19 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. ² And the ^[a]victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people; for the people heard say that day, The king grieveth for his son. ³ And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people that are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. ⁴ And the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! ⁵ And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, who this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; ⁶ in that thou lovest them that hate thee, and hatest them that love thee. For thou hast declared this day, that princes and servants are nought unto thee: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. ⁷ Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants; for I swear by Jehovah, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry a man with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that hath befallen thee from thy youth until now. ⁸ Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate: and all the people came before the king.

Now Israel had fled every man to his tent.