2 Samuel 19 — Read & Listen Online

Joab Confronts the Grieving King

Chapter 19.

Word reached Joab: "Look, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom." So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, because the people heard that day, "The king is grieving over his son."

And the people stole into the city that day, like people who steal away ashamed when they flee from battle. The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, "My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!"

Then Joab came in to the king and said, "Today you have shamed all your servants, who this day have saved your life, and the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and concubines," by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you. For today you have made it clear that commanders and servants mean nothing to you. Today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, then you would be pleased.

Now then, get up, go out, and speak an encouraging word to your servants. For I swear by our Father, if you do not go out, not a man will stay with you tonight, and this will be worse for you than all the troubles that have come upon you since your youth.

David Returns to His People

So the king got up and took his seat in the gate. And all the people were told, "Look, the king is sitting in the gate." Then all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled, every man to his own home.

And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom. But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why are you saying nothing about bringing the king back?"

Then 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, since the word of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters? You are my brothers; you are my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?'" And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May our Father do so to me, and more besides, if you do not become my permanent army commander, in place of Joab.'"

So he won over all the men of Judah to a man, and they sent word to the king: "Return, you and all your servants."

Then the king returned and came to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and bring him across the Jordan.

David Shows Mercy to Shimei

Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. With him were a thousand men from Benjamin, along with Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king, and they crossed the ford to bring over the king's household and to do whatever pleased him. And Shimei son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan,

and said to him, "Please, my lord, do not count this against me, and do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Please, my lord the king, do not take it to heart. For your servant knows that I have sinned. So look—today I have come, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king." ¹

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah spoke up, "Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed our Father's anointed?"

But David said, "Why are you getting in my way, you sons of Zeruiah? Why should you become my adversaries today? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?" So the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." And the king swore an oath to him.

Mephibosheth Cleared Before the King

Then Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, came down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his beard or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he came back safely. When he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?"

He answered, "My lord the king, my servant deceived me. Your servant said, 'I will saddle my donkey and ride with the king,' for your servant is lame. And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of our Father, so do what seems good to you. 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 table. What right do I have to appeal to the king any longer?"

The king said to him, "Why say anything more about your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba will divide the land."

And Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take it all, now that my lord the king has come home safely."

The King Blesses Faithful Barzillai

Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, and he crossed the Jordan with the king to send him on his way from there. Barzillai was very old, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.

The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem."

But Barzillai said to the king, "How many years do I have left, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?" I am eighty years old today. Can I even tell what is good from what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voices of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? Your servant will cross the Jordan with the king just a little way. Why should the king repay me with such a reward? Please let your servant return, 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 what seems good to you."

The king answered, "Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you, and I will do for you whatever you ask."

So all the people crossed the Jordan, and the king crossed over. Then the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned to his home.

The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. All the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, escorted the king.

The Tribes Dispute the King's Return

Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, "Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all David's men?"

All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is our close relative. Why are you angry about this? Have we eaten any of the king's provisions, or has he given us any gift?"

The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in the king, and our claim on David is greater than yours. So why 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.

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