A Morning Prayer

David sang this when he ran away from his son Absalom [2 Sam. 15–19].

Absalom Plans to Take David’s Kingdom

15 After this, Absalom got a chariot and horses for himself and fifty men to run before him [^Cto signal his power and claim of heir to the throne]. ² Absalom would get up early and stand near the city gate [^Cthe hub of the town for judicial, business, and social interaction]. Anyone who had a ·problem [suit; petition; case] for the king to ·settle [judge] would come here. When someone came, Absalom would call out and say, “What city are you from?”

The person would answer, “·I’m [^LYour servant is] from one of the tribes of Israel.”

³ Then Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are ·right [sound/valid and just], but the king has no ·one [representative; deputy] to listen to you.” ⁴ Absalom would also say, “I wish someone would ·make [appoint] me judge in this land! Then people with ·problems [any suit/complaint/case or cause] could come to me, and I ·could help them get [would give them] justice.”

⁵ People would come near Absalom to ·bow to [prostrate themselves before] him. When they did, Absalom would reach out his hand and take hold of them and kiss them [^Cto show he treated them as his equals]. ⁶ Absalom did that to all the Israelites who came to King David for ·decisions [judgment]. In this way, Absalom stole the hearts of all Israel.

⁷ After four^[a] years Absalom said to King David, “Please let me go to Hebron. I want to carry out my ·promise [vow] that I made to the Lord ⁸ while ·I [^Lyour servant] was living in Geshur in Aram. I said, ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will ·worship [offer devotion/a sacrifice to] him in Hebron.’”

⁹ The king said, “Go in peace.”

So Absalom went to Hebron. ¹⁰ But he sent ·secret messengers [spies; or runners] through all the tribes of Israel. They told the people, “When you hear the trumpets, say this: ‘Absalom is the king ·at [in] Hebron!’”

¹¹ Absalom ·had invited [took] two hundred men to go with him. So they went from Jerusalem with him [^Linnocently], ·but they didn’t know [not knowing] what he was planning. ¹² While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, ·one of the people who advised David [David’s counselor], to come from his hometown of Giloh. So ·Absalom’s plans were working very well [the conspiracy grew stronger]. More and more people began to support him.

¹³ A messenger came to David, saying, “The ·Israelites are giving their loyalty to [^Lhearts of the people/Israelites are with] Absalom.”

¹⁴ Then David said to all his ·officers [officials; ^Lservants] who were with him in Jerusalem, “We must ·leave [flee] quickly! If we don’t, we won’t be able to ·get away from [escape] Absalom. We must hurry before he ·catches [overtakes] us and ·destroys us and kills the people of Jerusalem [^Lbrings disaster and puts the city to the sword].”

¹⁵ The king’s ·officers [officials; ^Lservants] said to him, “We will do anything you ·say [decide; ^Lchoose].”

¹⁶ The king set out with everyone in his house, but he left ten ·slave women [^Lconcubines; ^Csecondary wives; 3:7] to take care of the palace. ¹⁷ The king left [^Lon foot] with all his people following him, and they stopped at ·a house far away [the last house]. ¹⁸ All the king’s ·servants [men; officers; officials] passed by him—the Kerethites and Pelethites [^Cforeign mercenaries who served as the king’s bodyguards], ·all those from Gath, and the six hundred men who had followed him [or and the six hundred men from Gath].

¹⁹ The king said to Ittai, a man from Gath, “Why are you also going with us? Turn back and stay with ·King Absalom [^Lthe king] because you are a foreigner. ·This is not [^L…—an exile from] your homeland. ²⁰ You joined me only ·a short time ago [^Lyesterday]. Should I make you wander with us when I don’t even know where I’m going? Turn back and take your ·brothers [kinsmen; people] with you. May ·kindness [faithful love] and ·loyalty [faithfulness; truth] be shown to you.”

²¹ But Ittai said to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives and as ·you live [^Lmy lord the king lives], I will ·stay with you [^Lgo wherever my lord the king goes], whether it means life or death.”

²² David said to Ittai, “Go, march on.” So Ittai from Gath and all his people with their ·children [families] marched on. ²³ All the people ·cried loudly [wept out loud] as ·everyone [the people] passed by. King David crossed the Kidron Valley, and then all the people went on to the ·desert [wilderness]. ²⁴ Zadok and all the Levites with him carried the Ark of the ·Agreement with God [Covenant/Treaty of God]. They set it down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had ·left [marched out of] the city.

