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19  Na ka korerotia ki a Ioapa, Nana, kei te tangi te kingi, kei te uhunga mo Apoharama.

Na puta ke ana te whakaoranga i taua ra hei tangi ma te iwi katoa; i rongo hoki te iwi i taua ra i te korero, e koingo ana te kingi ki tana tama.

Na haere puku ana te iwi i taua ra ki te pa, ano he hunga e haere puku ana i te whakama, ina rere i te whawhai.

Ko te kingi ia, taupoki tonu tona mata, nui atu te reo o te kingi ki te tangi, E Apoharama, e taku tama, e Apoharama, e taku tama, e taku tama.

Na ka haere a Ioapa ki te kingi ki roto ki te whare, a ka mea, Kua whakama i a koe inaianei nga mata o au tangata katoa i ora ai koe i tenei ra, i ora ai hoki au tama, me au tamahine, i ora ai au wahine, i ora ai ano au wahine iti,

I a koe ka aroha nei ki ou hoariri, ka kino nei ki te hunga e aroha ana ki a koe. Kua whakaatu mai na hoki koe i tenei ra, he kore noa iho ki a koe nga rangatira me nga tangata: e mohio ana hoki ahau i tenei ra, kia ora kau ko Apoharama, a kia ma te ko matou katoa i tenei ra, ka pai rawa ki a koe.

Na whakatika, puta atu ki waho, kia puaki tetahi kupu pai ki au tangata: ta te mea he oati tenei naku i a Ihowa, ki te kahore koe e puta ake, e kore tetahi tangata e noho ki a koe i tenei po: a nui atu tenei kino ki a koe i nga kino katoa i pa ki a koe o tou taitamarikitanga ake a mohoa noa nei.

Na ka whakatika te kingi, a noho ana i te kuwaha. Na ka korerotia te korero ki te iwi katoa, Nana, ko te kingi, kei te kuwaha e noho ana. Na haere ana te iwi katoa ki te aroaro o te kingi. Kua whati hoki tera a Iharaira ki tona teneti, ki tona te neti.

Na ka puta ake he tautohetohe i nga tangata katoa o nga iwi katoa o Iharaira. I ki ratou, Na te kingi tatou i whakaora i roto i te ringa o o tatou hoariri, nana hoki tatou i mawhiti ai i te ringa o nga Pirihitini; heoi kua whati atu nei ia i te w henua i te wehi ki a Apoharama.

10 A, ko Apoharama i whakawahia nei e tatou hei kingi mo tatou, kua mate i te whawhai. Na, he aha koutou te whai kupu ai kia whakahokia mai te kingi?

11 Na ka tono tangata a Kingi Rawiri ki a Haroko raua ko Apiatara, ki nga tohunga, hei ki atu, Korero atu ki nga kaumatua o Hura, mea atu, He aha koutou i tauhiku ai ki te whakahoki i te kingi ki tona whare? kua tae atu na hoki te korero a Iharaira katoa ki te kingi, ki te whakahoki i a ia ki tona whare.

12 Ko oku teina nei koutou, ko oku whenua, ko oku kikokiko, he aha koutou i tauhikuhiku ai ki te whakahoki i te kingi?

13 Ma korua ano e ki atu ki a Amaha, Ehara ianei koe i te whenua noku, i te kikokiko noku? ma te Atua e mea tenei mea ki ahau me tetahi atu mea, ki te kahore koe e meinga hei rangatira ope ki toku aroaro i nga ra katoa hei whakakapi mo Ioapa.

14 A meinga ana e ia kia piko te ngakau o nga tangata katoa o Hura ano he tangata kotahi; a ka tono tangata ratou ki te kingi hei mea, Hoki mai, me au tangata katoa.

15 Na hoki ana te kingi, a ka tae ki Horano. I haere ano a Hura ki Kirikara, he haere ki te whakatau i te kingi, hei whakawhiti i te kingi i Horano.

16 Na hohoro tonu a Himei Pineamini tama a Kera, tera i Pahurimi ra, a haere tahi ana me nga tangata o Hura ki raro, ki te whakatau i a kingi Rawiri.

