barzillai was very old. He was eighty years old. He was a very rich man, so he had given the king what he needed while the king stayed in Mahanaim. 33The king said to Barzillai, "Come across with me. I will take care of you at my side in Jerusalem." 34But Barzillai answered, "How many more years do I have to live? Why should I go up to Jerusalem with the king? 35I am eighty years old now. Can I tell what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singing? Why should your servant be one more load for my lord the king to carry? 36I, your servant, will go with the king just a short way past the Jordan. Why should the king pay me back with such a reward? 37Please let your servant go back home. Let me die in my own town, near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you think is good." 38The king answered, "Chimham will cross over with me. I will do for him whatever you think is good. And I will do for you anything you ask of me." 39So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai went back home. 40Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel brought the king across. 41Soon all the men of Israel came to the king. They asked, "Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, sneak you away? Why did they bring the king and his family across the Jordan, along with all of David's men?" 42All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "We did it because the king is our close relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we eaten any of the king's food? Has he given us any gifts?" 43The men of Israel answered, "We have ten shares in the king. So we have more right to David than you do. Why do you look down on us? Weren't we the first to talk about bringing back our king?" But the men of Judah spoke even more harshly than the men of Israel.