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          DASV: 2 Samuel 19    

1 Joab was told, "The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom."
2 So the victory of that day was turned into mourning for all
the people; for the people heard that day, "The king is
grieving for his son."
3 That day the troops snuck back into town, as when soldiers
are ashamed when they sneak away fleeing in battle.
4 So the king covered his face, and the king cried out loud,
"O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

5 But Joab came into the house to the king and complained,
"Today you have shamed the faces of all your servants, who
have saved your life, and the lives of your sons and daughters,
and the lives of your wives and concubines.
6 You seem to love those who hate you, and hate those who
love you. For you have declared this day that princes and
servants are nothing to you. For today I imagine, that
if Absalom had lived, and we had all died, then you would
have been pleased.
7 Now therefore get up, go out, and congratulate your soldiers;
for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, not a single
man will be left with you by this night. This will be
worse for you than all the calamity that has happened
to you from your youth until now."
8 So the king got up and sat in the gate. The people were
told, "Look, the king is sitting in the gate," and all
the people came before the king. Now Israel had all fled
to their homes.

9 The people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel,
saying, "The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies,
and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines,
and now he has fled out of the land because of Absalom.
10 Now Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle.
So now why do you hesitate to say anything about bringing
the king back?"
11 Then king David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests,
saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, asking, 'Why are you
the last to bring the king back to his palace?' Especially
since all Israel's affirmations have come to the king at
his house.
12 You are my brothers, you are my flesh and bone. Why then
are you the last to bring back the king?
13 Tell Amasa, 'Are you not my flesh and bone? God do so to me,
and more also, if you are not made commander of the army
from now on in place of Joab.'"
14 So he won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as one.
They sent word to the king, "Return, both you and all
your servants."

15 So the king returned, and came to the Jordan River. Judah
came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king and bring him across
the Jordan River.
16 Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, who was from Bahurim,
hurried down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
17 There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba
the servant of the house of Saul, and Ziba's fifteen sons
and twenty servants. They quickly crossed through the
Jordan River in front of the king.
18 These crossed at the ford to help bring over the king's
household, and to do whatever he wanted. Then Shimei the
son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about
to cross the Jordan River.
19 He said to the king, "May my lord not hold me guilty or
remember the wrong your servant did on the day my lord the
king left Jerusalem. Please put it out of the king's mind.
20 For your servant knows that I have sinned. That is why
I have come down this day the first one of all the house
of Joseph to meet my lord the king."
21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah responded, "Should Shimei
not be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's
anointed?"
22 But David answered, "What have I to do with you, you sons
of Zeruiah, that you should this day be like my enemies?
Should any man be put to death today in Israel? For don't
I know that I am king today over Israel?"
23 Then the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." The king
promised him.

24 Then Mephibosheth the grandson of Saul came down to meet
the king. He had neither dressed his feet, or trimmed his beard,
or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the
day he came home in peace.
25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king
asked him, "Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?"
26 He answered, "My lord, O king, my servant deceived me;
for your servant said, 'I will saddle your donkey, that you
may ride on it, and go with the king.' For your servant
is lame.
27 But Ziba has slandered your servant to my lord the king.
But my lord the king is like an angel of God. Therefore
do whatever seems good to you.
28 For all my father's house deserved death before my lord
the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at
your table. What right do I have that I ask the king for
anything more?"
29 Then the king said to him, "Why speak any more about your
issues? I've decided that you and Ziba should divide
the field."
30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him have it all,
it is enough that my lord the king has come home safely."

31 Then Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim.
He crossed the Jordan River with the king, to escort
him across the river.
32 Now Barzillai was a very old, in fact, he was eighty.
He provided the king with provisions during his stay
at Mahanaim; for he was a very wealthy man.
33 The king invited Barzillai, "Come over with me, and I
will provide for you while you stay with me in Jerusalem."
34 But Barzillai said to the king, "How many years do I
have left to live that I should go up with the king to
Jerusalem?
35 I am this day eighty years old. Can I still discern
between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat
or what I drink? Can I any longer hear the voices of
singing men and women? Why then should your servant be
a burden to my lord the king?"
36 Your servant will just cross the Jordan River with
the king. Why should the king give me such a reward?
37 Let your servant, return again, so that I may die in
my own city, near the grave of my father and mother.
But look, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross
over with my lord the king. Do to him whatever seems
good to you.
38 Then the king answered, "Kimham will cross over with me,
and I will do to him whatever seems good to you.
Whatever you want, I will do for you."
39 All the people crossed over the Jordan River, and the
king crossed too. Then the king kissed Barzillai and
blessed him. Then he returned to his own home.

40 So the king crossed over to Gilgal, and Kimham went
with him. All the people of Judah and also half the
people of Israel helped bring the king across.
41 Then all the men of Israel came to the king, complaining
to the him, "Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen
you away and brought the king and his household across the
Jordan River, and all David's men with him?"
42 All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because
the king is our close relative. Why then are you angry
over this? Have we eaten at all at the king's expense? Has
he given us any special gift?"
43 Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, "We have
ten shares in the king, and we have more of a claim on David
than you do. Why then did you treat us with contempt?
Weren't we the first to speak about bringing our king back?"
The words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words
of the men of Israel.

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