²⁵ The king said to Zadok, “Take the Ark of God back into the city. If ·the Lord is pleased with me [^LI find favor in the Lord’s sight/eyes], he will bring me back and will let me see both it and ·Jerusalem [^Lits dwelling place/tent/Tabernacle] again. ²⁶ But if the Lord says ·he is not pleased with me [^L“I take no delight in you”], ·I am ready [here I am]. He can do ·what he wants with me [^Lto me what is good in his sight/eyes].”

²⁷ The king also said to Zadok the priest, “·Aren’t you a seer [or Do you understand]? Go back to the city ·in peace [quietly] and take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan with you. ²⁸ I will wait near the ·crossings into the desert [fords in the wilderness; ^Cshallow crossing points of the Jordan River] until I hear from you.” ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

³⁰ David went up the ·Mount [^LAscent] of Olives, crying as he went. He covered his head and went barefoot [^Csigns of mourning]. All the people with David covered their heads also and cried as they went. ³¹ Someone told David, “Ahithophel is one of the ·people with Absalom who made secret plans against you [conspirators with Absalom].”

So David prayed, “Lord, please ·make [turn] Ahithophel’s ·advice foolish [counsel into foolishness].”

³² When David reached the top of the mountain where people ·used to worship [worshiped] God, Hushai the Arkite came to meet him. Hushai’s coat was torn, and there was dirt on his head [^Ca sign of mourning or distress]. ³³ David said to Hushai, “If you go with me, you will be ·just one more person for me to take care of [^La burden]. ³⁴ But if you return to the city, you can ·make Ahithophel’s advice useless [thwart/frustrate/counter Ahithophel’s counsel]. Tell Absalom, ‘I am your servant, my king. In the past I served your father, but now I will serve you.’ ³⁵ The priests Zadok and Abiathar will [^Lthey not…?] be with you. Tell them everything you hear in the royal palace. ³⁶ Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan are with them. Send them to tell me everything you hear.” ³⁷ So David’s friend Hushai ·entered [returned to] Jerusalem just as Absalom arrived.

Ziba Meets David

16 When David had passed a short way ·over the top of the Mount of Olives [^Lbeyond the summit], Ziba, Mephibosheth’s [^CJonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson; 4:4] servant, met him. Ziba had a ·row [string; or couple] of donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred ·cakes [or clusters] of raisins, one hundred ·cakes of figs [^Lbunches of summer fruits], and ·leather bags full [skins] of wine. ² The king asked Ziba, “What are these things for?”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for your ·family [household] to ride. The bread and ·cakes of figs [^Lsummer fruit] are for the ·servants [men; soldiers] to eat. And the wine is for anyone to drink who might become ·weak [exhausted; faint] in the ·desert [wilderness].”

³ The king asked, “Where is ·Mephibosheth [^Lyour master’s son/grandson]?”

Ziba answered him, “Mephibosheth is staying in Jerusalem because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will ·give [^Lrestore] my father’s kingdom back to me!’”

⁴ Then the king said to Ziba, “All right. Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth, I now give to you!”

Ziba said, “I ·bow to you [prostrate myself]. ·I hope I will always be able to please you [^LMay I find favor in your sight/eyes, my lord the king].”

Shimei Curses David

⁵ As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out ·and cursed him [cursing at them]. He was from ·Saul’s family group [^Lthe clan of the house of Saul], and his name was Shimei son of Gera. ⁶ He threw stones at David and his ·officers [officials; ^Lservants], but the people and soldiers gathered ·all around David [^Lto his right and left]. ⁷ Shimei cursed David, saying, “Get out, get out, you ·murderer [^Lman of blood], you ·troublemaker [scoundrel]. ⁸ The Lord is ·punishing [repaying] you for ·the people in Saul’s family you killed [^Lall the bloodshed of the house of Saul]! You ·took [reigned in] Saul’s place as king, but now the Lord has given the kingdom to your son Absalom! Now you are ·ruined [caught in your own evil] because you are a ·murderer [^Lman of blood]!”

