1 AND it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;
6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.
7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the Lord, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.
10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
13 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.
15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.
18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.
20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?
22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.
25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?
26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.
27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.
28 For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?
29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.
30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.
31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.
32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.
33 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
35 I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.
39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.
40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.
41 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan?
42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s cost? or hath he given us any gift?
43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

1And it was told Ioab, Beholde, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

2And the victorie that day was turned into mourning vnto all the people: for the people heard say that day, how the king was grieued for his sonne.

3And the people gate them by stealth that day into the citie, as people beeing ashamed steale away when they flee in battell.

4But the king couered his face, and the king cried with a loud voyce, O my sonne Absalom, O Absalom my sonne, my sonne.

5And Ioab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy seruants, which this day haue saued thy life, and the liues of thy sonnes, & of thy daughters, and the liues of thy wiues, and the liues of thy concubines,

6In that thou louest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends; for thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes, nor seruants: for this day I perceiue, that if Absalom had liued, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

7Now therefore arise, goe foorth, and speake comfortably vnto thy seruants: for I sweare by the Lord, if thou goe not forth, there wil not tarie one with thee this night, and that will be worse vnto thee then all the euill that befell thee from thy youth vntill now.

8Then the King rose, and sate in the gate: and they told vnto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate: and all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled euery man to his tent.

9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saued vs out of the hand of our enemies, and he deliuered vs out of the hand of the Philistines, and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

10And Absalom whom wee anointed ouer vs, is dead in battell: nowe therefore why speake ye not a word of bringing the king backe?

11 And King Dauid sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speake vnto the Elders of Iudah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king backe to his house? (seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, euen to his house.)

12Yee are my brethren, Yee are my bones and my flesh: wherfore then are ye the last to bring backe the king?

13And say ye to Amasa: Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captaine of the hoste before me continually in the roome of Ioab.

14And he bowed the heart of all the men of Iudah, euen as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word vnto the King, Returne thou and all thy seruants.

15So the King returned, and came to Iordan: and Iudah came to Gilgal, to goe to meet the King, to conduct the king ouer Iordane.

16 And Shimei the sonne of Gera, a Beniamite, which wass of Bahurim, hasted, & came downe with the men of Iudah, to meet King Dauid.

17And there were a thousand men of Beniamin with him, and Ziba the seruant of the house of Saul, and his fifteene sonnes and his twenty seruants with him, and they went ouer Iordane before the King.

18And there went ouer a ferry-boat to cary ouer the kings houshold, and to doe what he thought good: and Shimei the sonne of Gera fell downe before the king as he was come ouer Iordane;

19And said vnto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquitie vnto me, neither do thou remember that which thy seruant did peruersly the day that my lord the king went out of Ierusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

20For thy seruant doeth know that I haue sinned: therefore behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Ioseph, to goe downe to meete my lord the king.

21But Abishai the sonne of Zeruiah answered, and sayd, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because hee cursed the Lords Anointed?

22And Dauid said, What haue I to doe with you, yee sonnes of Zeruiah, that yee should this day be aduersaries vnto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for doe not I know, that I am this day King ouer Israel?

23Therfore the king said vnto Shimei, Thou shalt not die: and the King sware vnto him.

24 And Mephibosheth the sonne of Saul came downe to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feete, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the King departed, vntill the day hee came againe in peace.

25And it came to passe when he was come to Ierusalem to meete the King, that the King sayd vnto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

26And hee answered, My lord O king, my seruant deceiued mee; for thy seruant sayd, I will saddle me an asse that I may ride thereon, and goe to the king, because thy seruant is lame:

27And hee hath slandered thy seruant vnto my lord the king, but my lord the King is as an Angel of God: doe therefore what is good in thine eyes.

28For all of my fathers house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet diddest thou set thy seruant among them that did eate at thine owne table: what right therefore haue I yet to crie any more vnto the king?

29And the king said vnto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I haue said, Thou and Ziba diuide the land.

30And Mephibosheth said vnto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lorde the king is come againe in peace vnto his owne house.

31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came downe from Rogelim, and went ouer Iordane with the king, to conduct him ouer Iordane.

32Now Barzillai was a very aged man, euen fourescore yeeres olde, and he had prouided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim: for he was a very great man.

33And the king said vnto Barzillai, Come thou ouer with me, and I will feede thee with me in Ierusalem.

34And Barzillai sayde vnto the king, How long haue I to liue, that I should goe vp with the King vnto Ierusalem?

35I am this day fourescore yeeres olde: and can I discerne betweene good and euill? Can thy seruant taste what I eate, or what I drinke? can I heare any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherfore then should thy seruant bee yet a burden vnto my lord the king?

36Thy seruant will goe a little way ouer Iordane with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

37Let thy seruant, I pray thee, turne backe againe, that I may die in mine owne citie, and be buried by the graue of my father, and of my mother: but behold thy seruant Chimham, let him go ouer with my lord the king, and doe to him what shall seeme good vnto thee.

