II Samuel 19
19
1And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and #2 Sam. 19:4mourning for Absalom.” 2So the victory that day was turned into #Jer. 14:2mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3And the people stole back #Esth. 4:3into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4But the king #2 Sam. 17:24, 27; 19:32covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, #2 Sam. 15:30“O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
5Then #2 Sam. 18:33Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines, 6in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well. 7Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.” 8Then the king arose and sat in the #2 Sam. 18:14gate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king.
For everyone of Israel had #2 Sam. 15:2; 18:24fled to his tent.
David Returns to Jerusalem
9Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our #2 Sam. 18:17enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the #2 Sam. 8:1–14Philistines, and now he has #2 Sam. 3:18fled from the land because of Absalom. 10But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”
11So King David sent to #2 Sam. 15:14Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house? 12You are my brethren, you are #2 Sam. 15:24my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’ 13#2 Sam. 5:1; 1 Chr. 11:1And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? #2 Sam. 17:25; 1 Chr. 2:17God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’ ” 14So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, #Ruth 1:17just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”
15Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to #Judg. 20:1Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king #Josh. 5:9; 1 Sam. 11:14, 15across the Jordan. 16And #2 Sam. 17:22Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17There were a thousand men of #2 Sam. 16:5; 1 Kin. 2:8Benjamin with him, and #2 Sam. 3:19; 1 Kin. 12:21Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king. 18Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good.
David’s Mercy to Shimei
Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan. 19Then he said to the king, #2 Sam. 9:2, 10; 16:1, 2“Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what #1 Sam. 22:15wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should #2 Sam. 16:5, 6take it to heart. 20For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all #2 Sam. 13:33the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”
21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, #Judg. 1:22; 1 Kin. 11:28because he #(Ex. 22:28)cursed the Lord’s anointed?”
22And David said, #(1 Sam. 26:9)“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? #2 Sam. 3:39; 16:10Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 23Therefore #1 Sam. 11:13the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.
David and Mephibosheth Meet
24Now #1 Kin. 2:8, 9, 37, 46Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace. 25So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, #2 Sam. 9:6; 21:7“Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
26And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27And #2 Sam. 16:17he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, #2 Sam. 16:3, 4but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes. 28For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. #2 Sam. 14:17, 20Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?”
29So the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’ ”
30Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”
David’s Kindness to Barzillai
31And #2 Sam. 9:7–13Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan. 32Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And #2 Sam. 17:27–29; 1 Kin. 2:7he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. 33And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”
34But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35I am today #2 Sam. 17:27–29eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? 36Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant #Ps. 90:10Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”
38And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.” 39Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king #2 Sam. 19:40; Jer. 41:17kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.
The Quarrel About the King
40Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and #Gen. 31:55; Ruth 1:14; 2 Sam. 14:33brought the king, his household, and all David’s men with him across the Jordan?”
42So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is #2 Sam. 19:15a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?”
43And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, #2 Sam. 19:12“We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?”
Yet #1 Kin. 11:30, 31the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
Currently Selected:
II Samuel 19: NKJV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
2 Samuel 19
19
Joab Reprimands David
1Joab was told that King David was weeping and mourning for Absalom. 2And so the joy of victory was turned into sadness for all David's troops that day, because they heard that the king was mourning for his son. 3They went back into the city quietly, like soldiers who are ashamed because they are running away from battle. 4The king covered his face and cried loudly, “O my son! My son Absalom! Absalom, my son!”
5Joab went to the king's house and said to him, “Today you have humiliated your men — the men who saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and of your wives and concubines. 6You oppose those who love you and support those who hate you! You have made it clear that your officers and men mean nothing to you. I can see that you would be quite happy if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. 7Now go and reassure your men. I swear by the LORD's name that if you don't, not one of them will be with you by tomorrow morning. That would be the worst disaster you have suffered in all your life.” 8Then the king got up, and went and sat near the city gate. His men heard that he was there, and they all gathered round him.
David Starts Back to Jerusalem
Meanwhile all the Israelites had fled to their own homes. 9All over the country they started quarrelling among themselves. “King David saved us from our enemies,” they said to one another. “He rescued us from the Philistines, but now he has fled from Absalom and left the country. 10We anointed Absalom as our king, but he has been killed in battle. So why doesn't somebody try to bring King David back?”