17 Na kotahi mano nga tangata o Pineamine i a ia, me Tipa ano, me te tangata o te whare o Haora, ratou ko ana tama tekau ma rima, me ana pononga e rua tekau; a whiti ana ratou i Horano i te aroaro o te kingi.

18 I whiti ano he perepoti hei whakawhiti mo te whare o te kingi, hei mea hoki i nga mea e pai ana ki tona whakaaro. Na ka tapapa a Himei tama a Kera ki te aroaro o te kingi, i a ia ka whiti nei i Horano.

19 A ka mea ki te kingi, Kaua toku ariki e whakairi hara ki ahau, kaua ano e maharatia te tutu o tau pononga i te ra i puta mai ai toku ariki, te kingi i Hiruharama; kaua te ngakau o te kingi e mea ki tena.

20 E mohio ana hoki tau pononga i hara ahau. Koia ahau i haere mai ai inaianei, ko te tuatahi o te whare katoa o Hohepa; i haere mai hoki ki raro, ki te whakatau i toku ariki, i te kingi.

21 Otiia ka oho a Apihai tama a Teruia, ka mea, E kore ianei a Himei e whakamatea mo tenei, mona i kanga i ta Ihowa i whakawahi ai?

22 Ano ra ko Rawiri, Hei aha maku ta korua, e nga tama a Teruia, i mea ai korua ki te totohe ki ahau i tenei ra? kia mate koia he tangata i roto i a Iharaira i tenei ra? kahore ianei ahau e mohio ko ahau te kingi o Iharaira i tenei ra?

23 Na ka mea te kingi ki a Himei, E kore koe e mate. Na oati ana te kingi ki a ia.

24 Na ka haere a Mepipohete tama a Haora ki raro, ki te whakatau i te kingi. Kihai ona waewae i whakapaia, kihai tona pahau i whakapaia, kihai ano ona kakahu i horoia, no te ra i haere ai te kingi a taea noatia te ra i hoki marie mai ai ia.

25 A, i tona taenga ki Hiruharama ki te whakatau i te kingi, ka mea te kingi ki a ia, He aha koe te haere ai tatou, e Mepipohete?

26 Ano ra ko ia, Na taku pononga ahau i tinihanga, e toku ariki, e te kingi; i mea hoki tau pononga, Me whakanoho e ahau tetahi kaihe moku, hei ekenga atu moku, ka haere ai i te kingi; he kopa hoki tau pononga.

27 Na kua whakapae teka ia mo tau pononga ki toku ariki, ki te kingi; otiia rite tonu toku ariki, te kingi ki te anahera a te Atua: na mau e mea te mea e pai ana ki tau titiro.

28 Ko te whare katoa hoki o toku papa me te mea he tupapaku i te aroaro o toku ariki, o te kingi: heoi kua whakanohoia e koe tau pononga ki te hunga i kai ki tau tepu. Na, he aha ake ra taku e tika ai kia karanga atu ai ano ahau ki te kingi?

29 Na ka mea te kingi ki a ia, Hei aha ake au korero i korerotia tonutia ai? Ko taku kupu tenei, Me wehe e korua ko Tipa te mara.

30 Na ka mea a Mepipohete ki te kingi, Engari me tango katoa e ia, he mea hoki kua tae marie mai toku ariki, te kingi ki tona whare.

31 I haere mai ano a Paratirai Kireari i Rokerimi; a whiti ana raua ko te kingi i Horano, he kawe i a ia ki tera taha o Horano.

32 Na he koroheke rawa a Paratirai, e waru tekau ona tau: nana i atawhai te kingi i tona nohoanga ki Mahanaima; he tangata nui rawa hoki ia.

33 Na ka mea te kingi ki a Paratirai, Me whiti koe, taua, a maku koe e atawhai ki toku taha ki Hiruharama.

34 Na ka mea a Paratirai ki te kingi, E hia nga ra o nga tau hei oranga moku, e haere tahi ai ahau me te kingi ki runga, ki Hiruharama?

