This edition follows the Hebrew versification; the traditional number is given in brackets.
David Mourns for Absalom
1[18:33]The king was shaken, and he went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, this is what he said: “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you — Absalom, my son, my son!” 2[19:1]Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 3[19:2]So the victory that day turned into mourning for all the people, because the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved over his son.” 4[19:3]The troops stole into the city that day the way people steal away in shame when they flee from battle. 5[19:4]The king covered his face and cried out in a loud voice, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
Joab Rebukes the King
6[19:5]Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your servants, who have saved your life this day, and the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and concubines. 7[19:6]By loving those who hate you and hating those who love you, you have made it clear today that commanders and servants mean nothing to you. I see today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, that would please you. 8[19:7]Now get up, go out, and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by Yahweh that if you do not go out, not a single man will stay with you tonight — and that would be worse for you than every disaster that has come upon you from your youth until now.”
Israel and Judah Argue Over the King
9[19:8]So the king got up and sat in the gate, and word was sent to all the troops: “The king is sitting in the gate.” So all the troops came before the king. Meanwhile Israel had fled, each man to his own tent. 10[19:9]Throughout all the tribes of Israel the people were arguing, saying, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled the land because of Absalom. 11[19:10]And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?” 12[19:11]King David sent word to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the talk of all Israel has reached the king, all the way to his house? 13[19:12]You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. Why should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 14[19:13]And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my own flesh and blood? So may God do to me, and more also, if you do not become commander of my army for life, in place of Joab.’” 15[19:14]So he won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, and they sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your servants.”
David Crosses the Jordan
16[19:15]The king set out and came to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring him across the Jordan. 17[19:16]Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 18[19:17]With him were a thousand men from Benjamin, and Ziba, the servant of the house of Saul, along with his fifteen sons and twenty servants; they rushed to the Jordan ahead of the king. 19[19:18]They crossed the ford to bring the king’s household across and to do whatever pleased him. And Shimei son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan, 20[19:19]and said to the king, “May my lord not hold me guilty, and may you not remember the wrong your servant did on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart. 21[19:20]For your servant knows that I sinned. That is why I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph, to come down and meet my lord the king.” 22[19:21]Then Abishai son of Zeruiah answered, “Should Shimei not be put to death for this — because he cursed Yahweh’s anointed?” 23[19:22]David said, “What business is this of mine or yours, sons of Zeruiah, that you should act as my adversaries today? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 24[19:23]So the king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” And the king swore it to him.
Mephibosheth Meets the King
25[19:24]Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also came down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 26[19:25]When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?” 27[19:26]He answered, “My lord the king, my servant deceived me. Your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey and ride on it and go with the king — for your servant is lame.’ 28[19:27]He slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like an angel of God, so do whatever seems good to you. 29[19:28]For all my father’s house deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. What further right do I have to keep appealing to the king?” 30[19:29]The king said to him, “Why keep talking about your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.” 31[19:30]Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take it all, now that my lord the king has come home safely.”
Barzillai’s Farewell
32[19:31]Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim and crossed the Jordan with the king, to send him on his way from the Jordan. 33[19:32]Barzillai was very old, eighty years old, and he had provided for the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. 34[19:33]The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you in Jerusalem, at my side.” 35[19:34]But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years do I have left, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? 36[19:35]I am eighty years old today. Can I still tell good from bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or drink? Can I still hear the voices of singers and songstresses? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? 37[19:36]Your servant will cross the Jordan with the king just a little way. Why should the king repay me with such a reward? 38[19:37]Please let your servant turn back, so that I may die in my own town, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham — let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him whatever seems good to you.” 39[19:38]The king said, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you, and whatever you ask of me, I will do for you.” 40[19:39]So all the people crossed the Jordan, and when the king had crossed, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned to his home.
Israel and Judah Quarrel
41[19:40]The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the people of Judah escorted the king across, and half the people of Israel as well. 42[19:41]Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal you away and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all David’s men?” 43[19:42]All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is our close relative. Why should this anger you? Have we eaten anything at the king’s expense? Has he given us any gift?” 44[19:43]The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and besides, we have a greater claim on David than you do. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.
