Joab Reproves David

1Then it was reported to Joab (YHWH is father), “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom (my father is peace).” 2And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.”

3So they returned to the city quietly that day, as people steal away in humiliation after fleeing a battle. 4But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom (my father is peace), my son, my son!”

5Then Joab (YHWH is father) went into the house and said to the king, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, of your wives, and of your concubines. 6You love those who hate you and hate those who love you! For you have made it clear today that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. I know today that if Absalom (my father is peace) were alive and all of us were dead, it would have pleased you!

7Now therefore get up! Go out and speak comfort to your servants, for I swear by the LORD {YHWH} that if you do not go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the adversity that has befallen you from your youth until now!”

David Restored as King

8So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king.

Meanwhile, the Israelites (God prevails) had fled, each man to his home. 9And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God) were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines (immigrants), but now he has fled the land because of Absalom (my father is peace). 10But Absalom (my father is peace), the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you⁺ say nothing about restoring the king?”

11Then King David (beloved) sent this message to Zadok (righteous) and Abiathar (my father is great), the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah (praised), ‘Why should you⁺ be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel (he wrestles with God) has reached the king at his quarters? 12You⁺ are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you⁺ be the last to restore the king?’ 13And say to Amasa (burden), ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God {Elohim} punish me, and ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab (YHWH is father)!’”

14So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah (praised) as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants.”

15So the king returned, and when he arrived at the Jordan (flowing down), the men of Judah (praised) came to Gilgal (a wheel) to meet him and escort him across the Jordan.

Shimei Pardoned

16Then Shimei (renowned) son of Gera (a grain), a Benjamite (son of the right hand) from Bahurim (young men's village), hurried down with the men of Judah (praised) to meet King David (beloved), 17along with a thousand men of Benjamin (son of the right hand), as well as Ziba (statue) the steward of the house of Saul (desired) and his fifteen sons and twenty servants.

They rushed down to the Jordan (flowing down) before the king 18and crossed at the ford to carry over the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight.

When Shimei (renowned) son of Gera (a grain) crossed the Jordan (flowing down), he fell down before the king 19and said, “My lord, do not hold me guilty, and do not remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem (city of peace). May the king not take it to heart. 20For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph (YHWH has added) to come down to meet my lord the king.”

21But Abishai (my father is a gift) son of Zeruiah (balsam) said, “Shouldn’t Shimei (renowned) be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s {YHWH} anointed?”

22And David (beloved) replied, “Sons of Zeruiah (balsam), what have I to do with you⁺, that you⁺ should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel (he wrestles with God) today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”

23So the king said to Shimei (renowned), “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him.

Mephibosheth Excused

24Then Mephibosheth (exterminating the idol), Saul’s (desired) grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely. 25And he came from Jerusalem (city of peace) to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth (exterminating the idol), why did you not go with me?”

26“My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled [Saddle a donkey for me]a so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me, 27and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king.

Yet my lord the king is like the angel (Angel)b of God {Elohim}, so do what is good in your eyes. 28For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”

29The king replied, “Why say any more? I hereby declare that you and Ziba (statue) are to divide the land.”

30And Mephibosheth (exterminating the idol) said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has safely come to his own house, let Ziba take it all!”

David’s Kindness to Barzillai

31Now Barzillai (my iron) the Gileadite (rocky region) had come down from Rogelim (place of fullers) to cross the Jordan (flowing down) with the king and send him on his way from there. 32Barzillai (my iron) was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim (two camps).

33The king said to Barzillai (my iron), “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem (city of peace).”

34But Barzillai (my iron) replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem (city of peace) with the king? 35I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden (burden) to my lord the king?

36Your servant will go with the king only a short distance past the Jordan (flowing down); why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham (their longing). Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.”

38The king replied, “Chimham (their longing) will cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight, and I will do for you whatever you desire of me.”

39So all the people crossed the Jordan (flowing down), and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai (my iron) and blessed him, and Barzillai returned home.

40Then the king crossed over to Gilgal (a wheel), and Chimham (their longing) crossed over with him. All the troops of Judah (praised) and half the troops of Israel (he wrestles with God) escorted the king.

Contention over the King

41Soon all the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah (praised), take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan (flowing down), together with all of David’s (beloved) men?”

42And all the men of Judah (praised) replied to the men of Israel (he wrestles with God), “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?”

43“We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) (praised), “so we have more claim to David (beloved) than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?”

But the men of Judah spoke more fiercely than the men of Israel.