35 Ka waru tekau oku tau i tenei ra: e mohio ranei ahau he pai tenei, he kino tera? e mohiotia ranei e tau pononga te reka o taku e kai ai, o taku ranei e inu ai? e rongo ano ranei ahau i te reo o nga tane waiata, o nga wahine waiata ranei? a kia m einga ano tau pononga hei whakararuraru mo toku ariki, mo te kingi hei aha?

36 Ka haere tahi atu ra tau pononga me te kingi ki tawahi iti atu o Horano: a he aha kia whakaarohia tera ki ahau e te kingi ki tenei utu nui?

37 Na, tukua tau pononga kia hoki, kia mate ai ahau ki toku nei pa, ki te taha o te urupa o toku papa, o toku whaea. Engari ia tau pononga, a Kimihama: ko ia e whiti tahi me toku ariki, me te kingi; meatia ki a ia te mea e pai ana ki tau titiro.

38 Na ka mea te kingi, Me whiti tahi maua ko Kimihama, a maku e mea ki a ia nga mea e pai ana ki tau titiro: a, he aha tau e tono ai ki ahau, ka mahia e ahau mau.

39 Na whiti ana te iwi katoa i Horano. I whiti ano te kingi, a kihia ana e te kingi a Paratirai, manaakitia ana; a hoki ana tera ki tona wahi.

40 Heoi whiti ana te kingi ki Kirikara, a i haere tahi ano a Kimihama i a ia: a na te iwi katoa o Hura, na te hawhe o te iwi o Iharaira te kingi i kawe.

41 Na haere ana nga tangata katoa o Iharaira ki te kingi, ka mea ki te kingi, He aha o matou teina, nga tangata o Hura i tahae ai i a koe, i whakawhiti mai ai i te kingi, i tona whare katoa, i nga tangata katoa ano a Rawiri, i Horano?

42 Na ka whakahokia e nga tangata katoa o Hura ki nga tangata o Iharaira, No te mea he whanaunga tata te kingi ki a matou: he aha ra koutou i riri ai mo tenei mea. I kai ranei matou i tetahi mea a te kingi? i homai ranei e ia tetahi mea ki a matou?

43 Na ka whakahoki nga tangata o Iharaira ki nga tangata o Hura, ka mea ratou, Kotahi tekau nga wahi o te kingi kei a matou, a nui atu hoki i to koutou to matou take ki a Rawiri: a he aha matou i whakahaweatia ai e koutou, te waiho ai ma matou te k upu tuatahi mo te whakahoki mai i to matou kingi? Heoi i pakari rawa ake nga kupu a nga tangata o Hura i nga kupu a nga tangata o Iharaira.

20  Na i tupono ki reira tetahi tangata o Periara, ko tona ingoa ko Hepa, he tama na Pikiri, no Pineamine: na whakatangihia ana e ia te tetere, a ka mea, Kahore o tatou wahi i a Rawiri, kahore he wahi tuturu mo tatou i te tama a Hehe: ki o koutou ten eti, e tera, e tera o Iharaira!

Na ka takiritia nga tangata katoa o Iharaira i te whai i a Rawiri, a whai ana i a Hepa tama a Pikiri: ko nga tangata ia o Hura i piri ki to ratou kingi, o Horano mai ano a Hiruharama atu ana.

Na haere ana a Rawiri ki tona whare ki Hiruharama, a ka mau te kingi ki nga wahine kotahi tekau, ki nga wahine iti i waiho ra hei tiaki i te whare, a whakanohoia ana ki te whare kia tiakina, atawhaitia iho ratou e ia; otiia kihai ia i haere ki ro to, ki a ratou. Na tutakina atu ana ratou, he noho pouaru a taea noatia te ra i mate ai ratou.

Katahi ka mea te kingi ki a Amaha, Huihuia mai nga tangata o Hura ki ahau i roto i nga ra e toru, a me tae mai ano koe ki konei.

Na haere ana a Amaha ki te huihui i nga tangata o Hura: otiia i roa atu ia i te wa i whakaritea ki a ia.

