Psalm 3
Lexham English Bible
A Call to Yahweh in Distress
A psalm of David at his fleeing from the presence of Absalom, his son.[a]
3 Yahweh, how many are my enemies;
many are rising against me.
2 Many are saying about my soul,
“There is no deliverance for him from[b] God. Selah[c]
3 But[d] you, Yahweh, are a shield around me,
my glory and the one who lifts up my head.
4 With my voice I call to Yahweh
and he answers me from his holy hill.[e] Selah
5 I lay down and slept;
I woke up because Yahweh sustains me.
6 I am not afraid of the ten thousands of people
who all around have set themselves against me.
7 Rise up, O Yahweh; deliver me, O my God;
for you strike all my enemies on the cheek.
The teeth of the wicked you break.
8 To Yahweh belongs deliverance;
may your blessing be over your people. Selah
Psalm 3
New American Standard Bible
Morning Prayer of Trust in God.
A Psalm of David, when [a]he fled from his son Absalom.
3 Lord, how (A)my enemies have increased!
Many are rising up against me.
2 Many are saying of my soul,
“There is no (B)salvation for him in God.” Selah
3 But You, Lord, are (C)a shield around me,
My (D)glory, and the One who (E)lifts my head.
4 I was crying out to the Lord with my voice,
And He (F)answered me from (G)His holy [b]mountain. Selah
5 [c]I (H)lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.
6 I will (I)not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have (J)set themselves against me all around.
2 Samuel 15-19
Lexham English Bible
Absalom Leads a Rebellion
15 It happened afterward that Absalom made himself a chariot with horses and fifty men running before him. 2 Absalom used to rise early in the morning, and he stood beside[a] the road at the gate; anyone[b] who had a legal dispute to bring to the king for judgment Absalom would call to him and say, “Where are you from?”[c] And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right, but for you there is no hearing with the king.” 4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh, that someone would[d] appoint me as judge in the land, that anyone[e] might come to me who had a legal dispute or a case, and I would give him justice.” 5 It happened whenever anyone drew near to do obeisance to him, that he would stretch his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Absalom did like this to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts[f] of the people of Israel.
7 It happened at the end of four[g] years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to Yahweh in Hebron, 8 for your servant made a vow while I was staying in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If Yahweh will indeed let me return[h] to Jerusalem, then I will worship Yahweh.’” 9 Then the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron. 10 Then Absalom sent scouts throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “When you hear the sound of the trumpet, you shall shout ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’” 11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom as invited guests, going in their innocence as they did not know anything. 12 Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, the advisor of David, from his city Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. The conspiracy grew in strength,[i] and the people were going and increasing[j] with Absalom.
David Flees from Jerusalem
13 Then the messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts[k] of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Get up and let us flee, for there will be no escape for us from Absalom! Hurry to go, otherwise he will come quickly and overtake us! And he will bring disaster on us and evil! He will attack the city with the edge of the sword!” 15 Then the servants of the king said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king chooses, your servants are ready to act!”[l] 16 The king went out with[m] all his household following him,[n] but the king left behind ten concubines to look after the house. 17 So the king went out with[o] all the people following him,[p] and they stopped at the last house.[q] 18 All his servants were passing by him:[r] all of the Kerethites and all of the Pelethites and all of the Gittites—six hundred men who had followed him[s] from Gath—passing before the king.[t] 19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also coming with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner; moreover, you are an exile. You are far from your place.[u] 20 Yesterday when you came and today,[v] I have caused you to wander by going with us. Now I am going to where I am going; return and let your brothers return. May loyal love and faithfulness be with you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As Yahweh lives[w] and my lord the king lives,[x] surely in the place wherever my lord the king shall be, if for death or if for life, surely there your servant will be.” 22 Then David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over and all his men and all of the little children who were with him. 23 All of the land was weeping with a loud voice as all the people were passing by and the king was crossing through the Wadi Kidron, and all the people were passing on the road to the wilderness.[y]
The Priests Offer Sacrifices for David
24 Suddenly Zadok was there, and all of the Levites with him, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people passed out of the city. 25 The king said to Zadok, “Let the ark of God return to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yawheh, he will let me return and let me see him in his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I take no pleasure in you,’ then I am ready.[z] Let him do to me that which is good in his eyes. 27 Then the king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer? Return to the city in peace, with Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons with you. 28 See, I am waiting at the fords of the wilderness until a word comes from you all to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and they remained there.