⁹ Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse you, the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”

¹⁰ But the king answered, “·This does not concern you [^LWhat have I to do with you], sons of Zeruiah! If ·he is cursing me because the Lord told him to [^Lthe Lord has told him, “Curse David”] , who can ·question him [^Lsay, “Why have you done so”]?”

¹¹ David also said to Abishai and all his ·officers [officials; ^Lservants], “My own ·son [flesh and blood] is trying to kill me! ·This man is a Benjaminite and has more right to kill me [^LHow much more reason has this Benjaminite; ^Cas a member of Saul’s clan]! Leave him alone and let him ·curse me [^Lcurse], ·because [or if] the Lord told him to do this. ¹² Maybe the Lord will see ·my misery [my affliction/distress; or that I am being wronged] and repay me with ·something good [blessing] for Shimei’s curses today!”

¹³ So David and his men went on down the road, ·but [while] Shimei ·followed [went along] on the nearby hillside. He kept cursing David and throwing stones and ·dirt [flinging dust] at him. ¹⁴ When the king and all his people arrived at the Jordan, they were very tired, so they rested there.

¹⁵ Meanwhile, Absalom, Ahithophel, and all the ·Israelites [^Lpeople/army of Israel] arrived at Jerusalem. ¹⁶ David’s friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

¹⁷ Absalom asked, “·Why are you not loyal [^LIs this the love/loyalty you show] to your friend David? Why didn’t you leave Jerusalem with your friend?”

¹⁸ Hushai said, “I belong to the one chosen by the Lord and by these people and everyone in Israel. I will stay with ·you [^Lhim]. ¹⁹ In the past I served your father. So whom should I serve now? David’s son! I will serve you as I served him.”

Ahithophel’s Advice

²⁰ Absalom said to Ahithophel, “·Tell [^LAdvise; Counsel] us what we should do.”

²¹ Ahithophel said, “Your father left behind some of his ·slave women [^Lconcubines; ^Csecondary wives; 3:7] to take care of the palace. ·Have sexual relations with [Sleep with; ^LGo into] them. Then all Israel will hear that ·your father is your enemy [^Lyou have gravely insulted/made yourself odious to your father], and all ·your people [Israel; or those who support you] will be ·encouraged to give you more [stronger in their] support.” ²² So they put up a tent for Absalom on the roof [^Cthe flat roofs of Israelite houses were used for living space] of ·his palace [^Lthe king’s house] where everyone in Israel could see it. And Absalom ·had sexual relations with [slept with; ^Lwent in to] his father’s ·slave women [concubines].

²³ At that time people thought Ahithophel’s advice was as ·reliable as God’s own word [^Lif one consulted a word/message/oracle from God]. Both David and Absalom thought ·it was that reliable [so].

17 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and chase David tonight. ² I’ll catch him while he is tired and ·weak [discouraged], and I’ll ·frighten [terrorize] him so all his ·people [troops] will run away. But I’ll ·kill [strike down] only King David. ³ Then I’ll bring everyone back to you [^Las a bride returns to her husband].^[b] ·If the man you are looking for is dead [Since you seek the life of only one man], everyone else will ·return safely [be at peace].” ⁴ This plan ·seemed good to [pleased] Absalom and to all the ·leaders [elders] of Israel.

⁵ But Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Arkite, so I can hear what he says.” ⁶ When Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “This is the plan Ahithophel gave. Should we follow it? If not, ·tell us [give us your view].”

⁷ Hushai said to Absalom, “Ahithophel’s advice is not good this time.” ⁸ Hushai added, “You know your father and his men are ·strong [^Lmighty fighters/warriors]. They are as ·angry [fierce] as a bear that is robbed of its cubs. Your father is a ·skilled [experienced; expert] ·fighter [in war]. He won’t stay all night with the ·army [troops]. ⁹ He is probably already hiding in a cave or ·some other place [^Lpit; hollow]. ·If the first attack fails [^LWhen some of our men fall at the first attack], people will hear the news and think, ‘Absalom’s followers are ·losing [being slaughtered]!’ ¹⁰ Then even the men who are ·as brave as lions [^Lvaliant, with the heart of a lion] will ·be frightened [^Lmelt/be paralyzed with fear], because all the Israelites know your father is a ·fighter [^Lmighty warrior]. They know his men are brave!

