Joab Reproves David 1 UST Someone told Joab that the king was crying because he was so sad that Absalom had died. BSB BSB: Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.”
2 UST All of David’ s soldiers heard that he was unhappy that their army had killed Absalom. So even though they had won the battle against Absalom’ s soldiers, they could not celebrate that day. BSB BSB: And 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.”
3 UST The soldiers came back into the city quietly that day, the way soldiers do so that no one will find out that they have run away from a battle. BSB BSB: So they returned to the city quietly that day, as people steal away in humiliation after fleeing a battle.
4 UST The king covered his face{ with part of his cloak}, and he kept crying loudly,“O, my son Absalom! Absalom, my dear son!” BSB BSB: But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
5 UST Joab went to the house where the king was and told him,“Today your soldiers saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and wives and secondary wives. But you are making them feel shame for what they did! BSB BSB: Then Joab 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.
6 UST You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you! It is as if you have said that you do not care about your own commanders and your soldiers. I can see that if Absalom were still alive and all of us were dead today, you would like that better. BSB BSB: You 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 were alive and all of us were dead, it would have pleased you!
7 UST So now you must go out and thank your soldiers for what they did. I swear by Yahweh that if you do not do that, they will all have abandoned you by tomorrow morning. Then you will be in more trouble than you have already had in your entire life!” BSB BSB: Now therefore get up! Go out and speak comfort to your servants, for I swear by the LORD 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 8 UST So the king went and sat at the city gate. People told the soldiers,“Look, the king is sitting at the gate!” So the soldiers came and gathered around him{, and he thanked them}. Meanwhile, all the remaining Israelite soldiers who had been supporting Absalom had run away back to their own homes. BSB BSB: So 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 had fled, each man to his home.
9 UST Then people throughout the territory of Israel began to argue with each other about what they should do. Some of them said,“King David led our armies to defeat the Philistines and the other enemies who were oppressing us. But then he left Israel in order to escape from Absalom! BSB BSB: And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom.
10 UST We appointed Absalom to be our king, but he died in the battle against David’ s soldiers. So we should do something to bring King David back!” BSB BSB: But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”
11 UST { King David learned what the people were saying,} so he sent the two priests, Zadok and Abiathar, to say to the leaders of Judah,“The king says that he has heard that the Israelite people want him to be king again. He says that you should not be the last ones to bring him back to his palace. BSB BSB: Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters?
12 UST He says that you are his relatives. You and he have the same ancestor. So you should not be the last ones to bring him back!” BSB BSB: You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?’
13 UST He also told them to say to Amasa,“You are one of my relatives. I swear that I am going to make you my army commander from now on instead of Joab. If I do not do that, then may God not make me the king again.” BSB BSB: And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’”
14 UST After David sent that message to them, the people of Judah agreed that he should be their king again. So they sent him a message that said,“We would like you and all your officials to come back.” BSB BSB: So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants.”
15 UST So King David and his officials started back toward Jerusalem. When they arrived at{ the eastern shore of} Jordan River, the leaders of the tribe of Judah met them. They had come to Gilgal{ on the western shore} to escort the king and his officials across the river. BSB BSB: So the king returned, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the Jordan.
Shimei Pardoned 16 UST Shimei son of Gera, that man from the tribe of Benjamin who lived in Bahurim, hurried to the river with the leaders of Judah to meet King David. BSB BSB: Then Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David,
17 UST There were 1, 000 men from the tribe of Benjamin who came with him. Ziba, the servant of Saul, also hurried to the Jordan River. He brought his 15 sons and 20 servants with him. Shimei and Ziba quickly waded across the river to meet King David{ on the eastern shore}. BSB BSB: along with a thousand men of Benjamin, as well as Ziba the steward of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan before the king
18 UST The elders of Judah then crossed the river at the place where people could walk across it so that they could escort King David and his officials back to the other side. They wanted to do whatever the king wanted. Shimei came and bowed down in front of David. BSB BSB: and crossed at the ford to carry over the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king
19 UST He said to the king,“Your Majesty, please forgive me for the terrible thing that I did on the day that you left Jerusalem. I hope that you will not punish me for it, and I hope that you will not continue to feel hostile toward me. BSB BSB: and 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. May the king not take it to heart.
20 UST I acknowledge that I have sinned against you. But please consider that I have been first one from the northern tribes to come here today to welcome you back, Your Majesty.” BSB BSB: For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”
21 UST But Abishai son of Zeruiah, told David,“Shimei cursed you, the man whom Yahweh appointed to be the king of Israel! So you should not forgive him. You should execute him for doing that!” BSB BSB: But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”
22 UST But David said,“I do not agree at all with what you two sons of Zeruiah want me to do. You are encouraging me to do something now that would not be good for me. I am not going to execute anyone in Israel today. I know confidently that the Israelites want me to be their king{, so I do not need to execute this man to make my reign more secure}.” BSB BSB: And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”
23 UST Then King David told Shimei,“I promise that I will not execute you,” and he swore an oath that he would not execute him. BSB BSB: So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him.
