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約押勸諫大衛

19 有人告訴約押:“看哪!王正在為押沙龍悲哀哭泣。”(本節在《馬索拉文本》為19:2) 那一天,眾人勝利的歡樂變成了悲哀,因為他們聽說王為他的兒子傷痛。 那一天,眾人偷偷進城,就像軍人從戰場上逃跑,羞愧地偷偷回來一樣。 王蒙著臉,大聲哀哭,說:“我兒押沙龍啊!押沙龍,我兒,我兒啊!” 約押進了屋子去見王,說:“你所有的臣僕今天救了你的性命,和你兒女妻妾的性命,你今天卻使他們滿面羞愧; 你愛那些恨你的,恨那些愛你的。因為你今天表明了你不重視將帥和臣僕;我今天才明白,如果押沙龍活著,我們大家都死去,你就歡喜了。 現在請你起來,出去,說些安慰你僕人們的話。我指著耶和華起誓,如果你不出去,今夜就必沒有一人留下來與你在一起。這禍患就比你從幼年到現在所遭受的一切禍患更厲害了。” 於是王起來,坐在城門口。有人告訴眾民說:“看哪!王坐在城門口。”於是眾人都來到王的面前。

以色列人已經逃跑,各回自己的家去了。 以色列眾支派的人都紛紛議論,說:“王曾經拯救我們脫離仇敵的手,又救了我們脫離非利士人的手,現在他卻躲避押沙龍,離開這地逃走了。 10 我們所膏立統治我們的押沙龍,已經在戰場上死了。現在你們為甚麼不出聲請王回來呢?”

大衛回耶路撒冷京城

11 大衛王派人去見撒督祭司和亞比亞他,說:“你們要對猶大的眾長老說:‘你們為甚麼在請王回宮的事上落在人後頭呢?全以色列請王回宮的話已經傳到王和王宮那裡去了。 12 你們是我的兄弟,我的骨肉至親,為甚麼在請王回來的事上,倒落在人後頭呢?’ 13 你們又要對亞瑪撒說:‘你不是我的骨肉至親嗎?我若不立你代替約押,在我面前作軍隊的元帥,願 神重重地懲罰我,並且加倍嚴厲地懲罰我。’” 14 這樣,大衛挽回了猶大眾人的心,好像一人的心。於是他們差派人去見王,說:“請你和你的眾臣僕都回來!” 15 王就回來,到了約旦河。猶大人也來到吉甲,要去迎接王,接王過約旦河。

示每與洗巴出迎

16 巴戶琳的便雅憫人,基拉的兒子示每,急忙與猶大人一同下去迎接大衛王。 17 與示每同來的有一千便雅憫人,還有掃羅家的僕人洗巴,和他的十五個兒子,以及二十個僕人。他們都衝過約旦河去迎接王。 18 有人渡過渡口,把王的家眷接過去,並且照著王的心意去作。大衛過約旦河的時候,基拉的兒子示每俯伏在王面前, 19 對王說:“我主我王從耶路撒冷出來的那一天,你僕人所犯的錯,現在求我主不要歸罪於我,求你不要記念,求王也不要放在心上。 20 因為你的僕人知道自己犯了罪,所以你看,在約瑟全家之中,今天我是第一個下來迎接我主我王的。” 21 洗魯雅的兒子亞比篩回答說:“示每咒罵了耶和華的受膏者,豈不該因此把他處死嗎?” 22 大衛說:“洗魯雅的兒子們啊,我與你們有甚麼關係呢?今天你們竟與我作對!今天在以色列中,豈可有人被處死呢?難道我不知道今天我作以色列的王嗎?” 23 於是王對示每說:“你一定不會被處死!”王又向他起誓。

米非波設向大衛辯白

24 掃羅的孫子米非波設也下去迎接王。他自從王出走那天,直到王平平安安回來的日子,都沒有修腳,沒有刮鬍子,也沒有洗衣服。 25 他從耶路撒冷來迎接王的時候,王問他:“米非波設啊,你為甚麼沒有與我一同離開呢?” 26 他回答:“我主我王,你僕人是瘸腿的;那天,我心裡想我要預備驢子,可以騎上,與王一同離開,但是我的僕人卻欺騙了我, 27 又在我主我王面前毀謗你僕人。但我主我王像 神的使者一樣,現在,你看怎樣好,就怎樣行吧! 28 因為我祖父全家的人,在我主我王面前都算不得甚麼,都不過是該死的人;你卻使僕人在你席上與你一同吃飯。我還有甚麼權利再向王哀求甚麼呢?” 29 王就對他說:“你為甚麼再提你的事呢?我已經決定,你與洗巴要均分那地。” 30 米非波設對王說:“我主我王既然已平平安安回宮,所有的一切就都任憑洗巴拿去好了。”