¹¹ “This is what I ·suggest [advise; counsel]: Gather all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba [^Cin the far north and south of Israel]. There will be as many people as grains of sand by the sea. Then you ·yourself must go [personally lead them] into the battle. ¹² We will ·go to [attack; come at] David wherever he is hiding. We will fall on him as dew falls on the ground. ·We will kill him and all of his men so that no one [^LNeither he nor any of his men] will be left alive. ¹³ If David ·escapes [withdraws] into a city, all the Israelites will bring ropes to that city and pull it into the valley. Not ·a stone will be left [a pebble will be found there]!”

¹⁴ Absalom and all the Israelites said, “The ·advice [counsel] of Hushai the Arkite is better than ·that [the counsel] of Ahithophel.” (The Lord had ·planned [determined; resolved; ordained] to ·destroy [thwart; defeat; frustrate] the good ·advice [counsel] of Ahithophel so the Lord could bring ·disaster [calamity; ruin] on Absalom.)

¹⁵ Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had ·suggested [advised; counseled] to Absalom and the elders of Israel. He also reported to them what he himself had ·suggested [advised; counseled]. Hushai said, ¹⁶ “Quickly! Send a message to David. Tell him not to stay tonight at the ·crossings into the desert [fords in the wilderness] but to cross over the Jordan River at once. ·If he crosses the river, he and all his people won’t be destroyed [^LOtherwise the king and everyone with him will be swallowed up].”

¹⁷ Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En Rogel. They did not want to ·be [risk being] seen going into the city, so a servant girl would go out to them and give them messages. Then Jonathan and Ahimaaz would go and tell King David.

¹⁸ But a ·boy [lad; young man] saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and told Absalom. So Jonathan and Ahimaaz left quickly and went to a man’s house in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. ¹⁹ The man’s wife spread a ·sheet [covering] over the opening of the well and ·covered [scattered] it with grain. ·No one could tell that anyone was hiding there [^LNothing was known].

²⁰ Absalom’s ·servants [men] came to the woman at the house and asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

She said to them, “They have already crossed the brook.”

Absalom’s ·servants [men] then went to ·look [search] for Jonathan and Ahimaaz, but they could not find them. So they went back to Jerusalem.

²¹ After ·Absalom’s servants [they] left, Jonathan and Ahimaaz climbed out of the well and went to tell King David. They said, “Hurry, cross over the ·river [water]! Ahithophel has ·said [advised; counseled] these things against you!” ²² So David and all his people crossed the Jordan River. By dawn, everyone had crossed the Jordan.

²³ When Ahithophel saw that the Israelites did not ·accept his advice [follow his counsel], he saddled his donkey and went to his hometown. He ·left orders for his family and property [set his affairs/house in order], and then he hanged himself. He died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

War Between David and Absalom

²⁴ David arrived at Mahanaim. And Absalom and all ·his Israelites [^Lthe men/army of Israel] crossed over the Jordan River. ²⁵ Absalom had made Amasa ·captain [commander; head] of the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named ·Jether [or Ithra] the Ishmaelite.^[c] Amasa’s mother was Abigail daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. ²⁶ Absalom and the Israelites camped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ Shobi, Makir, and Barzillai were at Mahanaim when David arrived. Shobi son of Nahash was from the Ammonite town of Rabbah. Makir son of Ammiel was from Lo Debar, and Barzillai was from Rogelim in Gilead. ²⁸ They brought beds, bowls, clay pots, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, ·small peas [lentils], ²⁹ honey, milk curds, sheep, and cheese made from ·cows’ milk [^Lthe herd] for David and his people. They said, “The people are hungry and tired and thirsty in the ·desert [wilderness].”

18 David ·counted [mustered; reviewed] his men and placed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. ² He sent the troops out in three groups. Joab commanded one-third of the men. Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah commanded another third. And Ittai from Gath commanded the last third. King David said to them, “I will also go with you.”

³ But the men said, “You must not go ·with us [out]! If we ·run away in the battle [flee], Absalom’s men won’t care. Even if half of us are killed, Absalom’s men won’t care. But you’re worth ten thousand of us! ·You can help us most by staying in the city [It is better that you support us from the city].”

⁴ The king said to his people, “I will do what ·you think is best [^Lis good in your sight/eyes].” So the king stood at the side of the gate as the army went out in groups of a hundred and a thousand.