Hushai Offers to Serve King David
30 Now David was going up on the Ascent of the Olives, weeping as he went,[aa] with his head covered and going barefoot. All the people who were with him each covered their head and wept as they went.[ab] 31 Now David was told, “Ahithophel was among the conspirators with Absalom.” Then David said, “Please frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel, O Yahweh.” 32 It happened that as David was coming up to the summit where he used to worship God, suddenly Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him. His coat was torn and dirt was on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you move on with me, you will be a burden to me, 34 but if you want to return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I am your servant, O king. I used to be a servant of your father, but from then and now I will be your servant,’ then you can frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35 Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be with you there? It shall be that all the words you hear from the house of the king you shall tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Look, there with them are their two sons, Ahimaaz of Zadok and Jonathan of Abiathar. You shall send to me by means of them[ac] all the words that you hear.” 37 So Hushai the friend of David came to the city as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.
Ziba Brings Provisions
16 Now David passed a little from beyond the summit, and suddenly Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him with a pair of saddled donkeys; on them were two hundred loaves of bread and a hundred raisin cakes, with a hundred summer fruits and a skin of wine. 2 The king said to Ziba, “What do you want to accomplish by bringing these?”[ad] And Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on; the bread and the summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for the faint in the wilderness to drink. 3 Then the king said, “Where is the son of your lord?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is living in Jerusalem for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel shall return the kingdom of my father to me.’” 4 The king said to Ziba, “Look, all that was Mephibosheth’s is yours.” Ziba said, “I hereby do obeisance; may I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”
Shimei Curses David
5 King David came up to Bahurim and suddenly a man from there was coming out from the family of the house of Saul, and his name was Shimei the son of Gera. He was cursing as he came out.[ae] 6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David and at all the people and at all the mighty warriors on his right and on his left. 7 Shimei said while cursing him, “Go out, go out, you man of bloodshed,[af] you man of wickedness.[ag] 8 Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the household of Saul whom you have supplanted as king,[ah] and Yahweh has given the kingship into the hand of Absalom your son. Look, you are in disaster for you are a man of blood.” 9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.” 10 The king said, “What do we have in common,[ai] sons of Zeruiah? If[aj] he curses because Yahweh has said to him ‘Curse David,’ who can say, “Why have you done this?” 11 David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, my son who came out of my loins[ak] is seeking my life. Now as far as[al] this Benjaminite, leave him alone and let him curse, for Yahweh has spoken to him. 12 Perhaps Yahweh will look in my eye[am] and repay good for me in place of his curse this day. 13 Then David and his men went on the road, with Shimei going on the side of the hill beside him, cursing as he went.[an] He threw stones beside him and threw[ao] dust in the air. 14 When the king and all of the people who were with him arrived, he was weary, so he recovered there.
Hushai Comes to Absalom
15 Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, had come to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16 When Hushai the Arkite the friend of David came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king, long live the king!” 17 Absalom said to Hushai, “This is your loyal love with your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 Then Hushai said to Absalom, “No, rather, whom Yahweh and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, to him[ap] I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 Furthermore,[aq] for whom have I served? Is it not in the presence of his son that I have served before your father? So shall I serve you!”[ar] 20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What shall we do?” 21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go to the concubines of your father whom he left behind to watch over the house, then all of Israel will hear that you made yourself odious to your father, and all of your followers will be motivated!”[as] 22 Then they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he went in to the concubines of his father before the eyes of all Israel. 23 The counsel that Ahithophel gave in those days was regarded as when a man[at] inquired of the word of God, so all the counsel of Ahithophel was esteemed both by David and by Absalom.
