2 Samuel 19:14-43 ▼

14 And 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.”

15 And 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.

16 And Shimei son of Gera the Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried, and he came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.

17 And 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.

18 And 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.

19 And 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.

20 For 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.”

21 And 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?”

22 And 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?”

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

24 And 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.

25 And 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?”

26 And 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.’

27 And 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.

28 For 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?”

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

30 And 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.”

31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to send him away over the Jordan.

32 And 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.

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

34 And 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?

35 I 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?

36 As a little thing your servant will pass over the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me this reward?

37 Please 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.”

38 And 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.”

39 And 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.

40 And 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.

41 And 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?”

42 And 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?”

43 And 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.