⁵ The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Be gentle with young Absalom for my sake.” Everyone heard the king’s orders to the commanders about Absalom.

⁶ David’s army went out into the field against ·Absalom’s Israelites [Israel], and they fought in the forest of Ephraim. ⁷ There David’s army defeated the Israelites. ·Many died [^LThe slaughter was/casualties were great] that day—twenty thousand men. ⁸ The battle spread through all the ·country [countryside], but that day more men ·died [^Lwere devoured/swallowed up] in the forest than ·in the fighting [^Lby the sword].

Absalom Dies

⁹ Then Absalom happened to ·meet [run into; come upon] David’s ·troops [^Lservants]. As Absalom was riding his mule, it went under the thick branches of a large oak tree. Absalom’s head got caught in the tree, and his mule ran out from under him. So Absalom was left hanging ·above the ground [^Lbetween heaven and earth].

¹⁰ When one of the men saw it happen, he told Joab, “I saw Absalom ·hanging [dangling] in an oak tree!”

¹¹ Joab said to him, “You saw him? Why didn’t you ·kill him and let him fall to [^Lstrike him to] the ground? I would have given you a belt and ·four ounces [^Lten pieces] of silver!”

¹² The man answered, “I wouldn’t ·touch [^Lraise my hand against] the king’s son even if ·you gave me [^LI felt in my hand the weight of] ·twenty-five pounds [^La thousand pieces] of silver. We heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘·Be careful not to hurt [For my sake protect/spare] young Absalom.’ ¹³ If I had ·killed him [betrayed the king by killing his son], ·the king would have found out [and there is nothing hidden from the king], and you would ·not have protected [have kept your distance/aloof from] me!”

¹⁴ Joab said, “I won’t waste time here with you!” Absalom was still alive in the oak tree, so Joab took three spears and stabbed him in the heart. ¹⁵ Ten young men who carried Joab’s armor also gathered around Absalom and struck him and killed him.

¹⁶ Then Joab blew the trumpet, so the troops ·stopped [returned from] chasing the Israelites. ¹⁷ Then Joab’s men took Absalom’s body and threw it into a ·large [deep] pit in the forest and ·filled the pit with [^Lpiled over him] many stones. All the Israelites ·ran away [fled] to their homes.

¹⁸ When Absalom was alive, he had ·set up a pillar for [built a monument to] himself in the King’s Valley. He said, “I have no son to keep my name alive.” So he named the ·pillar [monument] after himself, and it is called Absalom’s Monument even today.

¹⁹ Ahimaaz son of Zadok said to Joab, “Let me run and take the news to King David. I’ll tell him the Lord has ·saved [rescued; ^Tdelivered] him from his enemies.”

²⁰ Joab answered Ahimaaz, “No, you are not the one to take the news today. You may do it another time, but do not take it today, because the king’s son is dead.”

²¹ Then Joab said to a man from Cush, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and ran to tell David.

²² But Ahimaaz son of Zadok begged Joab again, “No matter what happens, please let me ·go along [run] with the Cushite!”

Joab said, “Son, why do you want to ·carry the news [run]? You won’t get any reward.”

²³ Ahimaaz answered, “No matter what happens, I will run.”

So Joab said to Ahimaaz, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the ·Jordan Valley [plain] and ·passed [outran] the Cushite.

²⁴ David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the walls, and as he looked up, he saw a man running alone. ²⁵ He shouted the news to the king.

The king said, “If he is alone, he ·is bringing good news [has news to give/^Lin his mouth]!”

The man came nearer and nearer to the city. ²⁶ Then the watchman saw another man running, and he called to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!”

The king said, “He is also bringing ·good news [news]!”

²⁷ The watchman said, “I think the first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.”

The king said, “Ahimaaz is a good man. He must be bringing good news!”

²⁸ Then Ahimaaz called a greeting to the king. He ·bowed facedown on the ground [prostrated himself] before the king and said, “·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord your God! The Lord has ·defeated [handed over] those who ·were [^Lraised their hand] against ·you, my [^Lmy lord the] king.”

²⁹ The king asked, “Is young Absalom ·all right [well]?”

Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent me, I saw some great ·excitement [commotion; confusion], but I don’t know what it was.”

³⁰ The king said, “Step over here and wait.” So Ahimaaz stepped aside and stood there.

