Dual Panel1Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom;
2and that day's victory was turned for the whole army into mourning, because the troops heard how the king grieved for his son;
3they stole into the city like men ashamed to show their faces after fleeing from a battle.
4The king covered his face and cried aloud, “My son Absalom; O Absalom, my son, my son.”
5Joab came into the king's quarters and said to him, “All your servants, who have saved you and your sons and daughters, your wives and your concubines, you have covered with shame this day
6by showing love for those who hate you and hate for those who love you. Today you have made it clear to officers and men alike that we are nothing to you; I realize that if Absalom were still alive and all of us dead, you would be content.
7Now go at once and give your servants some encouragement; if you refuse, I swear by the LORD that by nightfall not a man will remain with you, and that would be a worse disaster than any you have suffered since your earliest days.”
8At that the king rose and took his seat by the gate; and when the army was told that the king was sitting at the gate, they assembled before him there. MEANWHILE the Israelites had scattered to their homes.
9Throughout all the tribes of Israel people were discussing it among themselves and saying, “The king has saved us from our enemies and freed us from the power of the Philistines, and now he has fled the country because of Absalom.
10But Absalom, whom we anointed king, has fallen in battle; so now why have we no plans for bringing the king back?”
11What all Israel was saying came to the king's ears, and he sent word to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah why they should be the last to bring the king back to his palace.
12Tell them, ‘You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood; why are you last to bring me back?’
13And say to Amasa, ‘You are my own flesh and blood. So help me God, you shall be my commander-in-chief for the rest of your life in place of Joab.’”
14Thus David swayed the hearts of all in Judah, and one and all they sent to the king, urging him and his men to return.
15When on his way back the king reached the Jordan, the men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the river.
16Shimei son of Gera the Benjamite from Bahurim hastened down among the men of Judah to meet King David
17with a thousand men from Benjamin; Ziba was there too, the servant of Saul's family, with his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed into the Jordan under the king's eyes
18and crossed to and fro conveying his household in order to win his favour. Shimei son of Gera, when he had crossed the river, threw himself down before the king
19and said, “I beg your majesty not to remember how disgracefully your servant behaved when your majesty left Jerusalem; do not hold it against me.
20I humbly acknowledge that I did wrong, and today I am the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet your majesty.”
21Abishai son of Zeruiah objected. “Ought not Shimei to be put to death”, he said, “because he cursed the LORD's anointed prince?”
22David answered, “What right have you, you sons of Zeruiah, to oppose me today? Should anyone be put to death this day in Israel? I know now that I am king of Israel.”
23The king said to Shimei, “You shall not die,” and he confirmed it with an oath.
24Saul's grandson Mephibosheth also went down to meet the king. He had not bathed his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes, from the day the king went away until he returned victorious.
25When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, David said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
26He answered, “Sir, my servant deceived me; I did intend to harness my donkey and ride with the king (for I am lame),
27but his stories set your majesty against me. Your majesty is like the angel of God; you must do what you think right.
28My father's whole family, one and all, deserved to die at your majesty's hands, but you gave me, your servant, my place at your table. What further favour can I expect of the king?”
29The king answered, “You have said enough. My decision is that you and Ziba are to share the estate.”
30Mephibosheth said, “Let him have it all, now that your majesty has come home victorious.”
31Barzillai the Gileadite too had come down from Rogelim, and he went as far as the Jordan with the king to escort him on his way.
32Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age; it was he who had provided for the king while he was at Mahanaim, for he was a man of great wealth.
33The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and I shall provide for you in my household in Jerusalem.”
34Barzillai answered, “Your servant is far too old to go up with your majesty to Jerusalem.
35I am now eighty years old. I cannot tell what is pleasant and what is not; I cannot taste what I eat or drink; I can no longer listen to the voices of men and women singing. Why should I be a further burden on your majesty?
36Your servant will attend the king for a short way across the Jordan; and why should the king reward me so handsomely?
37Let me go back and end my days in my own town near the grave of my father and mother. Here is my son Kimham; let him cross over with your majesty, and do for him what you think best.”
38The king answered, “Let Kimham cross with me, and I shall do for him whatever you think best; and I shall do for you whatever you ask.”
39All the people crossed the Jordan while the king waited. The king then kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing. Barzillai returned home;
40the king crossed to Gilgal, Kimham with him. The whole army of Judah had escorted the king over the river, as had also half the army of Israel.
41But the Israelites all kept coming to the king and saying, “Why should our brothers of Judah have got possession of the king's person by joining King David's own men and then escorting him and his household across the Jordan?”
42The answer of all the men of Judah to the Israelites was, “Because his majesty is our near kinsman. Why should you resent it? Have we eaten at the king's expense? Have we received any gifts?”
43The men of Israel answered, “We have ten times your interest in the king and, what is more, we are senior to you; why do you disparage us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing the king back?” The men of Judah used language even fiercer than the men of Israel.