11The news of what the Israelites were saying reached King David.#19.11 Some ancient translations The news… David; Hebrew The news… David, to his palace, and places this sentence at the end of the verse. So he sent the priests Zadok and Abiathar to ask the leaders of Judah, “Why should you be the last to help bring the king back to his palace? 12You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood; why should you be the last to bring me back?” 13David also told them to say to Amasa, “You are my relative. From now on I am putting you in charge of the army in place of Joab. May God strike me dead if I don't!” 14David's words won the complete loyalty of all the men of Judah, and they sent him word to return with all his officials.
15On his way back the king was met at the River Jordan by the men of Judah, who had come to Gilgal to escort him across the river. 16#2 Sam 16.5–13At the same time the Benjaminite Shimei son of Gera from Bahurim hurried to the Jordan to meet King David. 17He had with him a thousand men from the tribe of Benjamin. And Ziba, the servant of Saul's family, also came with his fifteen sons and twenty servants, and they arrived at the Jordan before the king. 18They crossed#19.18 Probable text They crossed; Hebrew The crossing crossed. the river to escort the royal party across and to do whatever the king wanted.
David Shows Kindness to Shimei
As the king was getting ready to cross, Shimei threw himself down in front of him 19and said, “Your Majesty, please forget the wrong I did that day you left Jerusalem. Don't hold it against me or think about it any more. 20I know, sir, that I have sinned, and this is why I am the first one from the northern tribes to come and meet Your Majesty today.”
21Abishai son of Zeruiah spoke up: “Shimei should be put to death because he cursed the one whom the LORD chose as king.”
22But David said to Abishai and his brother Joab, “Who asked your opinion? Are you going to give me trouble? I am the one who is king of Israel now, and no Israelite will be put to death today.” 23And he said to Shimei, “I give you my word that you will not be put to death.”
David Shows Kindness to Mephibosheth
24 #
2 Sam 9.1–13; 16.1–4 Then Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, came down to meet the king. He had not washed his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes from the time the king left Jerusalem until he returned victorious. 25When Mephibosheth arrived from#19.25 One ancient translation from; Hebrew at. Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Mephibosheth, you didn't go with me. Why not?”
26He answered, “As you know, Your Majesty, I am crippled. I told my servant to saddle my donkey so that I could ride along with you, but he betrayed me. 27He lied about me to Your Majesty, but you are like God's angel, so do what seems right to you. 28All my father's family deserved to be put to death by Your Majesty, but you gave me the right to eat at your table. I have no right to ask for any more favours from Your Majesty.”
29The king answered, “You don't have to say anything more. I have decided that you and Ziba will share Saul's property.”
30“Let Ziba have it all,” Mephibosheth answered. “It's enough for me that Your Majesty has come home safely.”
David Shows Kindness to Barzillai
31 #
2 Sam 17.27–29
Barzillai, from Gilead, had also come down from Rogelim to escort the king across the Jordan. 32Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old. He was very rich and had supplied the king with food while he was staying at Mahanaim. 33The king said to him, “Come with me to Jerusalem, and I will take care of you.”
34But Barzillai answered, “I haven't long to live; why should I go with Your Majesty to Jerusalem? 35I am already eighty years old, and nothing gives me pleasure any more. I can't taste what I eat and drink, and I can't hear the voices of singers. I would only be a burden to Your Majesty. 36I don't deserve such a great reward. So I will go just a little way with you beyond the Jordan. 37Then let me go back home and die near my parents' grave. Here is my son Chimham, who will serve you; take him with you, Your Majesty, and do for him as you think best.”
38The king answered, “I will take him with me and do for him whatever you want. And I will do for you anything you ask.” 39Then David and all his men crossed the Jordan. He kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing, and Barzillai went back home.
Judah and Israel Argue over the King
40When the king had crossed, escorted by all the people of Judah and half the people of Israel, he went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. 41Then all the Israelites went to the king and said to him, “Your Majesty, why did our brothers, the men of Judah, think they had the right to take you away and escort you, your family, and your men across the Jordan?”
42The men of Judah answered, “We did it because the king is one of us. So why should this make you angry? He hasn't paid for our food nor has he given us anything.”
43The Israelites replied, “We have ten times as many claims on King David as you have, even if he is one of you. Why do you look down on us? Don't forget that we were the first to talk about bringing the king back!”
But the men of Judah were more violent in making their claims than the men of Israel.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.