Psalm 3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 3
Trust in God under Adversity
A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.
1 O Lord, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying to me,
“There is no help for you[a] in God.” Selah
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.(A)
4 I cry aloud to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah(B)
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, for the Lord sustains me.(C)
6 I am not afraid of ten thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
7 Rise up, O Lord!
Deliver me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Deliverance belongs to the Lord;
may your blessing be on your people! Selah(D)
Footnotes
- 3.2 Syr: Heb him
Psalm 3
International Standard Version
A Davidic Psalm, when he fled from his son Absalom.
God Delivers His Servants
3 Lord, I have so many persecutors!
Many are rising up against me!
2 Many are saying about me,
“God will never deliver him!”
3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
4 I cry aloud[a] to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep,
I wake up, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear multitudes of[b] people,
who set themselves against me on every side.
7 Arise, Lord!
Deliver me, my God!
For you strike the jaw of all my enemies,
and you break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Deliverance comes from the Lord!
May your blessing be on your people.
2 Samuel 15-19
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Absalom Usurps the Throne
15 After this Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.(A) 2 Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the road into the gate, and when anyone brought a suit before the king for judgment, Absalom would call out and say, “From what city are you?” When the person said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,”(B) 3 Absalom would say, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no one deputed by the king to hear you.” 4 Absalom would also say, “If only I were judge in the land! Then all who had a suit or cause might come to me, and I would give them justice.”(C) 5 Whenever people came near to do obeisance to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of them and kiss them. 6 Thus Absalom did to every Israelite who came to the king for judgment, so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.(D)
7 At the end of four[a] years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron and pay the vow that I have made to the Lord.(E) 8 For your servant made a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram: If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord in Hebron.”[b](F) 9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then shout: Absalom has become king at Hebron!” 11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom; they were invited guests, and they went in innocence, knowing nothing of the matter.(G) 12 While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for[c] Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh. The conspiracy grew in strength, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.(H)
David Flees from Jerusalem
13 A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the Israelites have gone after Absalom.”(I) 14 Then David said to all his officials who were with him at Jerusalem, “Get up! Let us flee, or there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Hurry, or he will soon overtake us, and bring disaster down upon us, and attack the city with the edge of the sword.”(J) 15 The king’s officials said to the king, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king decides.” 16 So the king left, followed by all his household, except ten concubines whom he left behind to look after the house.(K) 17 The king left, followed by all the people, and they stopped at the last house. 18 All his officials passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath passed on before the king.(L)
19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also coming with us? Go back, and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home.(M) 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us while I go wherever I can? Go back, and take your kinsfolk with you, and may the Lord show[d] steadfast love and faithfulness to you.”(N) 21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be.”(O) 22 David said to Ittai, “Go then, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 The whole country wept aloud as all the people passed by; the king crossed the Wadi Kidron, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.
24 Abiathar came up, and Zadok also, with all the Levites, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city.(P) 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and the place where it stays.(Q) 26 But if he says, ‘I take no pleasure in you,’ here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.”(R) 27 The king also said to the priest Zadok, “Look,[e] go back to the city in peace, you and Abiathar,[f] with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan son of Abiathar.(S) 28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”(T) 29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there.
30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, with his head covered and walking barefoot, and all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.(U) 31 David was told that Ahithophel was among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, “O Lord, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”(V)
Hushai Becomes David’s Spy
32 When David came to the summit, where God was worshiped, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and earth on his head.(W) 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.(X) 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.(Y) 35 The priests Zadok and Abiathar will be with you there. So whatever you hear from the king’s house, tell it to the priests Zadok and Abiathar.(Z) 36 Their two sons are with them there, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan, and by them you shall report to me everything you hear.”(AA) 37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.(AB)
David’s Adversaries
16 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, carrying two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred bunches of raisins, one hundred of summer fruits, and one skin of wine.(AC) 2 The king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who faint in the wilderness.”(AD) 3 The king said, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “He remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom.’ ”(AE) 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” Ziba said, “I do obeisance; let me find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”
Shimei Curses David
5 When King David came to Bahurim, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out whose name was Shimei son of Gera; he came out cursing.(AF) 6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; now all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left. 7 Shimei shouted while he cursed, “Out! Out! Murderer! Scoundrel!(AG) 8 The Lord has avenged on all of you the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of blood.”(AH)
9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.”(AI) 10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”(AJ) 11 David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has bidden him.(AK) 12 It may be that the Lord will look on my distress,[g] and the Lord will repay me with good for this cursing of me today.”(AL) 13 So David and his men went on the road while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, throwing stones and flinging dust at him. 14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary at the Jordan,[h] and there he refreshed himself.
