Open English Translation 2SA Chapter 19

19 Soon Yoav was told that the king was weeping and mourning over Abshalom’s death, 2 and so the victory of that day became mourning for all the people, because they’d heard that the king was grieving for his son. 3 The people started quietly heading back into the city, like people would do when they’re ashamed of having to flee from a battle. 4 But the king covered his face and kept crying out loudly, “Oh my son Abshalom. Oh Abshalom, my son, my son.”

5 Then Yoav went to the house where the king was and said, “Today you’ve made your followers feel ashamed—the ones who saved your life today and the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and your slave-wives. 6 By loving those who hate you and hating those who love you, you’ve effectively declared today that your officers and men mean nothing to you. It seems to us that if Abshalom was still alive today and we were all dead, then it would have all been okay to you. 7 So get up now and go and speak sincerely to your servants, because as Yahweh lives, if you don’t then you won’t have a single warrior still with you by the end of the night, and that would result in more trouble for you than anything else that’s happened to you since you were just a lad.” 8 So the king got up and went and sat at the city gate , and the news quickly got around and all the people came to support the king.

But Abshalom’s warriors had all returned to their homes 9 and over time, people all across Israel began to quarrel and say, “The king rescued us from the plans of our enemies including the Philistines, but now he’s left Israel and fled away from Abshalom. 10 We anointed Abshalom to be over us, but he died in the battle. So why aren’t we doing something about returning David as king?”

11 So King David sent the two priests Tsadok and Evyatar to the leaders of Yehudah to ask, “Why are you the last group to return the king to the palace since the king has heard that the rest of Israel want it? 12 Tell them, ‘You’re all my relatives—my own flesh and blood, so why would you be the last to support me again?’ ” 13 And tell Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my own flesh and bone? May God make me suffer if you don’t become my army commander from now on, to replace Yoav.’ ” 14 In that way, David united all the people of Yehudah and they notified the king, “We all want you and all your servants to return here.”

15 So the king headed back and reached the Yordan River, and men from Yehudah went to Gilgal to meet the king and help him across.

16 Shimei (son of Gera the Benyaminite from Bahurim) hurried down with the Yehudah men to meet King David.[ref] 17 A thousand Benyamite men came with him, as well as Tsiva (formerly Sha’ul’s servant) and fifteen of his sons and twenty of his servants, and they hurried to the Yordan to meet the king. 18 They crossed the ford to help bring the king’s household back across and anything else the king wanted.

Shimei (Gera’s son) fell onto his knees in front of the king when he crossed the Yordan 19 and begged the king, “May my master not consider me guilty, and don’t keep thinking about the terrible thing your servant dig on the day that my master the king left Jerusalem—don’t brood over it 20 because your servant knows that I myself have sinned, and look, I have come today, first of all the Yosef’s clans to come down to meet my master, the king.”

21 But Abishai (Tseruyah’s son) answered instead, “Rather than that, shouldn’t Shimei be killed because he cursed Yahweh’s anointed one?”

22 “You sons of Tseruyah!” David responded. “Who asked you two to accuse others to me today? Should today be a time to kill other Israelis? Actually, I think it might be me who’s Israel’s king?” 23 Then the king promised Shimei, “You won’t die for that.”

24 Then Shaul’s grandson Mefiboshet came down to meet the king. He hadn’t shaved or washed his feet, and he hadn’t washed his clothes since the king had left Yerushalem.[ref] 25 He came from Yerushalem down to the Yordan to meet the king who asked him, “Why didn’t you not come with me, Mefiboshet?”

26 “My master the king,” Mefiboshet replied, “my servant deceived me. I, your servant, had said to get my donkey saddled so I could ride it and go with you, because as you know, your servant is lame. 27 Then my servant lied to you about me. But my master the king is like God’s messenger, so do whatever you consider to be appropriate. 28 All my grandfather’s household expected that we’d be executed, yet to placed me, your servant, among those who eat at your table, so I don’t have the right to request anything further from the king.”

29 “Say no more,” said the king. “That land will be divided for you and Tsiva.”

30 Actually, let him take everything,” Mefiboshet responded. “since my master the king has been able to return safely.”

31 Barzillai the Gileadite had also come down from Rogelim to help the king cross the Yordan.[ref] 32 At eighty, he was very old, but being very wealthy, he’d provided food and supplies to the king while he’d stayed at Mahanayim, 33 so the king told him, “You cross over with me, and I’ll provide for you to be with me in Yerushalem.”

34 “How much longer am I likely to live?” Barzillai pondered. “Would it really be worth me moving to Yerushalem with the king? 35 Your servant is eighty years old. My mind isn’t the same as it was, and I can’t really taste what I eat or drink. I can barely hear the sounds of the men and women singing. So why would your servant become an extra burden to my master the king?” 36 As a token privilege, your servant will cross the Yordan with the king, but why should the king reward me with that generous reward? 37 Please, let your servant return, and let me die in my city near the graves of my parents. But look, here’s your servant Kimham—let him cross over with my master the king, and do whatever you consider to be appropriate for him.”

38 “Kimham can cross over with me,” the king said, “and I myself will do for him whatever you consider to be appropriate—everything that you choose concerning me, I’ll do for you.” 39 So all the people crossed the Yordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and then Barzillai returned home.

40 Then the king crossed over to Gilgal, and Kimham crossed over with him. All the people of Yehudah brought the king over and also about half of the people of Israel. 41 Then, wow, all the men of Israel went to the king and demanded, “Why did our relatives from Yehudah secret you away without inviting us? They took you and your household over the Yordan, and all your men as well.”

42 All the men of Yehudah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is from our tribe—our close relative. Why should that make you all angry? Do you all think that the king has rewarded us with fancy food or other privileges?”

43 The men of Israel answered the men of Yehudah, “Our ten tribes give us ten shares in the king—more than you. So why do you look down on us? Weren’t we the first to talk about bringing our king back to Yerushalem?”

But what the men of Yehudah said was harsher than what the ten other tribes said.