2 Samuel 19

1Then the king was deeply shaken, and he went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

2And it was reported to Joab, “Look, the king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.”

3So the victory on that day was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day the people heard it said, “The king is grieved over his son.”

4So the people slipped into the city that day, as people who are ashamed slip away when they flee in battle.

5And the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”

6Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have put to shame all your servants who today saved your life, and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and your concubines.”

7to love those who hate you and to hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants mean nothing to you; for I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then it would be right in your eyes.

8Now get up, go out, and speak to the heart of your servants, for I swear by Yahweh that if you do not go out, not a man will stay with you tonight, and this will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come upon you from your youth until now.

9Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “Look, the king is sitting in the gate.” Then all the people came before the king. But Israel had fled, each man to his tent.

10And all the people were disputing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies, and he rescued us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.”

11And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, died in battle. So now why are you silent about bringing the king back?

12And King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king, to his house?’”

13You are my brothers; you are my own bone and flesh. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?

14And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me all the days in place of Joab.’

15And he swayed the heart of every man of Judah as one man, and they sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your servants.”

16Then the king returned and came as far as the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to go to meet the king, to bring the king across the Jordan.

17Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried and went down with the men of Judah to meet King David.

18and a thousand men from Benjamin with him, and Ziba, the servant of Saul’s house, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants; they crossed the Jordan before the king.

19The ferryboat crossed over to bring the king’s household across and to do what was good in his sight, and Shimei son of Gera fell before the king as he was crossing the Jordan.

20And he said to the king, “Do not let my lord count me guilty, and do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king went out from Jerusalem, so that the king should take it to heart.”

21For your servant knows that I have sinned. And look, I have come today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.

22But Abishai son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Should Shimei not be put to death for this, because he cursed Yahweh’s anointed?”

23And David said, “What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah, that you should be an adversary to me today? Shall any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?”

24And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.

25And Mephibosheth son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king left until the day he came in peace.

26And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

27And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, for your servant said, ‘I will saddle the donkey for myself so that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame.

28He slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God; so do what is good in your eyes.

29For all my father's house were nothing but men deserving death before my lord the king, yet you set your servant among those who eat at your table. So what further right do I have, that I should cry out any more to the king?

30Then the king said to him, “Why do you keep speaking of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.”

31Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has come safely to his own house.”

32And Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, and he crossed the Jordan with the king to send him off at the Jordan.

33Barzillai was very old, eighty years old, and he had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.

34And the king said to Barzillai, “You cross over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.”

35Barzillai 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?”

36I am eighty years old today. Can I still distinguish between good and evil? Can your servant taste what I eat and what I drink? Can I still hear the voice of male singers and female singers? Why then should your servant still be a burden to my lord the king?

37For your servant would only cross the Jordan a little way with the king; why should the king repay me with this reward?

38Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Kimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your eyes.

39Then the king said, “Let Kimham cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good in your eyes; and whatever you choose to lay on me, I will do for you.”

40All the people crossed the Jordan, and the king crossed over. Then the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.

41Then the king crossed over to Gilgal, and Kimham crossed over with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king across, and also half the people of Israel.

42And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king and his household across the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?”

43Then every man of Judah answered the man of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative to me. So why has this matter made you angry? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?”

44Then the man of Israel answered the man of Judah and said, “I have ten shares in the king, and in David also I have more than you. Why then did you treat me lightly? Was not my word first in bringing back my king?” But the word of the men of Judah was harsher than the word of the men of Israel.