The Counsel of Ahithophel
15 Now Absalom and all the Israelites[i] came to Jerusalem; Ahithophel was with him.(AM) 16 When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”(AN) 17 Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”(AO) 18 Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but the one whom the Lord and this people and all the Israelites have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I have served your father, so I will serve you.”(AP)
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your counsel; what shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, the ones he has left to look after the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”(AQ) 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom upon the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.(AR) 23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle[j] of God, so all the counsel of Ahithophel was esteemed both by David and by Absalom.(AS)
17 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out and pursue David tonight. 2 I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king,(AT) 3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man,[k] and all the people will be at peace.” 4 The advice pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
The Counsel of Hushai
5 Then Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear too what he has to say.”(AU) 6 When Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “This is what Ahithophel has said; shall we do as he advises? If not, you tell us.” 7 Then Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.” 8 Hushai continued, “You know that your father and his men are warriors and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the night with the troops.(AV) 9 Even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits or in some other place. And when some of our troops[l] fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10 Then even the valiant warrior whose heart is like the heart of a lion will utterly melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a warrior and that those who are with him are valiant warriors.(AW) 11 But my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beer-sheba, like the sand by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. 12 So we shall come upon him in whatever place he may be found, and we shall light on him as the dew falls on the ground, and he will not survive, nor will any of those with him. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the valley until not even a pebble is to be found there.” 14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring ruin on Absalom.(AX)
Hushai Warns David to Escape
15 Then Hushai said to the priests Zadok and Abiathar, “Thus and so did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have counseled.(AY) 16 Therefore send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ”(AZ) 17 Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En-rogel; a female slave used to go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city.(BA) 18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom, so both of them went away quickly and came to the house of a man at Bahurim who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down into it.(BB) 19 The man’s wife took a covering, stretched it over the well’s mouth, and spread out grain on it, and nothing was known of it.(BC) 20 When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman said to them, “They have crossed over the brook[m] of water.” And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.(BD)
21 After they had gone, the men came up out of the well and went and told King David. They said to David, “Go and cross the water quickly, for thus and so has Ahithophel counseled against you.”(BE) 22 So David and all the people who were with him set out and crossed the Jordan; by daybreak not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.
23 When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself; he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.(BF)
24 Then David came to Mahanaim, while Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.(BG) 25 Now Absalom had set Amasa over the army in the place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite,[n] who had married Abigal daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.(BH) 26 The Israelites and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim(BI) 28 brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans and lentils,[o] 29 honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The troops are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”(BJ)
The Defeat and Death of Absalom
18 Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.(BK) 2 And David sent forth the army: one third under the command of Joab; one third under the command of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother; and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the men, “I myself will also go out with you.”(BL) 3 But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us;[p] therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.”(BM) 4 The king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.(BN) 5 The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom.(BO)
6 So the army went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.(BP) 7 The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword.
9 Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging[q] between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.(BQ) 10 A man saw it and told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Joab said to the man who told him, “What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 But the man said to Joab, “Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘For my sake protect the young man Absalom!’(BR) 13 On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life[r] (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14 Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” He took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak.(BS) 15 And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.
16 Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the troops.(BT) 17 They took Absalom, threw him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Meanwhile all the Israelites fled to their homes.(BU) 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar that is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar by his own name; it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.(BV)
David Hears of Absalom’s Death
19 Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Let me run and carry tidings to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the power of his enemies.”(BW) 20 Joab said to him, “You are not to carry tidings today; you may carry tidings another day, but today you shall not do so because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed before Joab and ran. 22 Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, seeing that you have no reward[s] for the tidings?” 23 “Come what may,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain and outran the Cushite.
24 Now David was sitting between the two gates. The sentinel went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he looked up he saw a man running alone.(BX) 25 The sentinel shouted and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth.” He kept coming and drew near. 26 Then the sentinel saw another man running, and the sentinel called to the gatekeeper and said, “See, another man running alone!” The king said, “He also is bringing tidings.” 27 The sentinel said, “I think the first one runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man and comes with good tidings.”
28 Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “All is well!” He prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.”(BY) 29 The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “I saw a great tumult when the king’s servant Joab sent your servant, but I do not know what it was.”(BZ) 30 The king said, “Turn aside, and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31 Then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Good tidings for my lord the king! For the Lord has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.”(CA) 32 The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to do you harm be like that young man.”(CB)
David Mourns for Absalom
33 [t]The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept, and as he went he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”(CC)
19 It was told Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”(CD) 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops, for the troops heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 The troops stole into the city that day as soldiers steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. 4 The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”(CE) 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your officers who have saved your life today, and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and your concubines, 6 for love of those who hate you and for hatred of those who love you. You have made it clear today that commanders and officers are nothing to you, for I perceive that, if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. 7 So go out at once and speak 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 any disaster that has come upon you from your youth until now.” 8 Then the king got up and took his seat in the gate. The troops were all told, “See, the king is sitting in the gate,” and all the troops came before the king.
David Recalled to Jerusalem
Meanwhile, all the Israelites had fled to their homes.(CF) 9 All the people were disputing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land because of Absalom.(CG) 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 King David sent this message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar, “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house? The talk of all Israel has come to the king.[u] 12 You are my kin; you are my bone and my flesh; why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’(CH) 13 And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? So may God do to me and more, if you are not the commander of my army from now on, in place of Joab.’ ”(CI) 14 Amasa[v] swayed the hearts of all the people of Judah as one, and they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.”(CJ) 15 So the king came back to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring him over the Jordan.(CK)
16 Shimei son of Gera, a Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the people of Judah to meet King David;(CL) 17 with him were a thousand people from Benjamin. And Ziba, the servant of the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king(CM) 18 while the crossing was taking place,[w] to bring over the king’s household and to do his pleasure.
David’s Mercy to Shimei
Shimei son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan 19 and said to the king, “May my lord not hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem; may the king not bear it in mind.(CN) 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, see, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”(CO) 21 Abishai son of Zeruiah answered, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?”(CP) 22 But David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should today become an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?”(CQ) 23 The king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king gave him his oath.(CR)
David and Mephibosheth Meet
24 Mephibosheth grandson of Saul came down to meet the king; he had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his beard or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he came back in safety.(CS) 25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”(CT) 26 He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said to him, ‘Saddle a donkey for me[x] so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ For your servant is lame.(CU) 27 He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you.(CV) 28 For all my father’s house were doomed to death before my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to appeal to the king?”(CW) 29 The king said to him, “Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.” 30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take it all, since my lord the king has arrived home safely.”