38And the king answered, Chimham shal goe ouer with me, and I will doe to him that which shall seeme good vnto thee: and whatsoeuer thou shalt require of me, that will I doe for thee.

39And all the people went ouer Iordane: and when the king was come ouer, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him, and he returned vnto his owne place.

40Then the King went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Iudah conducted the king, and also halfe the people of Israel.

41 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said vnto the king, Why haue our brethren the men of Iudah stollen thee away, and haue brought the King and his houshold, and all Dauids men with him, ouer Iordane?

42And all the men of Iudah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is neere of kinne to vs: wherefore then be ye angrie for this matter? Haue we eaten at all of the kings cost? or hath he giuen vs any gift?

43And the men of Israel answered the men of Iudah, and said, Wee haue ten parts in the king, and we haue also more right in Dauid then yee: why then did yee despise vs, that our aduice should not be first had in bringing backe our king? And the wordes of the men of Iudah were fiercer then the words of the men of Israel.

 

 

 

 

III == 2nd Sam 19:32

 

IV == 2nd Sam 15:30 ; 18:33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IX == 2nd Sam 15:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XII == 2nd Sam 5:1

 

XIII == Ruth 1:17 ; 2nd Sam 17:25

 

 

XIV == Judg 20:1

 

XV == Josh 5:9

 

 

XVI == 2nd Sam 16:5 ; 1st Kings 2:8

 

XVII == 2nd Sam 9:2 , 10 ; 16:1-2

 

 

 

 

 

XIX == 1st Sam 22:15 ; 2nd Sam 13:33 ; 16:5-6

 

 

 

XX == 2nd Sam 16:5

 

XXI == Ex 22:28

 

 

XXII == 1st Sam 11:13 ; 2nd Sam 16:10

 

 

XXIII == 1st Kings 2:8-9 , 37 , 46

XXIV == 2nd Sam 9:6

 

 

 

XXV == 2nd Sam 16:17

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVII == 2nd Sam 14:17 , 20 ; 16:3

XXVIII == 2nd Sam 9:7 , 10 , 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXI == 1st Kings 2:7

 

XXXII == 2nd Sam 17:27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXV == Ps 90:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXVII == 1st Kings 2:7 ; Jer 41:17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXIX == Gen 31:55

 

 

 

 

 

XLI == 2nd Sam 19:15

 

 

 

XLII == 2nd Sam 19:12

 

 

 

XLIII == Judg 8:1 ; 12:1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 The king was shaken, and went up to the room over the city gate to weep. He said as he wept, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"

2 Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom;

3 and that day's victory was turned into mourning for the whole army when they heard that the king was grieving for his son.

4 The soldiers stole into the city that day like men shamed by flight in battle.

5 Meanwhile the king covered his face and cried out in a loud voice, "My son Absalom! Absalom! My son, my son!"

6 Then Joab went to his residence and said: "Though they saved your life and your sons' and daughters' lives, also the lives of your wives and those of your concubines, you have put all your servants to shame today

7 by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you. For you have shown today that officers and servants mean nothing to you. Indeed I am now certain that if Absalom were alive today and all of us dead, you would think that more suitable.

8 Now then, get up! Go out and speak kindly to your servants. I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a single man will remain with you overnight, and this will be a far greater disaster for you than any that has afflicted you from your youth until now."

9 So the king stepped out and sat at the gate. When all the people were informed that the king was sitting at the gate, they came into his presence. Now the Israelites had fled to their separate tents,

10 but throughout the tribes of Israel all the people were arguing among themselves, saying to one another: "The king delivered us from the clutches of our enemies, and it was he who rescued us from the grip of the Philistines. But now he has fled from the country before Absalom,

11 and Absalom, whom we anointed over us, died in battle. Why, then, should you remain silent about restoring the king to his palace?" When the talk of all Israel reached the king,

12 David sent word to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: "Say to the elders of Judah: 'Why should you be last to restore the king to his palace?

13 You are my brothers, you are my bone and flesh. Why should you be last to restore the king?'

14 Also say to Amasa: 'Are you not my bone and flesh? May God do thus and so to me, if you do not become my general permanently in place of Joab.'"

15 He won over all the Judahites as one man, and so they summoned the king to return, with all his servants.

16 When the king, on his return, reached the Jordan, Judah had come to Gilgal to meet him and to escort him across the Jordan.

17 Shimei, son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the Judahites to meet King David,

18 accompanied by a thousand men from Benjamin. Ziba, too, the servant of the house of Saul, accompanied by his fifteen sons and twenty servants, hastened to the Jordan before the king.

19 They crossed over the ford to bring the king's household over and to do whatever he wished. When Shimei, son of Gera, crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king

20 and said to him: "May my lord not hold me guilty, and may he not remember and take to heart the wrong that your servant did the day my lord the king left Jerusalem.

21 For your servant knows that he has done wrong. Yet realize that I have been the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down today to meet my lord the king."

22 But Abishai, son of Zeruiah, countered: "Shimei must be put to death for this. He cursed the LORD'S anointed."

23 David replied: "What has come between you and me, sons of Zeruiah, that you would create enmity for me this day? Should anyone die today in Israel? Am I not aware that today I am king of Israel?"