³¹ Then the Cushite arrived. He said, “·Master and [My Lord the] king, hear the good news! Today the Lord has ·punished [rescued/^Tdelivered you from] those who ·were [rebelled; ^Lrose up] against you!”

³² The king asked the Cushite, “Is young Absalom ·all right [well]?”

The Cushite answered, “May your enemies and all who ·come to hurt you [^Lrise up to do you harm] ·be like [share the fate of] that young man!”

³³ Then the king was ·very upset [overcome with emotion], and he went to the room over the city gate and cried. As he went, he cried out, “My son Absalom, my son Absalom! ·I wish [Would that] I had died and not you. Absalom, my son, my son!”

Joab Scolds David

19 People told Joab, “Look, the king is ·sad [mourning] and crying ·because of [for] Absalom.” ² David’s army had won the battle that day. But ·it became a very sad day for all the people [^Lthe victory that day turned to mourning], because they heard that the king was ·very sad [grieving] for his son. ³ The ·people [men; soldiers] ·came into the city quietly [^Lstole/crept into the city] that day. They were like an army that had been ·defeated in battle and had run away [^Lshamed for fleeing in battle]. ⁴ The king covered his face and cried loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”

⁵ Joab went into the king’s house and said, “Today you have ·shamed [humiliated] all your men. They ·saved [rescued; ^Tdelivered] your life and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives, and ·slave women [^Lconcubines; ^Csecondary wives; 3:7]. ⁶ You have shamed them because you love those who hate you, and you hate those who love you. Today you have made it clear that your commanders and men mean nothing to you. What if Absalom had lived and all of us were dead? I can see you would be ·pleased [content]. ⁷ Now go out and ·encourage [reassure; speak kindly to] your servants. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, ·no man will be left with you by tonight [^Lnot one man will stay with you tonight]! That will be worse than ·all the troubles [any disaster/evil] you have had from your youth until today.”

⁸ So the king went to the city gate [^Ca place where public meetings and court cases were held; 15:2]. When the news spread that the king was at the gate, ·everyone [all the soldiers] came to see him.

David Goes Back to Jerusalem

·All the Israelites who had followed Absalom [^LIsrael] had run away to their ·homes [^Ltents]. ⁹ People in all the tribes of Israel began to argue, saying, “The king ·saved [rescued; ^Tdelivered] us from the Philistines and our other enemies, but he ·left [fled] the country because of Absalom. ¹⁰ We ·appointed [anointed] Absalom to rule us, but now he has died in battle. ·We should make [^LWhy do you say nothing about making…?] David the king again.”

¹¹ King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, that said, “Speak to the elders of Judah. Say, ‘Even in my house ·I have heard what all the Israelites are saying [the talk of Israel has reached the king]. So why are you the last tribe to bring the king back to his ·palace [^Lhouse; ^Ceven David’s own tribe was wavering in their support]? ¹² You are my ·brothers [relatives; kin], my own ·family [^Lbone and flesh]. Why are you the last tribe to ·bring [welcome] back the king?’ ¹³ And say to Amasa, ‘·You are part of my own family [^LAre you not my bone and flesh?]. May God punish me terribly if I don’t make you commander of the army [^Lfrom now on; for life] in Joab’s place!’”

¹⁴ ·David [or Amasa; ^LHe] ·touched [turned; swayed] the hearts of all the people of Judah ·at once [as one]. They sent a message to the king that said, “Return with all ·your men [^Lwho serve you].” ¹⁵ Then the king returned as far as the Jordan River. The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and to ·bring [escort] him across the Jordan.

¹⁶ Shimei son of Gera, a Benjaminite who lived in Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. ¹⁷ With Shimei came a thousand Benjaminites. Ziba, the servant from Saul’s family, also came, bringing his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him. They all hurried to the Jordan River ·to meet [arriving before] the king. ¹⁸ The people went across the ·Jordan [^Lford] to help ·bring [escort] the king’s family back to Judah and to do whatever the king wanted. As the king was crossing the river, Shimei son of Gera came to him and ·bowed facedown on the ground [prostrated himself] in front of the king. ¹⁹ He said to the king, “My master, don’t hold me guilty. ·Don’t remember [Forget] the wrong ·I [^Lyour servant] did when you left Jerusalem! ·Don’t hold it against me [Put it out of your mind]. ²⁰ I know I have sinned. That is why I am the first person from Joseph’s ·family [^Lhouse; ^Cthat is, the first Israelite] to come down and meet you today, my master and king!”