David’s Kindness to Barzillai
31 Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; he went on with the king to the Jordan to escort him over the Jordan.(CX) 32 Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.(CY) 33 The king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will provide for you in Jerusalem at my side.” 34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 Today I am 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 an added burden to my lord the king?(CZ) 36 Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king recompense me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own town, near the graves of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king and do for him whatever seems good to you.”(DA) 38 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 crossed over the Jordan, and the king crossed over; the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own home.(DB) 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 people of Israel came to the king and said to him, “Why have our kindred the people of Judah stolen you away and brought the king and his household over the Jordan and all David’s men with him?”(DC) 42 All the people of Judah answered the people of Israel, “Because the king is near of kin to us. 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?”(DD) 43 But the people of Israel answered the people of Judah, “We have 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?” But the words of the people of Judah were fiercer than the words of the people of Israel.(DE)
Footnotes
- 15.7 Gk Syr: Heb forty
- 15.8 Gk mss: Heb lacks in Hebron
- 15.12 Or he sent
- 15.20 Cn Compare Gk: Heb lacks may the Lord show
- 15.27 Gk: Heb Are you a seer or Do you see?
- 15.27 Cn: Heb lacks and Abiathar
- 16.12 Gk Vg: Heb iniquity
- 16.14 Gk ms: Heb lacks at the Jordan
- 16.15 Gk: Heb all the people, the men of Israel
- 16.23 Heb word
- 17.3 Gk: Heb like the return of the whole (is) the man whom you seek
- 17.9 Gk mss: Heb some of them
- 17.20 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 17.25 Gk mss: Heb Israelite
- 17.28 Heb and lentils and parched grain
- 18.3 Gk Vg Symmachus: Heb for now there are ten thousand such as we
- 18.9 Gk Syr Tg: Heb was put
- 18.13 Another reading is at the risk of my life
- 18.22 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 18.33 19.1 in Heb
- 19.11 Gk: Heb to the king, to his house
- 19.14 Heb He
- 19.18 Cn: Heb the ford crossed
- 19.26 Gk Syr Vg: Heb said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself
2 Samuel 15-19
International Standard Version
Absalom Instigates Civil War
15 Sometime later, Absalom acquired a chariot equipped with horses and recruited[a] 50 men to accompany[b] him.[c] 2 Then he[d] would get up early, stand near the passageway to the palace[e] gate, and when anyone arrived to file a legal complaint for a hearing before the king, Absalom would call to him and ask, “You’re from what city?” If[f] he replied, “Your servant is from one of Israel’s tribes,” 3 Absalom would respond, “Look, your claims are valid and defensible, but nobody will listen to you on behalf of the king. 4 Who will appoint me to be a judge in the land? When anyone arrived to file a legal complaint or other cause, he could approach me for justice and I would settle it!” 5 Furthermore, if a man approached him to bow down in front of him, he would put out his hand, grab him, and embrace him. 6 By doing all of this to anyone who came to the king for a hearing, Absalom stole the loyalty[g] of the men of Israel.
7 And so it was that forty[h] years after Israel had demanded a king,[i] Absalom asked the king, “Please let me go to Hebron so I can pay my vow that I made to the Lord, 8 because when I was living at Geshur in Aram, your servant made this solemn promise:[j] ‘If the Lord ever brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’”
9 The king replied to him, “Go in peace!” So Absalom[k] got up and left for Hebron.
10 But Absalom sent agents throughout all of the tribes of Israel, telling them, “When you hear the sound of the battle trumpet, you’re to announce that Absalom is king in Hebron.” 11 Meanwhile, 200 men left Jerusalem with Absalom. They had been invited to go along, but were innocent, not knowing anything about what was happening.[l] 12 Absalom also sent for Ahithophel[m] the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come[n] from his home town of Giloh while Absalom[o] was presenting the sacrificial offerings. And so the conspiracy widened, because the common people increasingly sided with Absalom.
David Flees from Jerusalem
13 Then a messenger arrived to inform David, “The loyalties of the men[p] of Israel have shifted to[q] Absalom.”
14 So David told all of his staff who were with him in Jerusalem, “Let’s get up and get out of here! Otherwise, none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry, or he’ll overtake us quickly, bring disaster on all of us, and execute the inhabitants of the city!”
15 “Look!” the king’s staff replied. “Your servants will do whatever the king chooses.” 16 So the king left, taking his entire household with him except for ten mistresses,[r] who were to keep the palace in order. 17 The king left, along with all of his people with him, and they paused at the last house. 18 All of his staff were going on ahead of[s] him—that is, all of the special forces[t] and mercenaries,[u] all of the Gittites, and 600 men who had come to serve[v] him from Gath, went on ahead of the king.
19 Then the king suggested to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you have to go with us? Return and stay with the new[w] king, since you’re a foreigner and exile. Stay where you want to stay.[x] 20 It seems only yesterday that you arrived, so should I make you wander around with us while I go wherever I can? Go back, and take your brothers with you. May gracious love and truth accompany you!”
21 “As the Lord lives,” Ittai answered in reply, “and as your majesty the king lives, wherever your majesty my king may be—whether living or dying—that’s where your servant will be!”
22 So David replied, “Come along, then!” So Ittai the Gittite went along also, accompanied by all of his men and all of his little ones. 23 With all of the people in[y] the territory crying loudly, everybody passed over the Kidron brook, along with the king. Then everyone headed out toward the road that leads to the wilderness.
