2 Samuel 19
19
1Someone told Joab, “The king is crying because Absalom is dead.”
2David's army found out he was crying because his son had died, and their day of victory suddenly turned into a day of sadness. 3The troops were sneaking into Mahanaim, just as if they had run away from a battle and were ashamed.
4David held his hands over his face and kept on crying loudly, “My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
5Joab went to the house where David was staying and told him:
You've made your soldiers ashamed! Not only did they save your life, they saved your sons and daughters and wives as well. 6You're more loyal to your enemies than to your friends. What you've done today has shown your officers and soldiers that they don't mean a thing to you. You would be happy if Absalom was still alive, even if the rest of us were dead.
7Now get up! Go out there and thank them for what they did. If you don't, I swear by the LORD that you won't even have one man left on your side tomorrow morning. You may have had a lot of troubles in the past, but this will be the worst thing that has ever happened to you!
8David got up and went to the town gate and sat down. When the people heard that he was sitting there, they came to see him.
Israel and Judah want David back
After Israel's soldiers had all returned home, 9-10everyone in Israel started arguing. They were saying to each other, “King David rescued us from the Philistines and from our other enemies. But then we chose Absalom to be our new leader, and David had to leave the country to get away. Absalom died in battle, so why hasn't something been done to bring David back?”
11When David found out what they were saying, he sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. It said:
Say to the leaders of Judah, “Why are you the last tribe to think about bringing King David back home? 12He is your brother, your own relative! Why haven't you done anything to bring him back?”
13And tell Amasa, “You're my nephew, and with God as a witness, I swear I'll make you commander of my army instead of Joab.”
14Soon the tribe of Judah again became followers of David, and they sent him this message: “Come back, and bring your soldiers with you.”
David starts back for Jerusalem
15David started back and had gone as far as the River Jordan when he met the people of Judah. They had gathered at Gilgal and had come to help him cross the river.
16Shimei#19.16 Shimei: See 16.5-13. the son of Gera was there with them. He had hurried from Bahurim to meet David. Shimei was from the tribe of Benjamin, and#2 S 16.5-13. 17a thousand others from Benjamin had come with him.
Ziba, the chief servant of Saul's family, also came to the River Jordan. He and his fifteen sons and twenty servants waded across#19.17 waded across: Or “rushed”. to meet David. 18Then they brought David's family and servants back across the river, and they did everything he wanted them to do.
Shimei meets with David
Shimei crossed the River Jordan and bowed down in front of David. 19He said, “Your Majesty, I beg you not to punish me! Please, forget what I did when you were leaving Jerusalem. Don't even think about it. 20I know I was wrong. That's why I wanted to be the first one from the northern tribes to meet you.”
21But Abishai shouted, “You should be killed for cursing the LORD's chosen king!”
22David said, “Abishai, whatever will I do with you and your brother Joab? Is it your job to tell me who has done wrong? I've been made king of all Israel today, and no one will be put to death!” 23Then David promised Shimei that he would not be killed.
Mephibosheth meets with David
24Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul, also came to meet David. He had missed David so much that he had not taken a bath or trimmed his beard or washed his clothes the whole time David was gone.#2 S 9.1-13; 16.1-4.
25After they had gone back to Jerusalem, Mephibosheth came to see David, who asked him, “Why didn't you go with me?”
26He answered, “Your Majesty, you know I can't walk. I told my servant to saddle a donkey for me#19.26 I told…me: Two ancient translations; Hebrew, “I said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself.’ ” so I could go with you. But my servant left without me, and 27then he lied about me. You're as wise as an angel of God, so do what you think is right. 28After all, you could have killed my whole family and me. But instead, you let me eat at your own table. Your Majesty, what more could I ask?”
29David answered, “You've said enough! I've decided to divide the property#19.29 the property: The property that had belonged to Saul (see 9.7; 16.4). between you and Ziba.”
30Mephibosheth replied, “He can have it all! I'm just glad you've come home safely.”
Barzillai returns home
31Barzillai came from Rogelim in Gilead to meet David at the River Jordan and go across with him.#2 S 17.27-29. 32Barzillai was eighty years old. He was very rich and had sent food to David in Mahanaim.
33David said to him, “Cross the river and go to Jerusalem with me. I will take care of you.”
34Barzillai answered:
Your Majesty, why should I go to Jerusalem? I don't have much longer to live. 35I'm already eighty years old, and my body is almost numb. I can't taste my food or hear the sound of singing, and I would be nothing but a burden. 36I'll cross the river with you, but I'll only go a little way on the other side. You don't have to be so kind to me. 37Just let me return to my home town, where I can some day be buried near my father and mother. My servant Chimham#19.37 My servant Chimham: Or “My son Chimham”. can go with you, and you can treat him as your own.
38David said, “I'll take Chimham with me, and whatever you ask me to do for him, I'll do. And if there's anything else you want, I'll also do that.”
39David's soldiers went on across the river, while he stayed behind to say goodbye to Barzillai and to wish him well. Barzillai returned home, but 40Chimham crossed the river with David.
Israel and Judah argue
All of Judah's army and half of Israel's army were there to help David cross the river. 41The soldiers from Israel came to him and said, “Why did our relatives from Judah sneak you and your family and your soldiers across the Jordan?”
42The people of Judah answered, “Why are you so angry? We are the king's relatives. He didn't give us any food, and we didn't take anything for ourselves!”