Na ka mea a Rawiri ki a Apihai, Akuanei rahi atu te kino e mahia e Hepa tama a Pikiri ki a tatou i ta Apoharama: tangohia nga tangata a tou ariki, whaia, kei whiwhi ia ki nga pa taiepa, a ka ora atu i o tatou kanohi.

Na haere ana nga tangata a Ioapa i muri i a ia, me nga Kereti, me nga Pereti, me nga marohirohi katoa: haere atu ana ratou i Hiruharama ki te whai i a Hepa tama a Pikiri.

I a ratou i te kohatu nui i Kipeono, ka tae mai a Amaha kia tutaki ki a ratou. Na, ko te kakahu i kakahuria e Ioapa, he mea whitiki, a i waho ake he whitiki ano, me tetahi hoari, he mea whakamau ki tona hope, i roto ano i tona pukoro; a i a ia e haere ana, ka makere.

Na ka mea a Ioapa ki a Amaha, Kei te ora ranei koe, e toku teina? Na ka mau te ringa matau o Ioapa ki te kumikumi o Amaha, kia kihi i a ia.

10 Kihai ia a Amaha i mahara ki te hoari i te ringa o Ioapa: na werohia ana ia e ia ki te kopu ki taua mea, a ka tuakina ona whekau ki te whenua, kihai hoki i tuaruatia e tera; na ka mate ia. Na ka whai a Ioapa raua ko tona teina, ko Apihai i a Hep a tama a Pikiri.

11 Na tera tetahi o nga taitama a Ioapa i tona taha e tu ana, a ka mea tera, Ko te tangata e pai ana ki a Ioapa, a ko te tangata e mea ana mo Rawiri, me whai ia i a Ioapa.

12 Heoi takoto ana a Amaha, okeoke ana i roto i ona toto i waenganui o te huarahi. A ka kite taua tangata e tu ana te iwi katoa, na ka amohia atu e ia a Amaha i te huarahi ki te parae, a hipokina iho ana ki te kakahu, i tona kitenga e tu ana te hun ga katoa e tika ana na reira.

13 Ka oti ia te neke atu i te huarahi, na, haere ana te iwi katoa i muri i a Ioapa ki te whai i a Hepa tama a Pikiri.

14 Na haereerea ana e ia nga iwi katoa o Iharaira, ki Apere, a ki Petemaaka, ki nga Peri katoa: na ka huihui ratou katoa a haere ana hoki i muri i a ia.

15 Na haere ana ratou, kei te whakapae i a ia ki Apere o Petemaaka, a whakahauputia ake ana e ratou tetahi pukepuke ki te pa, na kua hangai ki te pekerangi. Na kei te aki te nuinga katoa o Ioapa i te taiepa kia hinga.

16 Na ka karanga tetahi wahine mohio i roto i te pa, Whakarongo mai, whakarongo mai; tena, ki atu ki a Ioapa, Whakatata mai ki konei, kia korero ai ahau ki a koe.

17 Na ka whakatata ia ki a ia; a ka mea te wahine, Ko koe ianei a Ioapa? Ka mea tera, Tenei ahau. Na ko te kianga a tera ki a ia, Whakarongo ki nga kupu a tau pononga. Ka whakahokia e ia, E whakarongo ana.

18 Na ka mea tera, Ko ta ratou na kupu onamata, i mea, Me ui rawa ratou he kupu ki Apere: a ka mutu ta ratou i tera.

19 No roto ahau i te hunga ata noho, pono hoki i roto i a Iharaira. E whai ana koe kia whakangaromia he pa, he whaea no Iharaira: he aha ka horomia ai e koe te wahi tupu a Ihowa?

20 Na ka whakahokia e Ioapa; i mea ia, Hore rawa, hore rawa i ahau; a kore e horomia, e kore e huna e ahau.

21 Kahore aku pera, engari he tangata tera no Maunga Eparaima, ko tona ingoa ko Hepa tama a Pikiri, kua ara tona ringa ki te kingi, ki a Rawiri: homai tona kotahi a ka haere atu ahau i te pa. Katahi taua wahine ka mea ki a Ioapa, Nana, ka akiritia atu tona upoko ki a koe ra runga i te taiepa.