Mephibosheth Excused 24 UST Mephibosheth, Saul’ s grandson, also came to the Jordan River to welcome King David back.{ To show his grief,} Mephibosheth had not cut his toenails or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the time that the king left Jerusalem up to the time when he returned safely. BSB BSB: Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s 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.
25 UST When he arrived from Jerusalem to welcome King David, he said to him,“Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?” BSB BSB: And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”
26 UST He replied,“Your Majesty,{ when I heard that you were leaving Jerusalem,} I told my servant Ziba,‘Saddle my donkey so that I can ride on it and go with the king.’ But he deceived me{ and left without me. I could not follow him,} because I am crippled. BSB BSB: “My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me,
27 UST He lied to you about me. But your Majesty, you are as wise as one of God’ s angels. So do whatever seems right to you. BSB BSB: and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.
28 UST I consider that all of my grandfather’ s family expected that you would execute us. But instead, you allowed me to eat my meals with your household! So I certainly do not have the right to ask you for anything further.” BSB BSB: For 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?”
29 UST King David replied,“You do not need to say anything more. I have decided that you and Ziba will equally divide the land{ that belonged to your grandfather Saul}.” BSB BSB: The king replied, “Why say any more? I hereby declare that you and Ziba are to divide the land.”
30 UST Mephibosheth replied to the king,“Your Majesty, Ziba may have all of the land. All that matters to me is that you have returned safely.” BSB BSB: And Mephibosheth 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 31 UST Barzillai the Gileadite had come down to the Jordan River from his home in Rogelim to escort the king across the river. BSB BSB: Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there.
32 UST By this time Barzillai was elderly. He was 80 years old. But he was such a wealthy man that he had been able to provide all of the food that the king and his soldiers needed while they were at Mahanaim. BSB BSB: Barzillai 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.
33 UST The king said to Barzillai,“Come across the Jordan River with me to Jerusalem, and I will take care of you there.” BSB BSB: The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.”
34 UST But Barzillai replied,“I do not have many more years to live. So there is no reason for me to go with you to Jerusalem. BSB BSB: But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
35 UST I am now 80 years old. I do not know what is enjoyable and what is not enjoyable. I cannot enjoy what I eat and what I drink. I cannot hear anymore the voices of men and women as they sing. You would have to make difficult arrangements for me. I do not want you to have to do that. BSB BSB: I 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 to my lord the king?
36 UST I will cross the Jordan River with you and walk a short distance with you toward Jerusalem. But you do not need to entertain me there in your royal court. BSB BSB: Your servant will go with the king only a short distance past the Jordan; why should the king repay me with such a reward?
37 UST Instead, please allow me to return to my home. That is where I want to die, near my parents’ grave{ so people can bury me there}. But here is my son Chimham. Your Majesty, please allow him to go with you and serve you, and do for him whatever seems right to you.” BSB BSB: Please 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. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.”
38 UST The king replied,“Very well, Chimham may cross the river with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you. And I will also do for you whatever you want me to do.” BSB BSB: The king replied, “Chimham 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.”
39 UST Then the leaders of Judah and the people who had been with David honored him by leading the way across the Jordan River. David followed them across. He kissed Barzillai{ on the cheek to show his affection and gratitude} and asked God to do good things for him. Then Barzillai returned to his home. BSB BSB: So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned home.
40 UST But Chimham stayed with King David as he continued on to Gilgal. Now the leaders of the tribe of Judah had escorted David across the Jordan River. But only some of the leaders of the other tribes arrived in time to do that with them{, since the leaders of Judah did not wait for them}. BSB BSB: Then the king crossed over to Gilgal, and Chimham crossed over with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king.
Contention over the King 41 UST Then, when the rest of the Israelite leaders arrived, they complained to David,“It was not fair for our fellow Israelites, those leaders from the tribe of Judah, to take you away from us! We all wanted to escort you and your family and your soldiers across the Jordan River. But they did that without waiting for us!” BSB BSB: Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?”
42 UST The leaders from Judah told the leaders of the other tribes,“We escorted the king because he is from our tribe of Judah. You should not be angry about this. The king never paid for our food, and he never gave us any gifts.” BSB BSB: And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “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 UST The men of the other Israelite tribes replied,“We represent ten of the tribes that the Israelite king rules, and you represent only one. So you should not have treated us with disrespect{ by bringing the king back across the Jordan River without us}. We were the first ones to talk about bringing David back to Jerusalem to be our king again.” But the leaders of Judah angrily disagreed with the leaders of the other tribes of Israel. BSB BSB: “We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.