Hushai Frustrates the Counsel of Ahithophel
17 Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out and pursue after David tonight.[au] 2 I will come upon him while he is weary and weak.[av] I will startle him, and all of the people who are with him will flee. Then I will strike down the king while he is alone. 3 Then I will return all the people to you; when all have returned, the man whom you are seeking will be dead,[aw] but all the people will be safe.” 4 The word was right in the eyes of Absalom and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel. 5 Then Absalom said, “Please call also for Hushai the Arkite, and let us hear what he has to say[ax] also.” 6 So Hushai came to Absalom, who said to him, “Shall we do according to this word that Ahithophel has spoken? If not, then you tell us.” 7 Then Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel gave is not good at this time.”[ay] 8 Hushai continued, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty warriors and they are enraged[az] as a bear robbed of her offspring in the field. Your father is a man of war, so he will not spend the night with the troops. 9 Now he has hidden himself in one of the caves or in one of the places. At the moment he falls on them[ba] the first time, whoever hears[bb] the report will say, ‘There has been a defeat among the people who follow after Absalom.’ 10 And he is also a valiant warrior,[bc] whose heart is like the heart of the lion. He[bd] will certainly melt[be] with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty warrior and those who are with him are valiant warriors.[bf] 11 I give the advice that all of Israel from Dan to Beersheba should be completely gathered to you, as the sand which is on the seashore for abundance, with you personally[bg] going into the battle. 12 Then we will come to him in one of the places where he may be found, and we shall come upon him as the dew falls on the ground. He and all the men who are with him will not survive, not even one! 13 Even if he withdraws to a city, all Israel will bring up ropes to that city, and they will drag him away to the valley until there is not even a pebble to be found.” 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” (Now Yahweh had ordained to frustrate the good counsel of Ahithophel in order for Yahweh to bring misery upon Absalom).
Hushai Sends Word to David
15 Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so[bh] Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, but thus and so[bi] I have advised. 16 So then, send quickly and tell David, ‘Don’t spend the night at the fords of the wilderness! Moreover, by all means cross over lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’” 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel, so a servant girl used to go and tell them, then they would go and tell King David, for they were not able to be seen coming to the city. 18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom, so both of them went quickly and came to the house of a man at Bahurim. Now he had a well in his courtyard, so they went down there. 19 Then the woman took and spread a covering over the opening of the well; then she spread out dried grain on it, so nothing was discovered. 20 When the servants of Absalom came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And she said to them, “They crossed over the brook of water.” So they searched but could not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem. 21 After they left, they came up from the well and went and told King David. They said to David, “Set out and cross over the water quickly, for thus Ahithophel has advised against you.” 22 So David and all the people who were with him set out, and they crossed over the Jordan until morning light until there was no one[bj] missing who had not crossed over the Jordan. 23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled the donkey, and he set out and went up to his house in his city. After he set his house in order,[bk] he hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his ancestors.[bl]
24 Now David had come to Mahanaim, and Absalom had crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Absalom had appointed Amasa in place of Joab over the army. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who had married[bm] Abigail the daughter of Nahash the sister of Zeruiah, the mother of Joab. 26 Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. 27 Just as David had arrived in Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites[bn] and Makir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim 28 brought beds and basins and objects of pottery, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, 29 honey, curds, sheep, cheese, and cattle for David and for the people who were with him to eat. For they had thought, “The troops are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”
Absalom Dies in Battle
18 Then David mustered the people who were with him, and he appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 David sent forth a third of the troops under the command of Joab,[bo] and a third under the command of Abishai,[bp] the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and the remaining third under the command of Ittai[bq] the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I, even I, will certainly go out[br] with you.” 3 Then the troops said, “You will not go out, for if we must flee,[bs] then they will not care about us;[bt] even if half of us die, they will not care about us,[bu] but now, you are like ten thousand of us. And so then, it is better for us that you be in the city to help.” 4 The king said to them, “I will do what seems good in your eyes.” So the king stood at the side of the gate while all of the troops went out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 The king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “With respect to the young man Absalom, deal gently for me.” And all the troops heard when the king ordered all of the commanders concerning the matter of Absalom.
6 The army went out to the field to meet Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. 7 The army of Israel was defeated there before the servants of David, and the defeat there was great on that day: twenty thousand. 8 The battle there was spreading over the surface of all the land, and the forest devoured more among the army than[bv] the sword did on that day. 9 Absalom was found in the presence of the servants of David as he was riding on the mule. The mule went under the thicket of the great oak tree, and his head was caught in the tree. He was left hanging between heaven and earth, and the mule which was under him went on. 10 When a certain man saw it, he told Joab, and he said, “Look, I saw Absalom hanging in the oak tree!” 11 Then Joab said to the man who was telling him, “Look, if you saw, why did you not strike him down to the ground there? I would have gladly given you[bw] ten pieces of silver and a leather belt.” 12 The man said to Joab, “Even if I felt the weight[bx] of a thousand pieces of silver in my palms, I would not have sent my hand against the son of the king, for in our ears the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Whoever you may be, protect the young man Absalom.’ 13 If I had dealt treacherously against his life, and there is not any matter hidden from the king, you would have presented yourself aloof.”[by] 14 Joab said, “No longer will I wait in your presence.” Then he took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree. 15 Then ten of the young men who bore the weapons of Joab surrounded him and struck and killed Absalom. 16 Then Joab blew on the trumpet and the troops returned from pursuing after Israel, for Joab kept back the troops. 17 They took Absalom and they threw him into the large pit in the forest and raised a very great heap of stones over him. Then all of Israel fled, each to his tent.