²¹ But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “·Shimei should die [^LShould not Shimei die…?] because he cursed you, the Lord’s ·appointed king [anointed; 16:5–14]!”

²² David said, “·This does not concern [^LWhat does this have to do with…?] you, sons of Zeruiah! Today you’re ·against me [my adversary]! No one will be put to death in Israel today. Today I know I am king over Israel!” ²³ Then the king ·promised [vowed to] Shimei, “You won’t die [1 Kin. 2:8–9, 41–46].”

²⁴ Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet King David. Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet, cut his beard, or washed his clothes from the time the king had left Jerusalem until he returned ·safely [in peace; ^Cdemonstrating his concern for David’s welfare]. ²⁵ When Mephibosheth came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Mephibosheth, why didn’t you go with me?”

²⁶ He answered, “My master, my servant [^CZiba] tricked me! I am crippled, so ·I [^Lyour servant] said to ·Ziba [^Lhim], ‘Saddle a donkey. Then I will ride it so I can go with the king.’ ²⁷ But he ·lied about [slandered] ·me [^Lyour servant] to you [16:1–4]. You, my master and king, are like an angel from God. Do what ·you think is good [^Lis right in your eyes]. ²⁸ ·You could have killed all my grandfather’s family [^LMy father’s household were doomed to death/as good as dead before my lord the king]. ·Instead [Yet], you put ·me [^Lyour servant] with those people who eat at your own table. So I don’t have a right to ask anything more from the king!”

²⁹ The king said to him, “Don’t say anything more. I have decided that you and Ziba will divide the land.”

³⁰ Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let Ziba take ·all the land [everything] now that my master the king has arrived safely home.”

³¹ Barzillai of Gilead came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan River with the king. ³² Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old. He had ·taken care of [provided food for] the king when David was staying at Mahanaim, because Barzillai was a very rich man [17:27–29]. ³³ David said to Barzillai, “Cross the river with me. Come with me to Jerusalem, and I will ·take care of [provide for] you.”

³⁴ But Barzillai answered the king, “·Do you know how old I am [^LHow long do I have to live]? Do you think I can go with you to Jerusalem? ³⁵ I am eighty years old! Can your servant tell the difference between what is ·good [pleasant] and ·bad [unpleasant]? ·I am too old to [^LCan I…?] taste what I eat or drink. ·I am too old to [^LCan I …?] hear the voices of men and women singers. Why should you be ·bothered [burdened] with ·me [^Lyour servant]? ³⁶ ·I am not worthy of a reward from you, but I will cross [^LWhy should the king reward me for merely going across…?] the Jordan River with you. ³⁷ ·Then [Please] let ·me [^Lyour servant] go back so I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is Kimham, your servant. Let him go with you, my master and king. Do with him whatever ·you want [seems good to you/^Lin your eyes; 1 Kin. 2:7].”

³⁸ The king answered, “Kimham will go with me. I will do for him anything ·you wish [that seems good to you/^Lin your eyes], and I will do anything for you that you wish.” ³⁹ The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai returned home, and the king and all the people crossed the Jordan.

⁴⁰ When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham went with him. All the ·troops [people] of Judah and half the ·troops [people] of Israel ·led [escorted; accompanied] David across [^Cthe river Jordan].

⁴¹ Soon all the Israelites came to the king and said to him, “Why did our ·relatives [brothers], the people of Judah, steal you away? Why did they bring you and your family across the Jordan River ·with [along with all] your men?”

⁴² All the people of Judah answered the Israelites, “We did this because the king is our ·close relative [kin]. Why are you angry about it? ·We have not [^LHave we…?] eaten food at the king’s expense or ·taken anything [received any favors/gifts] for ourselves!”

⁴³ The Israelites answered the people of Judah, “We have ten ·tribes [^Lshares] in the ·kingdom [^Lking], so we have more ·right to [claim on] David than you do! ·But you ignored us! [^LWhy did you treat us with contempt?] ·We were [^LWeren’t we…?] the first ones to talk about bringing our king back!”

But the people of Judah spoke even more ·unkindly [harshly; fiercely] than the people of Israel.