22 Na haere ana taua wahine, me tona whakaaro mohio, ki te iwi katoa. Na poutoa ana e ratou te upoko o Hepa tama a Pikiri, maka atu ana ki a Ioapa. Katahi ia ka whakatangi i te tetere, a whakarerea ana e ratou te pa, pakaru noa atu ana ki tona tene ti, ki tona teneti. A hoki ana a Ioapa ki Hiruharama ki te kingi.

23 Na ko Ioapa te rangatira o te ope katoa o Iharaira; ko Penaia hoki, tama a Iehoiara te rangatira o nga Kereti ratou ko nga Pereti:

24 Ko Arorama te rangatira takoha: ko Iehohapata tama a Ahiruru te kaiwhakamahara:

25 Ko Hewha te kaituhituhi: a ko Haroko raua ko Apiatara nga tohunga:

26 A ko Ira Hairi ano hoki he tino kaiwhakahaere na Rawiri.

21  Na ka pa he matekai i nga ra o Rawiri, e toru nga tau, ko to tetahi tau aki tonu iho ki to tetahi tau; a ka rapua te tikanga e Rawiri i te aroaro o Ihowa. Na ka mea a Ihowa, Mo ta Haora ratou ko tona whare hutoto; mona i whakamate i nga Kipeoni.

Katahi te kingi ka karanga ki nga Kipeoni, a ka korero ki a ratou: na ehara nga Kipeoni i nga tama a Iharaira; engari no nga morehu o nga Amori, no era i oati ra nga tama a Iharaira: na whaia ana e Haora kia patua, he hae nona, he whakaaro hoki k i nga tama a Iharaira ratou ko Hura:

Na ka mea a Rawiri ki nga Kipeoni, Ko te aha taku e mea ai ki a koutou? he aha hoki taku whakamarie e manaakitia ai e koutou te kainga tupu o Ihowa?

Na ka mea nga Kipeoni ki a ia, Ehara i te koura i te hiriwa ranei te mea kei waenganui i a matou me Haora ratou ko tona whare; kahore hoki a matou mea ki tetahi tangata o Iharaira kia mate. Ano ra ko ia, Ka meatia e ahau ta koutou e ki mai ai.

Katahi ratou ka mea ki te kingi, Ko te tangata i whakamoti nei i a matou, i whakatakoto whakaaro nei mo matou kia ngaro, kei waiho ki tetahi o nga rohe o Iharaira.

Kia tokowhitu nga tangata o ona tama e homai ki a matou, a ma matou ratou e tarona, hei mea ki a Ihowa, ki Kipea o Haora, o ta Ihowa i whiriwhiri ai. Na ka mea te kingi, Ka hoatu e ahau.

Otiia i tohungia e te kingi a Mepipohete tama a Honatana tama a Haorohe whakaaro ki te oati a Ihowa i takoto i a raua, i a Rawiri raua ko Honatana tama a Haora.

Engari i mau te kingi ki nga tama tokorua a Rihipa tamahine a Aia i whanau nei i a raua ko Haora, ara ki a Aramoni raua ko Mepipohete; ki nga tama tokorima hoki a Merapa tamahine a Haora i whanau i a raua ko Atariere tama a Paratirai Mehorati:

A hoatu ana e ia ki nga ringa o nga Kipeoni, a taronatia ana e ratou ki te maunga, i te aroaro o Ihowa: na hinga ngatahi ana to ratou tokowhitu katoa. No nga ra o te kotinga ratou i whakamatea ai, no nga ra tuatahi, i te timatanga o te kotinga pa rei.

10 Na ka mau a Rihipa tamahine a Aia ki te kakahu taratara, a wharikitia ana hei mea mona ki runga ki te kamaka, i te timatanga o te kotinga, heke noa he wai i te rangi ki runga ki a ratou; kihai hoki i tukua e ia he manu o te rangi kia noho ki run ga i te awatea, he kirehe ranei o te parae i to po.

