Joab Reproves David

1And it was declared to Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2And the victory that day became mourning for all the people, for the people heard it that day, saying, “The king is grieved for his son.”

3And the people stole away that day to go into the city, as the people steal away who are ashamed in their fleeing in battle. 4And the king covered his face, and the king cried out in a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

5And Joab came to the king to the house, and said, “You have disgraced today the faces of all your servants who have saved your life today, and the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6in that you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have declared today that not unto you are princes and servants; for I know today that if Absalom had lived and all of us today had died, that then it would be upright in your eyes.

7And now arise, go out, and speak to the heart of your servants, for by YHWH I swear, if you do not go out, not a man will stay with you this night. And this is worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”

David Restored as King

8And the king arose and sat in the gate. And all the people declared, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the face of the king.

For Israel had fled, each man to his tent. 9And all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king snatched us up from the hand of our enemies, and he saved us from the hand of the Philistines. And he has fled from the land because of Absalom. 10And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in the battle. And now, why are you⁺ silent about bringing back the king?”

11And King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you⁺ the last to bring back the king to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his house? 12My brothers you⁺ are, my bone and you⁺ are my flesh. And why are you⁺ the last to bring back the king?’ 13And say to Amasa, ‘Is it not that you are my bone and my flesh? So may God do to me, and even may He add, if you are not the commander of the army before me all the days in place of Joab.’”

14And he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man. And they sent to the king, “Return, you and all your servants.”

15And the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan.

Shimei Pardoned

16And Shimei son of Gera the Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried, and he came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17And a thousand men of Benjamin were with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons, and his twenty servants with him.

And they rushed into the Jordan before the face of the king. 18And they passed over the ford to bring over the house of the king, and to do what was good in his eyes.

And Shimei son of Gera fell down before the face of the king when he had crossed the Jordan. 19And he said to the king, “Let not my lord reckon to me iniquity or remember what your servant did wrong on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should put it to heart. 20For I your servant know that I have sinned. And behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph, to go down to meet my lord the king.”

21And Abishai son of Zeruiah answered and said, “In exchange for this, shall not Shimei be put to death, in that he cursed the anointed of YHWH?”

22And David said, “And what have I to do with you⁺, sons of Zeruiah, that you⁺ should be unto me for an adversary today? Shall today any man be put to death in Israel? For do I not know that this day I am king over Israel?”

23And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.

Mephibosheth Excused

24And Mephibosheth son of Saul came down to meet the king, and he had not cared for his feet, and not trimmed his mustache, and his clothes he had not washed from the day of the going away of the king until the day that he returned in peace. 25And it came to pass, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

26And he answered, “My lord the king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said, ‘I will saddle for myself the donkey,† that I may ride on it and go to the king, because your servant is lame.’ 27And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king.

And my lord the king is like the angel† of God; and do what is good in your eyes. 28For were not all the house of my father as but dead men before my lord the king? And you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. And what right have I anymore to cry still to the king?”

29And the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said that you and Ziba shall divide the land.”

30And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, let him take all of it, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”

David’s Kindness to Barzillai

31And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to send him away over the Jordan. 32And Barzillai was very old, a son of eighty years, and he had provided for the king while he stayed at Mahanaim. For he was a very rich man.

33And the king said to Barzillai, “You pass over with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”

34And Barzillai said to the king, “How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35I am a son of eighty years today. Can I discern between good and evil? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singers and songstresses? Why should be your servant add a burden to my lord the king?

36As a little thing your servant will pass over the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me this reward? 37Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and my mother. And here is your servant Chimham. Let him pass over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your eyes.”

38And the king answered, “Chimham shall pass over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your eyes. And whatever you request of me, I will do for you.”

39And all the people passed over the Jordan. And the king had passed over, and the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.

40And the king passed over to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him, and all the people of Judah brought over the king, and also half the people of Israel.

Contention over the King

41And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why have stolen you away our brothers the men of Judah, and the king, and his house brought across the Jordan, and all the men of David with him?”

42And all the men of Judah answered against the men of Israel, “Because the king is near to us. And why is this that you are hot over this matter? Have we ever eaten from the king? Or has he ever lifted up to us?”

43And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “Ten shares unto me are in the king, and also in David unto me is more than you. And why do you despise us, Was not my word first to bring back my king?”

And the word of the men of Judah was sharper than the word of the men of Israel.