2 Samuel 19:2-15

Good News Translation

² And so the joy of victory was turned into sadness for all of David's troops that day, because they heard that the king was mourning for his son. ³ They went back into the city quietly, like soldiers who are ashamed because they are running away from battle. ⁴ The king covered his face and cried loudly, “O my son! My son Absalom! Absalom, my son!”

⁵ Joab 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. ⁶ You 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. ⁷ Now 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.” ⁸ Then the king got up, and went and sat near the city gate. His men heard that he was there, and they all gathered around him.

David Starts Back to Jerusalem

Meanwhile all the Israelites had fled to their own hometowns. ⁹ All over the country they started quarreling 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. ¹⁰ We anointed Absalom as our king, but he has been killed in battle. So why doesn't somebody try to bring King David back?”

¹¹ The news of what the Israelites were saying reached King David.^[a] 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? ¹² You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood; why should you be the last to bring me back?” ¹³ David 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!” ¹⁴ David's words won the complete loyalty of all the men of Judah, and they sent him word to return with all his officials.

¹⁵ On his way back the king was met at the Jordan River by the men of Judah, who had come to Gilgal to escort him across the river.