18 (Now Absalom had taken and set up for himself in his lifetime a stone pillar that is in the valley of the king, because he said, “I have no son in order to remember my name,” and he called the stone pillar by his name. It is called the monument of Absalom until this day). 19 Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the good news to the king that Yahweh has vindicated him from the hand of his enemies.” 20 Joab said to him, “You will not be a man bringing[bz] good news this day! You may bring good news on another day, but today you will not be bringing good news because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen”; then the Cushite bowed down to Joab and ran off. 22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok again said to Joab, “Come what may,[ca] please let me also run after the Cushite.” Joab asked, “Why are you wanting to run, my son, when for you there is no messenger’s reward?”[cb] 23 “Come what may,[cc] I want to run.” He said to him, “Run,” so Ahimaaz ran on the road on the plain, and he passed the Cushite.
24 Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the sentinel went up to the roof of the gate by the wall and he lifted up his eyes and watched, and look, a man was running by himself. 25 The sentry called and told the king, and the king said, “If he is alone, good news is in his mouth.” He kept coming closer.[cd] 26 Then the sentinel saw another man running, so the sentinel called to the gatekeeper and said, “Look, a man running alone.” The king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27 The sentinel said, “I am seeing that the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zakok.” The king said, “He is a good man; he will come, for good news.” 28 Then Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “Peace.” He bowed down to the king with his face to the ground, and he said, “May Yahweh your God be blessed, who has delivered the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.” 29 The king said, “Is it peace for the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz said, “I saw the great commotion when Joab the servant of the king sent your servant, but I do not know what it was all about.” 30 Then the king said, “Turn aside, take your place here,” so he turned aside and waited. 31 Suddenly the Cushite arrived and said, “May my lord the king receive the good news, for Yahweh has vindicated you today from the power of all who stood up against you.” 32 The king said to the Cushite, “Is it peace for the young man Absalom?” Then the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you to harm you[ce] be like the young man!” 33 [cf] The king was upset, and he went up to the upper room of the gate and wept. He said as he went, “My son, Absalom, my son, my son, Absalom. If only[cg] I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son.”
King David Weeps for Absalom
19 And it was told to Joab that the king was weeping and he mourned over Absalom, 2 so the victory turned to mourning on that day for all the army, because they had heard that day, “The king is grieving over his son.” 3 The army came secretly[ch] into the city on that day because the army was disgraced when they fled in the battle, 4 and because the king had covered his face and cried with a loud voice, “My son, Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son.”
5 Then Joab came to the king’s house and said, “Today you have humiliated the faces of all of your servants who have saved your life this day, and the life of your sons and your daughters, the life of your wives, and the life of your concubines, 6 by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you. Indeed, you have made clear this day that you have no regard for your commanders or officers, for I have realized today that were Absalom alive, and all of us were dead, then that would have been right in your eyes! 7 So then, get up and go out and speak kindly to your servants,[ci] for I swear by Yahweh, if you do not go out, no man will lodge this night with you, and this disaster will be greater for you than any disaster that has come upon you from your childhood until now!” 8 So the king got up and he sat in the gate, and they told all the army, “Look, the king is sitting in the gate.” Then all the army came before the king; whereas all of Israel had fled, each to his tent.
David Returns from Exile
9 Then it happened that all the people were disputing among all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies, and he saved us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom. 10 Now Absalom whom we anointed as king over us has died in the battle; so then, why are you taking no action to restore the king?” 11 Then King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah: ‘Why are you last to bring back the king to his house? The talk of all Israel has come to the king in his house. 12 My brothers, you are my bones and you are my flesh. Why should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13 To Amasa you shall say: ‘Are you not my bones and my flesh? May God punish me[cj] if you are not the commander of my army before me forever, in place of Joab.’” 14 So he turned the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your servants.”
