2 Samuel 19:1-8

Evangelical Heritage Version

The Aftermath of the Battle

19 Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.”^{[a] 2} The victory that day became an occasion for mourning for all the people, because that day the people heard that the king was mourning for his son. ³ That day the people were sneaking into the city quietly, the way people who are ashamed of fleeing from the battle would sneak in quietly. ⁴ The king covered his face and cried with a loud voice, “My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son.”

⁵ Joab came to the king at the house and said, “Today you have put to shame all your followers, who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and concubines. ⁶ You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have demonstrated clearly today that your officers and followers are nothing to you. Today I have no doubt that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, you would be pleased. ⁷ Now get up. Go out. Speak to the hearts of your followers. For by the Lord, I swear that if you do not go out, not a man will remain with you tonight, and this disaster will be greater for you than all the disasters that have come upon you from your youth until now.”

⁸ So the king got up and took his seat by the gate. All the people were told, “Look! The king is sitting in the gate.” So all the people came into the presence of the king.

Israel had fled, every man to his own home.