11 A i korerotia ki a Rawiri taua meatanga a Rihipa tamahine a Aia, wahine iti a Haora.

12 Na ka haere a Rawiri, ka tikina nga whenua o Haora, nga wheua o Honatana, o tana tama, i nga tangata o Iapehe Kireara, na ratou nei hoki aua wheua i tango puku i te waharoa o Petehana i te wahi i whakairihia ai e nga Pirihitini i te ra i patua a i a Haora e nga Pirihitini ki Kiripoa.

13 A kawea ana e ia i reira nga wheua o Haora, me nga wheua o Honatana, o tana tama: i kohia ano e ratou nga wheua o te hunga i whakatarea.

14 A tanumia ana nga wheua o Haora raua ko Honatana, ko tana tama, ki te whenua o Pineamine ki Heraha ki te urupa o Kihi, o tona papa: a ka oti i a ratou nga mea katoa i whakahaua e te kingi, na muri iho ka marie mai te Atua ki te whenua.

15 Na ka whawhai ano nga Pirihitini ratou ko Iharaira, a haere ana a Rawiri ki raro, ratou ko ana tangata, whawhai ana ki nga Pirihitini: na ka ruha haere a Rawiri.

16 Na ko Ihipipenopo, no nga uri o Rapa, ko te taimaha o tana tao, e toru rau hekere parahi te taimaha, he mea hou te hoari, whitiki rawa ki a ia; ka mea ia kia patua a Rawiri.

17 Na pikitia ana ia e Apihai tama a Teruia, a patua iho e ia te Pirihitini, whakamatea iho. Na reira i oati ai nga tangata a Rawiri ki a ia, i mea ai, Kati rawa tou haere tahi tatou ki te whawhai, kei keto i a koe te rama o Iharaira.

18 A muri iho i tenei ka whawhai ano ki nga Pirihitini ki Kopo, a na Hipekai Huhati i patu a Hapa, no nga uri o Rapa.

19 Na ka whawhaitia ano nga Pirihitini ki Kopo, a na Erehanana tama a Iaareorekimi o Peterehema i patu te teina o Koriata Kiti, ko te kakau o tana taoroa rite tonu ki te kurupae a te kaiwhatu.

20 A i whawhai ano ki Kata. Na ko tetahi tangata roa e ono nei nga maihao o tetahi ringa, o tetahi ringa, e ono ano hoki nga maikara o tetahi waewae, o tetahi waewae, e rua tekau ma wha katoa te maha, he uri ano no Rapa.

21 I tana whakataranga i a Iharira, na patua ana ia e Honatana tama a Himei tuakana o Rawiri.

22 He uri enei tokowha no Rapa i Kata, a hinga ana i te ringa o Rawiri, i te ringa hoki o ana tangata.

19 [a]Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now.”(A)

So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,(B)” they all came before him.

Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes.

David Returns to Jerusalem

Throughout the tribes of Israel, all the people were arguing among themselves, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines.(C) But now he has fled the country to escape from Absalom;(D) 10 and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”

11 King David sent this message to Zadok(E) and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? 12 You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13 And say to Amasa,(F) ‘Are you not my own flesh and blood?(G) May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,(H) if you are not the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.(I)’”

14 He won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind. They sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your men.” 15 Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan.

Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal(J) to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. 16 Shimei(K) son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 With him were a thousand Benjamites, along with Ziba,(L) the steward of Saul’s household,(M) and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan, where the king was. 18 They crossed at the ford to take the king’s household over and to do whatever he wished.

When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king 19 and said to him, “May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem.(N) May the king put it out of his mind. 20 For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.”

21 Then Abishai(O) son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed(P) the Lord’s anointed.”(Q)

22 David replied, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?(R) What right do you have to interfere? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today?(S) Don’t I know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king promised him on oath.(T)

24 Mephibosheth,(U) Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me,(V) Mephibosheth?”

26 He said, “My lord the king, since I your servant am lame,(W) I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.’ But Ziba(X) my servant betrayed me. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel(Y) of God; so do whatever you wish. 28 All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death(Z) from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table.(AA) So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?”

29 The king said to him, “Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the land.”

30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.”