15 Then the king returned and he came to the Jordan; Judah had come to Gilgal to come to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan. 16 Then Shimei the son of Gera, the son of the Benjaminite, who was from Bahurim quickly came down with the men of Judah to meet King David, 17 and a thousand men were with him from Benjamin. Too, Ziba the servant of the household of Saul and fifteen of his sons and twenty of his servants were with him, and they rushed to the Jordan before the king. 18 The crossing took place[ck] to bring the household of the king over and to do good in his eyes. Then Shimei the son of Gera fell before the king when he crossed over the Jordan, 19 and he said to the king, “May not my lord hold me guilty, and may you not remember how your servant did wrong on the day that my lord the king went out from Jerusalem, by taking it to heart! 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned; look, I have come this day as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” 21 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah responded and said, “Because of this, should not Shimei be put to death, for he cursed the anointed one of Yahweh?” 22 Then David said, “What is it to me or to you, sons of Zeruiah, that you should be an adversary today? Should anyone be put to death in Israel? Do I not know today that I am king over Israel?” 23 Then the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die,” and so the king swore to him.
24 Now, Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; he had not taken care of his feet nor trimmed his moustache nor washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he came back in peace. 25 It happened that when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not come with me, Mephibosheth?” 26 Then he said, “My lord the king, my servant deceived me, for your servant had said, ‘Let me saddle the donkey that I may ride on her and go with the king,’ for your servant is lame. 27 But he slandered against your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like the angel of God; do as you see fit..”[cl] 28 For there was no one in all the house of my father who were not doomed to death[cm] before my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. Do I have any righteousness any longer except to cry out to the king?” 29 Then the king said to him, “Why should you speak any more about the matter? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.” 30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take the whole thing, since my lord the king has come safely[cn] to his house.”
31 Then Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and crossed with the king over the Jordan to escort him through the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was very old, eighty years old.[co] Now he had provided the king with food while he was staying at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. 33 The king said to Barzillai, “You cross over with me, and I will provide for you to dwell with me in Jerusalem.” 34 Then Barzillai said to the king, “What are the days of the years of my life, that I should go with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am eighty years old today. Can I discern between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be a burden any longer to my lord the king? 36 Your servant shall go over the Jordan with the king a little way, but why should the king recompense me with this reward? 37 Please let your servant return, and let me die in my city in the tomb of my father and my mother. Here is your servant Kimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him that which is good in your eyes.” 38 The king said, “Let Kimham go over with me, and I will do for him the good in your eyes, 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 and kissed Barzillai and blessed him; then he returned to his place. 40 The king went over to Gilgal, and Kimham went over with him. All the people of Judah went over with the king, and half of the people of Israel too. 41 Suddenly, all the men of Israel were coming to the king. They said to the king, “Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen away and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, with all the men of David?” 42 Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is my close relative! Why are you this angry over this matter? Have we by any means eaten anything from the king? Did we take by any means anything that was not ours?”[cp] 43 Then the people of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “I have ten times as much[cq] in the king, moreover in David I have more than you. Why did you treat me with contempt by not giving me first chance[cr] to bring back my king?” But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the word of the men of Israel.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 15:2 Literally “on hand of”
- 2 Samuel 15:2 Literally “every man”
- 2 Samuel 15:2 Literally “Where from this city are you?”
- 2 Samuel 15:4 Literally “Who will …?”
- 2 Samuel 15:4 Literally “every man”
- 2 Samuel 15:6 Hebrew “heart”
- 2 Samuel 15:7 So LXX, followed by Syriac and Vulgate; MT has “forty”
- 2 Samuel 15:8 Literally (following Qere) “If returning Yahweh will return me”
- 2 Samuel 15:12 Literally “became strong”
- 2 Samuel 15:12 Literally “many”
- 2 Samuel 15:13 Hebrew “heart”
- 2 Samuel 15:15 Literally “here are your servants”
- 2 Samuel 15:16 Hebrew “and”
- 2 Samuel 15:16 Literally “at his feet”
- 2 Samuel 15:17 Hebrew “and”
- 2 Samuel 15:17 Literally “at his feet”
- 2 Samuel 15:17 Literally “at the house of the distance”
- 2 Samuel 15:18 Literally “on his hand”
- 2 Samuel 15:18 Literally “who had come at his feet”
- 2 Samuel 15:18 Literally “on the face of the king”
- 2 Samuel 15:19 Literally “You as far as your place”
- 2 Samuel 15:20 Literally “the day”
- 2 Samuel 15:21 Literally “The life of Yahweh”
- 2 Samuel 15:21 Literally “the life of my lord the king”
- 2 Samuel 15:23 Literally “on the face of the road with the wilderness”
- 2 Samuel 15:26 Literally “here I am”
- 2 Samuel 15:30 Literally “going up and weeping”
- 2 Samuel 15:30 Literally “going up and weeping”
- 2 Samuel 15:36 Literally “by their hand”
- 2 Samuel 16:2 Literally “What are these to you?”