24 Meanwhile, Zadok showed up also, along with all of the descendants of Levi with him, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God and Abiathar approached while all the people finished abandoning the city. 25 The king told Zadok, “Take the Ark of God back to the city. If I’m shown favor in the Lord’s sight, then he’ll bring me back again and show me both it and the place where it rests.[z] 26 But if he should say something like ‘I’m not pleased with you,’ well then, here I am—let him do to me whatever seems right to him.”
27 The king also asked Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer, too? Go back to the city in comfort, along with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. 28 Look! I’ll camp at the wilderness fords until you send word to inform me.”
29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the Ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there. 30 David then left, going up the Mount of Olives,[aa] crying as he went, with his head covered and his feet bare. All of the people who were with him covered their own heads and climbed up the Mount of Olives,[ab] crying as they went along.
31 Just then, someone told David, “Ahithophel is one of Absalom’s conspirators!”
So David prayed, “Lord, please turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
Hushai Serves as a Spy
32 Just as David was coming to the top of the Mount of Olives where God was being worshipped, there was Hushai the Archite to meet him, with his coat ripped and dust all over his head! 33 David greeted him, “If you come along with me, you’ll be a burden to me. 34 So go back to the city and tell Absalom, ‘I’ll be your servant, your majesty! Just as I served your father in the past, I can be your servant now.’ That way you can manipulate Ahithophel’s advice to my benefit. 35 Won’t Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? So whatever you hear from the king’s palace, you’re to report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Their two sons—Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan—are with them there. You’ll be sending me everything that you hear through them.” 37 So David’s friend Hushai went back to the city just as Absalom was arriving in Jerusalem.
David’s Experience with His Adversaries
16 Now just as David happened to have passed the summit of the Mount of Olives,[ac] suddenly Mephibosheth’s servant Ziba met him, accompanied by a couple of saddled donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 pieces of summer fruit, and a skin of wine! 2 The king asked Ziba, “What are those for?”
Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for your young men to eat, and the wine is for whoever wants to drink if they get weary in the wilderness.”
3 Then the king asked, “Where is your master’s son?”
“He’s staying in Jerusalem!” Ziba answered the king. “He’s saying ‘The nation[ad] of Israel will restore my father’s kingdom to me today!’”
4 So the king told Ziba, “Pay attention! Everything that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!”
In response Ziba said, “I’m submitting to you. Let me find favor in your sight, your majesty the king!”
Shimei Curses David
5 Later on, as King David approached Bahurim, Gera’s son Shimei, who was related to the family of Saul’s household, went out to meet David,[ae] cursing continually as he approached. 6 He threw rocks at David and all of David’s staff who were accompanying him, while all the rest of the entourage, including all of David’s security detail, were close by him.[af] 7 “Get out of here![ag] Get out!” Shimei yelled as he cursed. “You murderer! You who think you’re above the law![ah] 8 The Lord has repaid you personally for murdering the entire dynasty of Saul, whose place you’ve taken to reign! And the Lord has given the kingdom into your son Absalom’s control. Now look! Your own evil has caught up with you, because you’re guilty of murder!”
9 At this point, Zeruiah’s son Abishai asked the king, “Why should this dead dog be cursing your majesty the king? May I have permission to go over and cut off his head?”
10 But the king responded, “What do I have in common with you sons of Zeruiah? If he continues to curse—and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David!’—then who are you to be demanding to know[ai] ‘Why have you done this?’”
11 So David ordered Abishai and all of his staff: “Look! My own son wants to kill me! How much more now is this descendant of Benjamin? Leave him alone and let him go on cursing, because the Lord has ordered him to do this.[aj] 12 Perhaps the Lord will take note of my troubles and return good to me instead of curses today!”
13 So David and his entourage went on their way, and Shimei walked along the hillside with him, cursing, throwing rocks, and tossing dirt at David[ak] as they went along. 14 Eventually, the king and his entourage arrived exhausted at their destination, and David[al] refreshed himself there.
Absalom Captures Jerusalem
15 Right about then, Absalom and his entourage from the people of Israel entered Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel. 16 When David’s friend Hushai the Archite approached Absalom, Hushai greeted Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17 But Absalom asked Hushai, “So this is how you demonstrate your loyalty[am] to your closest friends? Why didn’t you leave with your friend?”
18 Hushai replied, “No! On the contrary, whomever the Lord, this group, and all the men of Israel choose is where I’ll be, and I’ll remain with him! 19 Besides, who else should I be serving? Why not the son? The same way I served your father, I’ll serve you.”[an]
Ahithophel Counsels Absalom
20 So Absalom asked Ahithophel, “What’s your advice? What should we do?”
21 Ahithophel responded, “Go inside and have sex with your father’s mistresses[ao], whom he left to keep the palace in order. Then everyone in Israel will hear how your father has come to hate you and everyone who has joined you will be emboldened to act.” 22 So they erected a tent for Absalom on the palace roof and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s mistresses right in front of all Israel.
Ahithophel Tries to Crush David’s Supporters
23 Now Ahithophel’s advice that he provided at that time was being compared to one who inquired of God, so highly regarded was Ahithophel’s counsel by both David and Absalom. 17 1 “Give me 12,000 men! I’ll leave[ap] tonight and pursue David,” Ahithophel advised Absalom. 2 “I’ll catch him while he is still tired and weak.[aq] I’ll frighten him so all his people with him desert him. But I’ll only kill the king. 3 Then I’ll bring everybody else back to you. When the man you’re looking for is dead, all the rest of the people will return quietly.”
4 Even though this plan seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all of the elders of Israel, 5 Absalom replied, “Call in Hushai the Archite so I can hear what he has to say, too!” 6 When Hushai approached Absalom, Absalom asked him, “Here’s what Ahithophel had to advise. Should we do what he says? Or if not, say so!”
Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice
7 “Ahithophel’s advice is not best at this time,” Hushai suggested to Absalom. 8 “You know how strong your father and his men are. They’re as mad as a bear robbed of her cubs! Furthermore, your father is a skilled warrior. He won’t stay with his army at night. 9 Look! He’s probably already hiding in a cave or someplace like that. If the first attack fails, people will hear about it and think, ‘Absalom’s army is losing!’ 10 Then even men who would otherwise be as brave as lions will be scared, because every Israeli knows your father is a mighty man, and they know his men are valiant! 11 So here’s my advice: Muster everybody from one end of the country to the other![ar] You’ll have an army in number like the sand on the seashore! Then you’ll go into battle! 12 We’ll go find David wherever he’s hiding. We’ll fall on him like dew on the ground! We’ll kill him and all of his men, and we won’t leave even one man alive! 13 If he escapes into a city, we’ll bring ropes to that city and tear it down! We won’t leave a single stone left in the valley!”
14 Absalom and all of the Israelis replied, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than Ahithophel’s!”
Hushai Warns David
But the Lord had planned to circumvent the sound advice of Ahithophel so the Lord could bring Absalom to destruction. 15 So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had suggested to Absalom and the elders of Israel. He also reported what he himself had proposed. Hushai said, 16 “Quick! Get word to David! Tell him not to spend the night at the crossings that lead to the desert. Instead, he must cross the Jordan River immediately. That way, if he crosses the river, the king and his entourage[as] will survive.”
17 Meanwhile, since they could not risk being seen entering the city, Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been waiting at En-rogel, where a young servant woman was to go to inform them and they would then go brief King David. 18 But a young man observed Jonathan and Ahimaaz and informed Absalom, so they left in a hurry, arrived at the home of a man who lived at Bahurim, and hid inside a well that was in his courtyard. 19 The man’s wife grabbed a sheet, covered the mouth of the well with it, and spread some dried grain over it. As a result, nobody could tell it was a hiding place.[at]
20 When Absalom’s servants approached the woman of the house, they asked her, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”
“They’ve already crossed the brook,” the woman answered. So Absalom’s servants went away in search of Jonathan and Ahimaaz, but they couldn’t find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.
21 A little while later, the men crawled up out of the well and went off to talk to King David. They told David, “Get up! Cross the water quickly, because this is what Ahithophel advised about you…” 22 So David got up and all of his entourage crossed the Jordan River.[au] Everyone had crossed the Jordan River by dawn’s first light.
Ahithophel’s Suicide
23 Meanwhile, when Ahithophel observed that his counsel was not being acted upon, he saddled his donkey, got up, and left for his hometown. Leaving behind a set of orders for his household, he hanged[av] himself. After his death he was buried in his father’s tomb.
David Receives Supplies in the Wilderness
24 Later, David arrived at Mahanaim. Absalom and all of the Israelis who supported him crossed the Jordan River. 25 Absalom had installed Amasa in place of Joab over the army. (Amasa was the son of a man named Jether the Ishmaelite. His mother was Abigail, a daughter of Nahash and a sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.) 26 Absalom and the Israelis with him[aw] camped in the territory of Gilead. 27 When David arrived at Mahanaim, Shobi (Nahash’s son from the Ammonite town of Rabbah), Makir (Ammiel’s son from Lo-debar), and Barzillai (from Rogelim in Gilead) were already there. 28 They brought along bedding, bowls, clay basins, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grains, beans, peas, 29 honey, cheeses,[ax] sheep, and cheese made from cow’s milk for David and his entourage because they had been reasoning, “The people are hungry, tired, and thirsty there in the wilderness.”
The Battle Begins
18 David mustered his forces and appointed officers in charge of regiments and companies.[ay] 2 Dividing his forces into three groups, he set Joab as commander of one third of his army, Zeruiah’s son Abishai, Joab’s brother, as commander of another third, and Ittai from Gath as commander of another third. The king informed the army, “I’m going out to battle[az] with you, too.”
3 “No way!” his army responded. “If we have to retreat from the battle, Absalom’s men won’t care about us. Even if half of us die, they won’t care about us. But you are worth 10,000 of us. The best thing you can do for us is to remain in the city.”
4 So David responded, “I’ll do what you think best.” Then he stood alongside the city gate as the army went out in battle array by hundreds and thousands. 5 As they were going out, the king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat young Absalom gently for my sake.” Everyone heard what the king had ordered his commanders about Absalom.
6 David’s army left for the battlefield to fight Absalom and his Israeli followers, and they also fought in the Ephraim forest, 7 where David’s army of servants defeated the Israelis. Many died that day—20,000 men. 8 The battle spread throughout the entire countryside, and the forest claimed more casualties that day than did the sword fighting.
Joab Kills Absalom
9 Absalom happened to run into David’s soldiers. While Absalom was trying to get away on his mule, it ran under the thick branches of a giant oak tree, and Absalom’s head got caught in the tree! As his mule ran out from under him, Absalom was left hanging above the ground. 10 When one of the soldiers saw what had happened, he told Joab, “I saw Absalom stuck in an oak tree!”
11 Joab asked the man who was reporting to him, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you kill him right then and there? I would’ve given you ten pieces[ba] of silver and a warrior’s sash!”[bb]
12 But the soldier replied to Joab, “I wouldn’t have touched the king’s son even if you dropped 1,000 pieces[bc] of silver right into my hands, because we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Watch how you treat the young man Absalom!’ 13 If I had taken his life,[bd] the king would have uncovered everything about it, and you would never have protected me!”
