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].