- 2 Samuel 16:5 Literally “He was coming out, coming out and cursing”
- 2 Samuel 16:7 Literally “man of bloods”
- 2 Samuel 16:7 Literally “and man of the wickedness”
- 2 Samuel 16:8 Literally “who you have reigned in place of him”
- 2 Samuel 16:10 Literally “What is for me and what is for you”
- 2 Samuel 16:10 Hebrew “Because”
- 2 Samuel 16:11 Hebrew “intestines”
- 2 Samuel 16:11 Literally “and even that now”
- 2 Samuel 16:12 According to the reading tradition (Qere); Kethib has “at my guilt”
- 2 Samuel 16:13 Literally “going and cursing”
- 2 Samuel 16:13 Hebrew “flung”
- 2 Samuel 16:18 According to the reading tradition (Qere); Kethib has “no”
- 2 Samuel 16:19 Literally “And the second thing”
- 2 Samuel 16:19 Literally “So shall I be in your presence”
- 2 Samuel 16:21 Literally “the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened”
- 2 Samuel 16:23 Qere reads “a man inquired”; Kethib omits “a man”
- 2 Samuel 17:1 Literally “the night”
- 2 Samuel 17:2 Literally “slack of hands”
- 2 Samuel 17:3 According to the MT; the LXX has “and I will return all the people to you the way a bride returns to her husband, except the life of the one man whom you are seeking”
- 2 Samuel 17:5 Literally “what is in his mouth”
- 2 Samuel 17:7 Literally “at this occurrence”
- 2 Samuel 17:8 Literally “are bitter of soul”
- 2 Samuel 17:9 I.e., Absalom’s troops
- 2 Samuel 17:9 Literally “and the one who hears hears”
- 2 Samuel 17:10 Literally “son of ability”
- 2 Samuel 17:10 i.e., one of Absalom’s troops
- 2 Samuel 17:10 Literally “melting he will melt”
- 2 Samuel 17:10 Literally “son of ability”
- 2 Samuel 17:11 Literally “your face”
- 2 Samuel 17:15 Literally “so this and so this”
- 2 Samuel 17:15 Literally “so this and so this”
- 2 Samuel 17:22 Literally “until one was not missing”
- 2 Samuel 17:23 Literally “And he commanded to his household”
- 2 Samuel 17:23 Or “fathers”
- 2 Samuel 17:25 Literally “who went to”
- 2 Samuel 17:27 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
- 2 Samuel 18:2 Literally “in the hand of Joab”
- 2 Samuel 18:2 Literally “in the hand of Abishai”
- 2 Samuel 18:2 Literally “in the hand of Ittai”
- 2 Samuel 18:2 Literally “going out I will go out”
- 2 Samuel 18:3 Literally “fleeing we must flee”
- 2 Samuel 18:3 Literally “they will not set heart toward us”
- 2 Samuel 18:3 Literally “they will not set heart toward us”
- 2 Samuel 18:8 Literally “the forest made numerous to eat among the army more than”
- 2 Samuel 18:11 Literally “And upon me to give to you”
- 2 Samuel 18:12 Literally “I am not weighing out on my palms”
- 2 Samuel 18:13 Literally “you would have presented yourself from before”
- 2 Samuel 18:20 Literally “for upon”
- 2 Samuel 18:22 Literally “And let it happen what”
- 2 Samuel 18:22 Literally “and for you there is no good news finding”
- 2 Samuel 18:23 Literally “And let it happen what”
- 2 Samuel 18:25 Literally “And he came, coming and near”
- 2 Samuel 18:32 Literally “for evil”
- 2 Samuel 18:33 2 Samuel 18:33–19:43 in the English Bible is 19:1–44 in the Hebrew Bible
- 2 Samuel 18:33 Literally “Who would grant my dying in place of you”
- 2 Samuel 19:3 Literally “stole secretly to come”
- 2 Samuel 19:7 Literally “speak to the heart of your servants”
- 2 Samuel 19:13 Literally “Thus may God do to me and thus may he add”
- 2 Samuel 19:18 Literally “And the ford crossed”
- 2 Samuel 19:27 Literally “do the good in your eyes”
- 2 Samuel 19:28 Literally “except men of death”
- 2 Samuel 19:30 Literally “in peace”
- 2 Samuel 19:32 Literally “a son of eighty years”
- 2 Samuel 19:42 Literally “By any means did we eat from the king or by any means was it dragged away for us?”