14 “There’s no reason to wait for you!” Joab retorted. Then he took three spears[be] in his hand and stabbed Absalom in the heart while he was still alive, dangling from the branches of[bf] the oak tree. 15 Ten young men who served as Joab’s personal assistants then surrounded Absalom, striking him repeatedly and killing him. 16 At this, Joab sounded his battle trumpet and his troops stopped pursuing the other[bg] Israelis. 17 Meanwhile, Joab’s army grabbed Absalom’s body, tossed it into a large pit in the forest, and filled it up with a huge pile of rocks. Then the Israelis ran away back to their homes.
18 While Absalom had been living, he had erected a pillar as a monument[bh] to himself in King’s Valley because he had been telling himself, “I don’t have a son to carry on my family name.”[bi] So he named the pillar after himself—it’s called Absalom’s Monument even today.
David Learns of Absalom’s Death
19 Zadok’s son Ahimaaz told Joab, “Let me run over to King David and take him the news. I’ll mention that the Lord has delivered him from his enemies.”
20 But Joab answered Ahimaaz, “You’re not the man to deliver news today. Do it any other time, but not today, because the king’s son is dead.” 21 So Joab ordered a man from Ethiopia,[bj] “Go tell the king what you’ve seen.” So the Ethiopian[bk] saluted[bl] Joab and then ran to tell David.
22 “Please,” Zadok’s son Ahimaaz continued, “No matter what happens, let me follow the Ethiopian!”
Joab asked him, “Why this request[bm] to run, my son? There’s no reward in it for you.”
23 “No matter what, I’m running,” Ahimaaz replied.[bn]
So Joab told Ahimaaz, “Run!” And Ahimaaz ran, taking the Jordan Valley road, passing the Ethiopian.
24 Meanwhile, David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman was up on the roof of the gateway near the walls, looking around, and there was a man running by himself! 25 So the watchman[bo] called out his news to the king.
The king responded, “If he’s alone, he’s bringing some news to report.”[bp] As the man continued to draw near and approach the palace,[bq] 26 the watchman observed another man running. So he called out to the gatekeeper, “There’s another[br] man running by himself!”
The king replied, “He’s also bringing some news to report!”
27 Then the watchman observed, “It looks to me that the runner out in front is running like Zadok’s son Ahimaaz!”
The king replied, “This is a good man bearing good news!”
28 “Everything’s fine!”[bs] Ahimaaz announced to the king. He bowed low with his face to the ground[bt] before the king and said, “Praise be to the Lord your God! He has handed over the men who rebelled against your majesty the king.”
29 “Are things fine[bu] with respect to the young man Absalom?” the king asked.
Ahimaaz answered, “I saw a lot of confusion about the time Joab was getting ready to send the king’s courier and me, your servant, but I’m not sure what was going on.”[bv]
30 The king replied, “Stand here at attention and wait.” So he stepped to the side and stood there waiting.
31 Just then the Ethiopian arrived. He[bw] reported, “Good news, your majesty the king! The Lord has delivered you from the control of everyone who rebelled against you!”
32 The king asked the Ethiopian, “Is the young man safe?”
The Ethiopian answered, “May the enemies of your majesty the king—including everyone who rebels and tries to harm you—become like that young man….”
David Mourns for Absalom
33 [bx]Deeply shaken, the king went up to the chamber overlooking the city gate, weeping bitterly and crying out as he went along, “My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom my son, my son!”
Joab Rebukes David
19 [by]Someone informed Joab, “The king is weeping bitterly, mourning for Absalom.” 2 The victory had become an occasion for the army to mourn, because on that very day the troops heard the announcement, “The king is grieving for his son!” 3 So men snuck into the city that day like men do who are ashamed after they’ve run away from a battle.
4 Meanwhile, the king veiled his face and kept on crying loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom my son, my son!”
5 Joab went up to the palace and rebuked the king: “Today you’ve humiliated your entire army who just saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and mistresses! 6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you! You’ve made it abundantly clear today that your officers and the men under them[bz] mean nothing to you! I’ve learned today that you would rather have Absalom alive today and all the rest of us dead! 7 Now get up and restore the morale of[ca] your army. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t get out there, you won’t have a single man left in your army[cb] by nightfall! You’ll be in more trouble today than all the disasters you’ve been through from your boyhood until now!” 8 So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the army was informed, “The king is sitting in the gateway!” they all gathered together in his presence.
David is Reinstated as King
Meanwhile, the Israelis had run away back to their own homes. 9 Throughout the tribes of Israel, everyone was quarreling with one another:
“The king delivered us from the domination of our enemies….”
“He’s the one who rescued us from Philistine control….”
“Now he’s fleeing the country because of Absalom…!”
10 “The very same Absalom we anointed to rule just died in battle…!”
“Now then, why remain silent about bringing the king back…?”
11 So King David sent this message[cc] to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his palace, considering that what’s being reported throughout all of Israel has come to the king at his palace? 12 You’re my relatives! You’re my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last to bring back the king?’ 13 Then ask Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my own flesh and blood? So may God deal with me, no matter how severely, if from this day forward you don’t take Joab’s place as commander of my army.’
14 By doing things like this,[cd] he persuaded all the men of Judah to unite in support of him.[ce] They sent the king this message: “Come on back, you and all of your army!” 15 So the king returned to Israel as far as the Jordan River.[cf]
Shimei is Shown Mercy
The men of Judah went out as far as Gilgal to greet the king and escort him across the Jordan River 16 while Gera’s son Shimei,[cg] a descendant of Benjamin from Bahurim, accompanied them to meet King David. 17 Ziba, the steward in charge of Saul’s household, and 1,000 descendants of Benjamin accompanied him, along with Ziba’s fifteen sons and 20 servants. They rushed toward the Jordan River ahead of the king 18 and forded it to assist the king at the crossing so he could do whatever he wished.