31 Barzillai(AB) the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. 32 Now Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy(AC) man. 33 The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you.”

34 But Barzillai answered the king, “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? 35 I am now eighty(AD) years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers?(AE) Why should your servant be an added(AF) burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? 37 Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father(AG) and mother. But here is your servant Kimham.(AH) Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you wish.”

38 The king said, “Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever you wish. And anything you desire from me I will do for you.”

39 So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and bid him farewell,(AI) and Barzillai returned to his home.

40 When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.

41 Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?”(AJ)

42 All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”

43 Then the men of Israel(AK) answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; so we have a greater claim on David than you have. Why then do you treat us with contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing back our king?”

But the men of Judah pressed their claims even more forcefully than the men of Israel.

Sheba Rebels Against David

20 Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted,

“We have no share(AL) in David,(AM)
    no part in Jesse’s son!(AN)
Every man to his tent, Israel!”

So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines(AO) he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but had no sexual relations with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.

Then the king said to Amasa,(AP) “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.

David said to Abishai,(AQ) “Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.”[b] So Joab’s men and the Kerethites(AR) and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.

While they were at the great rock in Gibeon,(AS) Amasa came to meet them. Joab(AT) was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.

Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger(AU) in Joab’s(AV) hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bikri.

11 One of Joab’s men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” 12 Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt(AW) there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. 13 After Amasa had been removed from the road, everyone went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.

14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites,[c](AX) who gathered together and followed him. 15 All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah.(AY) They built a siege ramp(AZ) up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, 16 a wise woman(BA) called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” 17 He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?”

“I am,” he answered.

She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.”

“I’m listening,” he said.

18 She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. 19 We are the peaceful(BB) and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?”(BC)

20 “Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! 21 That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.”

The woman said to Joab, “His head(BD) will be thrown to you from the wall.”

22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice,(BE) and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.

David’s Officials

23 Joab(BF) was over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; 24 Adoniram[d](BG) was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat(BH) son of Ahilud was recorder; 25 Sheva was secretary; Zadok(BI) and Abiathar were priests; 26 and Ira the Jairite[e] was David’s priest.

The Gibeonites Avenged

21 During the reign of David, there was a famine(BJ) for three successive years; so David sought(BK) the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

The king summoned the Gibeonites(BL) and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?”(BM)

The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.”(BN)

“What do you want me to do for you?” David asked.

They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed(BO) before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord’s chosen(BP) one.”

So the king said, “I will give them to you.”

The king spared Mephibosheth(BQ) son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath(BR) before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul. But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah,(BS) whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab,[f] whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.(BT) He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death(BU) during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.(BV)

10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night.(BW) 11 When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul(BX) and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead.(BY) (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan,(BZ) where the Philistines had hung(CA) them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.)(CB) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.

14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela(CC) in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that,(CD) God answered prayer(CE) in behalf of the land.(CF)

Wars Against the Philistines(CG)

15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines(CH) and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16 And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels[g] and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. 17 But Abishai(CI) son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp(CJ) of Israel will not be extinguished.(CK)

18 In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai(CL) the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.

19 In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair[h] the Bethlehemite killed the brother of[i] Goliath the Gittite,(CM) who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.(CN)

20 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21 When he taunted(CO) Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah,(CP) David’s brother, killed him.

22 These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 19:1 In Hebrew texts 19:1-43 is numbered 19:2-44.
  2. 2 Samuel 20:6 Or and do us serious injury
  3. 2 Samuel 20:14 See Septuagint and Vulgate; Hebrew Berites.
  4. 2 Samuel 20:24 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Kings 4:6 and 5:14); Hebrew Adoram
  5. 2 Samuel 20:26 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 23:38) Ithrite
  6. 2 Samuel 21:8 Two Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 1 Samuel 18:19); most Hebrew and Septuagint manuscripts Michal
  7. 2 Samuel 21:16 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms
  8. 2 Samuel 21:19 See 1 Chron. 20:5; Hebrew Jaare-Oregim.
  9. 2 Samuel 21:19 See 1 Chron. 20:5; Hebrew does not have the brother of.