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Literally “ten hands”
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Literally “and my word was not the first”
2 Samuel 15-19
New American Standard Bible
Absalom’s Conspiracy
15 Now it came about after this that (A)Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men [a]to run ahead of him. 2 And Absalom used to rise early and (B)stand beside the road to the gate; and when any man who had a lawsuit was to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call out to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “See, (C)your [b]claims are good and right, but you have no one to listen to you on the part of the king.” 4 Moreover, Absalom would say, “(D)Oh that someone would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has a lawsuit or claim could come to me, and I would give him justice!” 5 And whenever a man approached to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and (E)kiss him. 6 Absalom dealt this way with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; (F)so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.
7 Now it came about at the end of [c]four years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to the Lord, in (G)Hebron. 8 For your servant (H)made a vow while I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘(I)If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’” 9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘(J)Absalom is king in Hebron!’” 11 Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, (K)who were invited and (L)went [d]innocently, for they did not know anything. 12 And Absalom sent for (M)Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city (N)Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for (O)the people continually increased with Absalom.
David Flees Jerusalem
13 Then a messenger came to David, saying, “(P)The hearts of the people of Israel are [e]with Absalom.” 14 So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “(Q)Arise and let’s flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Go quickly, or he will hurry and overtake us, and bring disaster on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 Then the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants will do whatever my lord the king chooses.” 16 So the king left, and all his household [f]with him; but (R)the king left ten concubines behind to take care of the house. 17 The king left, and all the people [g]with him, and they stopped at the last house. 18 Now all of his servants passed by beside him, and (S)all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, (T)six hundred men who had come [h]with him from Gath, passed by before the king.
19 Then the king said to (U)Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you go with us too? Return and stay with [i]your king, since you are a foreigner and an exile as well; return to your own place. 20 You came only yesterday, so should I make you wander with us today, while (V)I go wherever I go? Return and take your brothers back; (W)mercy and [j]truth be with you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, (X)wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there assuredly shall your servant be!” 22 Then David said to Ittai, “Go and cross over the brook Kidron.” So Ittai the Gittite crossed over with all his men and all the [k]little ones who were with him. 23 While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people were crossing over. The king was also crossing over (Y)the brook Kidron, and all the people were crossing over toward (Z)the way of the wilderness.
24 Now behold, (AA)Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, (AB)carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and (AC)Abiathar came up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city. 25 And the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then (AD)He will bring me back and show me both it and (AE)His habitation. 26 But if He says this: ‘(AF)I have no delight in you,’ then here I am, (AG)let Him do to me as seems good [l]to Him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not (AH)a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your (AI)two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I am going to wait (AJ)at the river crossing places of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there.
30 And David was going up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, and (AK)his head was covered, and he was walking (AL)barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his own head, and they were going up, weeping as they went. 31 Now someone informed David, saying, “(AM)Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “Lord, please (AN)make the advice of Ahithophel foolish.”
32 It happened as David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, that behold, Hushai the (AO)Archite met him with his [m]coat torn, and [n]dust on his head. 33 And David said to him, “If you go over with me, then you will become (AP)a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and (AQ)say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; even as I was your father’s servant in time past, so now I will also be your servant,’ then you can foil the advice of Ahithophel for me. 35 Are Zadok and Abiathar the priests not with you there? So it shall be that (AR)whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold (AS)their two sons are there with them, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and (AT)by them you shall send me everything that you hear.” 37 So Hushai, (AU)David’s friend, came into the city, and (AV)Absalom came into Jerusalem.