Just as the king was about to ford the Jordan River, Gera’s son Shimei fell down in front of the king 19 and addressed him,[ch] “May your majesty not hold me guilty. Don’t remember how your servant did wrong the day your majesty the king left Jerusalem. May the king not let it burden his heart, 20 because your servant knows that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first one from the entire house of Joseph to meet your majesty the king.”
21 But Zeruiah’s son Abishai asked, “Why shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? After all, he cursed the Lord’s anointed!”
22 David replied, “What do you sons of Zeruiah have in common with me?[ci] You’ve become my enemies today! Should anyone be executed in Israel today? Don’t you know that I’ve been reinstated as king over Israel today?” 23 Then the king addressed Shimei, “You won’t die!” affirming his promise with an oath.
David Meets Mephibosheth
24 Meanwhile, Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth also went out to greet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 25 When he arrived from Jerusalem to greet the king, the king asked him, “So why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?”
26 He replied, “Well, your majesty, since your servant is lame, I told myself, ‘I’ll have my donkey saddled and I’ll ride on it so I can leave with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me 27 by slandering your servant to your majesty.[cj] But your majesty the king is like an angel from God: so do what you think is best. 28 Everyone from my grandfather’s household deserved nothing but death from your majesty the king, but you provided a place for your servant among those who have been eating from your table. So what right do I have to ask for anything more from the king?”
29 In response, the king told him, “What’s the point of us talking anymore? My decision is that you and Ziba divide the fields.”
30 But Mephibosheth told the king, “Let him take all of it, now that your majesty the king has returned safely to his palace.”
David’s Mercy for Barzillai
31 Barzillai the Gileadite also had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan River with the king and to see him on his way from there. 32 Now Barzillai was a very old man at the age of 80 years. A very wealthy man, Barzillai[ck] had provided for king David during his sojourn in Mahanaim.[cl] 33 So the king invited Barzillai, “Cross the Jordan River[cm] with me, live with me in Jerusalem, and I’ll provide for you there.”[cn]
34 “How many more years do I have to live,” Barzillai replied to the king, “that I should move to Jerusalem with the king? 35 I’m now 80 years old! I can hardly tell the difference between what tastes[co] good or bad! I can’t tell what I eat or drink! I can’t hear the voice of men and women when they sing! So why should your servant be an added burden to your majesty the king? 36 Your servant will cross the Jordan River[cp] with the king for a short distance, but why should the king offer me this reward? 37 Please let your servant return so I can die in my own home town near the grave of my father and mother. Meanwhile, here is your servant Chimham![cq] Let him accompany your majesty the king. Please do for him whatever seems best to you.”
38 So the king answered, “Chimham will accompany me, and I’ll do for him whatever seems best to you! I’ll do anything for you that you want!” 39 Then all the people crossed the Jordan River,[cr] followed by the king. The king embraced[cs] Barzillai, blessed him, and then Barzillai[ct] returned to his home.[cu] 40 As the king crossed over the Jordan River[cv] to Gilgal, Chimham accompanied him, as did all the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel.
Petty Quarrels Arise between Israel and Judah
41 Not long afterward, all the men of Israel started coming to the king, complaining to him,[cw] “Why did our relatives in Judah’s army sneak you away, taking the king and his household over the Jordan River,[cx] along with David’s army?”
42 Everybody from Judah shouted to the men from Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. So why are you angry about this? Have we lived off[cy] the king’s expense? Have we appropriated anything for ourselves?”
43 But the men from Israel answered the men from Judah: “We[cz] represent ten of the tribes[da] of Israel! So we[db] have more right to David than you[dc] do! Why haven’t you[dd] taken us[de] seriously? Weren’t we[df] the first to talk about bringing back our[dg] king?” But what the people of Judah had to say was harsher than what the people of Israel were saying.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 15:1 The Heb. lacks recruited
- 2 Samuel 15:1 Lit. to run before
- 2 Samuel 15:1 Cf. 1Sam 8:11
- 2 Samuel 15:2 Lit. Absalom
- 2 Samuel 15:2 The Heb. lacks palace
- 2 Samuel 15:2 The Heb. lacks If
- 2 Samuel 15:6 Lit. hearts
- 2 Samuel 15:7 So MT and LXX; Syr Peshitta and Lucian recension of LXX read four
- 2 Samuel 15:7 The Heb. lacks after Israel had demanded a king; i.e. about ten years before David began his reign. Or forty years after David’s anointing at Bethlehem; cf. 1Sam 16:13
- 2 Samuel 15:8 Lit. servant vowed a vow
- 2 Samuel 15:9 Lit. he
- 2 Samuel 15:11 Lit. about the matter
- 2 Samuel 15:12 Ahithophel was Bathsheba’s grandfather; cf. 2Sam 11:3; 23:34
- 2 Samuel 15:12 The Heb. lacks to come
- 2 Samuel 15:12 Lit. he
- 2 Samuel 15:13 Lit. heart of the man
- 2 Samuel 15:13 Lit. have followed after
- 2 Samuel 15:16 Or concubines; i.e. secondary wives
- 2 Samuel 15:18 Lit. on beside
- 2 Samuel 15:18 Lit. Cherethites; i.e. elite body guards
- 2 Samuel 15:18 Lit. Pelethites; i.e. special couriers
- 2 Samuel 15:18 Lit. come at his feet
- 2 Samuel 15:19 The Heb. lacks new
- 2 Samuel 15:19 Lit. Stay in your own place
- 2 Samuel 15:23 The Heb. lacks of the people in
- 2 Samuel 15:25 Lit. and his habitation
- 2 Samuel 15:30 Lit. the Olivet
- 2 Samuel 15:30 The Heb. lacks the Mount of Olives
- 2 Samuel 16:1 The Heb. lacks of the Mount of Olives
- 2 Samuel 16:3 Lit. house
- 2 Samuel 16:5 The Heb. lacks to meet David
- 2 Samuel 16:6 Lit. were at his right and left hands
- 2 Samuel 16:7 The Heb. lacks of here
- 2 Samuel 16:7 So LXX. MT reads You man of Belial!