24 Then the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king gave him his oath.

25 Meribbaal, son of Saul, also went down to meet the king. He had not washed his feet nor trimmed his mustache nor washed his clothes from the day the king left until he returned safely.

26 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Why did you not go with me, Meribbaal?"

27 He replied: "My lord the king, my servant betrayed me. For your servant, who is lame, said to him, 'Saddle the ass for me, that I may ride on it and go with the king.'

28 But he slandered your servant before my lord the king. But my lord the king is like an angel of God. Do what you judge best.

29 For though my father's entire house deserved only death from my lord the king, yet you placed your servant among the guests at your table. What right do I still have to make further appeal to the king?"

30 But the king said to him: "Why do you go on talking? I say, 'You and Ziba shall divide the property.'"

31 Meribbaal answered the king, "Indeed let him have it all, now that my lord the king has returned safely to his palace."

32 Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim and escorted the king to the Jordan for his crossing, taking leave of him there.

33 It was Barzillai, a very old man of eighty and very wealthy besides, who had provisioned the king during his stay in Mahanaim.

34 The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me, and I will provide for your old age as my guest in Jerusalem."

35 But Barzillai answered the king: "How much longer have I to live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?

36 I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks, or still appreciate the voices of singers and songstresses? Why should your servant be any further burden to my lord the king?

37 In escorting the king across the Jordan, your servant is doing little enough! Why should the king give me this reward?

38 Please let your servant go back to die in his own city by the tomb of his father and mother. Here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you will."

39 Then the king said to him, "Chimham shall come over with me, and I will do for him as you would wish. And anything else you would like me to do for you, I will do."

40 Then all the people crossed over the Jordan but the king remained; he kissed Barzillai and bade him Godspeed as he returned to his own district.

41 Finally the king crossed over to Gilgal, accompanied by Chimham. All the people of Judah and half of the people of Israel had escorted the king across.

42 But all these Israelites began coming to the king and saying, "Why did our brothers the Judahites steal you away and escort the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all David's men?"

43 All the Judahites replied to the men of Israel: "Because the king is our relative. Why are you angry over this affair? Have we had anything to eat at the king's expense? Or have portions from his table been given to us?"

44 The Israelites answered the Judahites: "We have ten shares in the king. Also, we are the first-born rather than you. Why do you slight us? Were we not first to speak of restoring the king?" Then the Judahites in turn spoke even more fiercely than the Israelites.

 

v 1-7. David’s excessive grief over the loss of Absalom, after he had given orders for his safety, made people feel ashamed, and they began sneaking away. Joab had his faults, but he shocked David back to reality by his accusation that David would have preferred every one else to die but Absalom. Joab was also correct in his assessment that this was causing all the people to abandon David and his kingdom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 8. When David sat in the gate, as he properly should, the people rallied around to see what would transpire.

 

 

 

v 9,10. There was national confusion, and the common people of the northern tribes questioned their leaders for not bringing David back.

 

 

 

 

v 11-15. People of Judah had been the first in the rebellion so may have hung back, but they were his own people, so David chides them for allowing the rest of Israel to be first to bring him back. Then in a wise political move, or possibly a slap at Joab for his disobedience, David appointed Amasa, who had been Absalom’s general, to be his chief general instead of Joab. All of Judah were now pleased with David and assembled at Gilgal to welcome him back over the Jordan.

 

 

 

 

v 16-23. The Benjamites also brought a large delegation to meet David. Ziba is still looking out for his political future, so he brings all his sons and servants to cross over as an honoring committee before David’s family came on a ferry boat. Shimei is probably more fearful than repentant as he bows before David and asks forgiveness for his improper conduct when David left, 16:5-14. Abishai would have killed Shimei, but David was being safely instated, so he spared him from further bloodshed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 24-30. Mephibosheth’s condition showed he had been in fasting and mourning from the time David left, but having accepted Ziba’s lie, 16:3, David rebuked him. He told David how Ziba had slandered him and he could do nothing in his crippled condition, but he threw himself entirely at David’s mercy. It is shameful that David did not rebuke Ziba for what he had done. David apparently could not admit how he had been taken in by Ziba, but he went part way by restoring half the land to Mephibosheth that he had already given him once. Mephibosheth’s love and innocence is further seen as he is willing to let Ziba have it all, as long as David was safely back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 31-40. The wealthy Barzillai, who had provided for David’s company in exile, had come to escort David across the Jordan. David would have rewarded him by letting him sit at his table the rest of his life, but at 80 years of age, he would rather return home. So after crossing, David blessed him at his leaving, but accepted his son Chimham to continue on with him. All of Judah and many of Israel were in the escort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 41-43. Israel was upset that after they had initiated the return of David, Judah took over. Judah protested that they were more closely related to David but had not taken special favors from him. Israel retorted that they had ten parts in David and should have been consulted on the return celebration. Judah’s reply was more fierce, but there was no useful purpose in recording it. Division between Judah and the ten northern tribes began when Ishbosheth