43Those from Israel said, “King David belongs to us ten times more than he belongs to you.#19.43 King David…you: In this verse “Israel” stands for the ten northern tribes and does not include the tribe of Judah in the south. Why didn't you think we were good enough to help you? After all, we were the first ones to think of bringing him back!”
The people of Judah spoke more harshly than the people of Israel.
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2 Samuel 19: CEVUK
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012
2 Samuel 19
19
David’s Kingdom Restored
1It was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping. He’s mourning over Absalom.” 2That day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the troops because on that day the troops heard, “The king is grieving over his son.” 3So they returned to the city quietly that day like troops come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle. 4But the king covered his face#2Sm 15:30 and cried loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
5Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed all your soldiers — those who saved your life as well as your sons, your wives, and your concubines — 6by loving your enemies and hating those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you!#19:6 Lit be right in your eyes
7“Now get up! Go out and encourage#19:7 Lit speak to the heart of your soldiers, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will remain with you tonight.#Pr 14:28 This will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come to you from your youth until now!”
8So the king got up and sat in the city gate,#2Sm 18:4,24,33 and all the people were told, “Look, the king is sitting in the city gate.” Then they all came into the king’s presence.
Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent.#2Sm 18:17 9People throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves, saying, “The king rescued us from the grasp of our enemies,#2Sm 8:1–14 and he saved us from the grasp of the Philistines,#2Sm 5:20; 8:1 but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.#2Sm 15:14 10But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”
11King David sent word to the priests Zadok and Abiathar:#2Sm 15:29 “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace? The talk of all Israel has reached the king at his house. 12You are my brothers, my flesh and blood.#19:12 Lit my bone and my flesh#Gn 29:14; 2Sm 5:1 So why should you be the last to restore the king?’ 13And tell Amasa,#2Sm 17:25 ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood?#19:13 Lit my bone and my flesh? May God punish me and do so severely if you don’t become commander of my army from now on instead of Joab! ’”
14So he won over#19:14 Lit he turned the heart of all the men of Judah, and they unanimously sent word to the king: “Come back, you and all your servants.” 15Then the king returned. When he arrived at the Jordan, Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and escort him across the Jordan.
16Shimei son of Gera,#2Sm 16:5; 1Kg 2:8 the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17There were a thousand men from Benjamin with him. Ziba, an attendant from the house of Saul,#2Sm 16:1–4 with his fifteen sons and twenty servants also rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king. 18They forded the Jordan to bring the king’s household across and do whatever the king desired.#19:18 Lit do what is good in his eyes
When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell facedown before the king 19and said to him, “My lord, don’t hold me guilty, and don’t remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem.#2Sm 16:5–13 May the king not take it to heart. 20For your servant knows that I have sinned. But look! Today I am the first one of the entire house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”
21Abishai son of Zeruiah asked, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” #Ex 22:28
22David answered, “Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything?#2Sm 3:39; 16:10 Have you become my adversary today? Should any man be killed in Israel today? Am I not aware that today I’m king over Israel?” 23So the king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” Then the king gave him his oath.#1Kg 2:8–9,37,46
24Mephibosheth,#2Sm 9:6 Saul’s grandson, also went 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. 25When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Mephibosheth, why didn’t you come with me?”
26“My lord the king,” he replied, “my servant Ziba betrayed me. Actually your servant said, ‘I’ll saddle the donkey for myself#19:26 LXX, Syr, Vg read said to him, ‘Saddle the donkey for me so that I may ride it and go with the king’ — for your servant is lame.#2Sm 4:4; 9:3 27Ziba slandered your servant to my lord the king.#2Sm 16:1–4 But my lord the king is like the angel of God,#2Sm 14:17,20 so do whatever you think best.#19:27 Lit do what is good in your eyes 28For my grandfather’s entire family deserves death from my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table.#2Sm 9:1–13 So what further right do I have to keep on making appeals to the king?”
29The king said to him, “Why keep on speaking about these matters of yours? I hereby declare: you and Ziba are to divide the land.”#2Sm 9:9; 16:4
30Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has come to his palace safely, let Ziba take it all!”
31Barzillai the Gileadite#1Kg 2:7 had come down from Rogelim and accompanied the king to the Jordan River to see him off at the Jordan. 32Barzillai was a very old man — eighty years old — and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the needs of the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.#2Sm 17:27–29
33The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I’ll provide for you#19:33 LXX reads for your old age; Ru 4:15 at my side in Jerusalem.”
34Barzillai replied to the king, “How many years of my life are left that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? 35I’m now eighty years old.#Ps 90:10 Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?#2Sm 15:33 36Since your servant is only going with the king a little way across the Jordan, why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37Please let your servant return so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham;#1Kg 2:7; Jr 41:17 let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him what seems good to you.”#19:37 Lit what is good in your eyes, also in v. 38
38The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you, and whatever you desire from me I will do for you.” 39So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned to his home.
40The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half of Israel’s escorted the king. 41Suddenly, all the men of Israel came to the king. They asked him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and transport the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all of David’s men?”
42All the men of Judah responded to the men of Israel, “Because the king is our relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we ever eaten anything of the king’s or been honored at all?” #19:42 LXX reads king’s or has he given us a gift or granted us a portion
43The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king,#1Kg 11:31 so we have a greater claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Weren’t we the first to speak of restoring our king?” #2Sm 19:9–10 But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.
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