- 2 Samuel 16:10 Lit. be saying
- 2 Samuel 16:11 The Heb. lacks to do this
- 2 Samuel 16:13 Lit. him
- 2 Samuel 16:14 Lit. he
- 2 Samuel 16:17 Lit. gracious love
- 2 Samuel 16:19 Lit served in your father’s presence, I’ll serve in your presence
- 2 Samuel 16:21 Or concubines; i.e. secondary wives
- 2 Samuel 17:1 Lit. get up
- 2 Samuel 17:2 Lit. and weak-handed
- 2 Samuel 17:11 Lit. from Dan to Beer-sheba; i.e. Hushai was stalling for time, since Dan was the northernmost Israeli city and Beer-sheba its southernmost.
- 2 Samuel 17:16 Lit. people; and so throughout the chapter
- 2 Samuel 17:19 Lit. And nothing was known
- 2 Samuel 17:22 The Heb. lacks River; and so throughout the chapter
- 2 Samuel 17:23 Lit. strangled
- 2 Samuel 17:26 The Heb. lacks with him
- 2 Samuel 17:29 Or milk curds
- 2 Samuel 18:1 Lit. of thousands and hundreds
- 2 Samuel 18:2 The Heb. lacks to battle
- 2 Samuel 18:11 The Heb. lacks pieces; the unit of payment is unspecified
- 2 Samuel 18:11 Lit. belt; i.e., a commemorative battle decoration
- 2 Samuel 18:12 The Heb. lacks pieces; the unit of payment is unspecified
- 2 Samuel 18:13 Or If I had put my life in jeopardy; i.e. by disobeying David’s order
- 2 Samuel 18:14 Or sticks
- 2 Samuel 18:14 The Heb. lacks the branches of
- 2 Samuel 18:16 The Heb. lacks other
- 2 Samuel 18:18 The Heb. lacks as a monument
- 2 Samuel 18:18 Lit. on memory of my name
- 2 Samuel 18:21 Lit. Cush
- 2 Samuel 18:21 Lit. Cushite; and so throughout the chapter
- 2 Samuel 18:21 Lit. bowed to
- 2 Samuel 18:22 The Heb. lacks request
- 2 Samuel 18:23 The Heb. lacks Ahimaaz replied
- 2 Samuel 18:25 Lit. he
- 2 Samuel 18:25 Lit. news in his mouth
- 2 Samuel 18:25 The Heb. lacks the palace
- 2 Samuel 18:26 The Heb. lacks another
- 2 Samuel 18:28 Lit. Peace!
- 2 Samuel 18:28 The Heb. lacks to the ground
- 2 Samuel 18:29 Lit. Peace!
- 2 Samuel 18:29 The Heb. lacks was going on
- 2 Samuel 18:31 Lit. The Cushite
- 2 Samuel 18:33 This v. is 19:1 in MT
- 2 Samuel 19:1 This v. is 19:2 in MT, 19:2 is 19:3 in MT, and so through 19:43
- 2 Samuel 19:6 Lit. and the servants
- 2 Samuel 19:7 Lit. and encourage
- 2 Samuel 19:7 Lit. left with you
- 2 Samuel 19:11 The Heb. lacks this message
- 2 Samuel 19:14 The Heb. lacks By doing things like this
- 2 Samuel 19:14 The Heb. lacks in support of him
- 2 Samuel 19:15 The Heb. lacks River; and so throughout the chapter
- 2 Samuel 19:16 Cf. 2Sam 16:5-12
- 2 Samuel 19:19 Lit. addressed the king
- 2 Samuel 19:22 Cf. 2Sam 16:10
- 2 Samuel 19:27 Cf. 2Sam 16:1-4
- 2 Samuel 19:32 Lit. he
- 2 Samuel 19:32 Cf. 2Sam 17:27
- 2 Samuel 19:33 The Heb. lacks the Jordan River
- 2 Samuel 19:33 The Heb. lacks there
- 2 Samuel 19:35 The Heb. lacks what tastes
- 2 Samuel 19:36 The Heb. lacks River
- 2 Samuel 19:37 I.e., a son of Barzillai to whom David later gave a land grant near Bethlehem and on which Chimham built an inn that remained at least until the exile; cf. Jer 41:17
- 2 Samuel 19:39 The Heb. lacks River
- 2 Samuel 19:39 Or kissed
- 2 Samuel 19:39 Lit. he
- 2 Samuel 19:39 Lit. place
- 2 Samuel 19:40 The Heb. lacks the Jordan River
- 2 Samuel 19:41 Lit. to the king
- 2 Samuel 19:41 The Heb. lacks River
- 2 Samuel 19:42 Lit. we eaten from
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. I
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. ten hands; i.e. ten fractional portions
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. I
- 2 Samuel 19:43 MT you is sing.
- 2 Samuel 19:43 MT you is sing.
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. me
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. Wasn’t I
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. my
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