巴西萊給大衛送行

31 基列人巴西萊也從羅基琳下來,與王一同過約旦河,要在約旦河邊給王送行。 32 巴西萊年紀非常老邁,已經八十歲。王住在瑪哈念的時候,是他供養王的,因為他是一個很富有的人。 33 王對巴西萊說:“你與我一同過河去,在耶路撒冷與我同住,我要供養你。” 34 巴西萊對王說:“我活著的年日還能有多少,可使我與王一同上耶路撒冷呢? 35 我現在已經八十歲了,還能分別美醜嗎?你僕人還能嘗出吃喝的味道嗎?我還能細聽男女歌手的聲音嗎?你僕人為甚麼要負累我主我王呢? 36 你僕人只不過與王一同過約旦河,王為甚麼要這樣賞賜我呢? 37 請讓你僕人回去,好死在我自己的城裡,埋葬在我父母的墳墓旁。看哪,你僕人金罕在這裡,請讓他與我主我王一同過河;你看怎麼好,就怎麼待他吧!” 38 王說:“金罕可以與我一同過河。你看怎麼好,我就怎麼待他。你向我所要求的,我都必為你成全。” 39 於是眾人都渡過約旦河,王也渡過了。王與巴西萊親吻,為他祝福,巴西萊就回自己的地方去了。

猶大人和以色列人的爭論

40 王過了河,到了吉甲,金罕也與王一同渡河。所有的猶大人和半數以色列人,也都與王一同渡河。 41 以色列眾人都來見王,問王說:“我們的兄弟猶大人為甚麼把你偷去了,把王和王的家眷接過約旦河呢?屬大衛的人不都一樣是他的人民嗎?” 42 猶大眾人回答以色列人說:“因為王與我們的關係親密。你們為甚麼因這事而生氣呢?我們從王那裡得到甚麼吃的呢?或是他給了我們甚麼禮物呢?” 43 以色列人回答猶大人說:“在王的事上,我們有十分的投入。在大衛身上,我們也與大衛比你們更有情分。你們為甚麼輕視我們呢?先說要請我們的王回來的,不是我們嗎?”但是猶大人的話比以色列人的話更強硬。

Joab Rebukes David

19 It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. The king (A)covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, (B)“O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. Now therefore arise, go out and speak (C)kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” Then the king arose and took his (D)seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king.

David Returns to Jerusalem

Now Israel had (E)fled every man to his own home. And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, (F)“The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and (G)saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now (H)he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”

11 And King David sent this message to (I)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 word of all Israel has come to the king?[a] 12 You are my brothers; (J)you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13 And say to Amasa, (K)‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? (L)God do so to me and more also, if you are not (M)commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.’” 14 And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah (N)as one man, so that they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.” 15 So the king came back to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan.

David Pardons His Enemies

16 And (O)Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 And with him were a thousand men from Benjamin. And (P)Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, rushed down to the Jordan before the king, 18 and they crossed the ford to bring over the king's household and to do his pleasure. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan, 19 and said to the king, (Q)“Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant (R)did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart. 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first (S)of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” 21 Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because (T)he cursed the Lord's anointed?” 22 But David said, (U)“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? (V)Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?” 23 (W)And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king gave him his oath.

24 And (X)Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had neither taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back in safety. 25 And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, (Y)“Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26 He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said to him, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself,[b] that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ For (Z)your servant is lame. 27 (AA)He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is (AB)like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you. 28 For all my father's house were but men doomed to death before my lord the king, but (AC)you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to cry to the king?” 29 And the king said to him, “Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.” 30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.”

31 Now (AD)Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, and he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan. 32 Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. (AE)He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.” 34 But Barzillai said to the king, (AF)“How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am this day (AG)eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be (AH)an added burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant (AI)Chimham. Let him go over with my lord the king, and do for him whatever seems good to you.” 38 And the king answered, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you, and all that you desire of me I will do for you.” 39 Then all the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over. And (AJ)the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own home. 40 The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. All the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, brought the king on his way.

41 Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away and (AK)brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?” 42 All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is (AL)our close relative. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king's expense? Or has he given us any gift?” 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have (AM)ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” (AN)But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 19:11 Septuagint; Hebrew to the king, to his house
  2. 2 Samuel 19:26 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate Saddle a donkey for me