Ziba, a False Servant
16 Now when David had gone on (AW)a little beyond the summit, behold, (AX)Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him (AY)with a team of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “(AZ)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, (BA)for whoever is weary in the wilderness to drink.” 3 Then the king said, “And where is (BB)your master’s son?” And (BC)Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’” 4 So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; may I find favor in your sight, my lord, the king!”
David Is Cursed
5 When King David came to (BD)Bahurim, behold, a man was coming out from there from the family of the house of Saul, and (BE)his name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he was coming out, (BF)cursing as he came. 6 He also threw stones at David and all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left. 7 This is what Shimei said when he cursed: “Go away, go away, (BG)you man of bloodshed and worthless man! 8 (BH)The Lord has brought back upon you all (BI)the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have become king; and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. And behold, you are caught in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”
9 Then (BJ)Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should (BK)this dead dog (BL)curse my lord the king? Now let me go over and [o]cut off his head.” 10 But the king said, “[p](BM)What business of mine is yours, you sons of Zeruiah? (BN)If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ (BO)then who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, (BP)my son who came out of my own body seeks my life; how much more now this Benjaminite? Leave him alone and let him curse, (BQ)for the Lord has told him. 12 Perhaps the Lord will look on my [q]misery and [r](BR)return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” 13 So David and his men went on the road; and Shimei kept going on the hillside close beside him, and as he went he cursed and threw stones and dirt at him. 14 And the king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted, and he refreshed himself there.
Absalom Enters Jerusalem
15 (BS)Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 Now it came about, when (BT)Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that (BU)Hushai said to Absalom, “(BV)Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 But Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your [s]loyalty to your friend? (BW)Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 So Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whomever the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I shall be, and with him I shall remain. 19 Besides, (BX)whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall be in your presence.”
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “(BY)Have relations with your father’s concubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, (BZ)and Absalom had relations with his father’s concubines (CA)in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now (CB)the advice of Ahithophel, which he [t]gave in those days, was taken as though one inquired of the word of God; (CC)so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.
Hushai’s Counsel
17 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose twelve thousand men and let me set out and pursue David tonight. 2 (CD)And I will [u]attack him while he is weary and [v]exhausted and startle him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then (CE)I will strike and kill the king when he is alone, 3 and I will bring all the people back to you. [w]The return of everyone depends on the man whom you are seeking; then all the people will be at (CF)peace.” 4 And the [x]plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
5 Nevertheless, Absalom said, “Now call (CG)Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear what [y]he has to say.” 6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to [z]him, “Ahithophel has [aa]proposed this plan. Should we [ab]carry out his plan? If not, say so yourself.” 7 So Hushai said to Absalom, “(CH)This time the advice that Ahithophel has [ac]given is not good.” 8 Then Hushai said, “You yourself know your father and his men, that they are warriors and they are [ad]fierce, (CI)like a bear deprived of her cubs in the field. And your father is an [ae]expert in warfare, and he will not spend the night with the people. 9 Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the ravines, or in another place; and it will be that when he falls on them at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’ 10 And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, (CJ)will completely despair; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 But I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, (CK)from Dan even to Beersheba, (CL)like the sand that is by the sea in abundance; and that [af]you personally go into battle. 12 Then we will come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will [ag]fall on him (CM)just as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. 13 And if he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will (CN)drag it into the [ah]valley until not even a pebble is found there.” 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For (CO)the Lord had ordained to foil the good advice of Ahithophel, in order for the Lord to bring disaster on Absalom.
Hushai’s Warning Saves David
15 Then (CP)Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “[ai]This is what Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do, and [aj]this is what I have advised. 16 Now then, send a messenger quickly and tell David, saying, ‘(CQ)Do not spend the night at the river crossing places of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or else the king and all the people who are with him will be [ak]destroyed.’” 17 (CR)Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at (CS)En-rogel, and a female servant would go and inform them, and they would go and inform King David, for they could not allow themselves to be seen entering the city. 18 But a boy did see them, and he told Absalom; so the two of them left quickly and came to the house of a man (CT)in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down [al]into it. 19 And (CU)the woman [am]took a cover and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered barley meal on it, so that nothing was known. 20 Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And (CV)the woman said to them, “They have crossed the brook of water.” And when they searched and did not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21 It came about after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and reported to King David; and they said to David, “(CW)Set out and cross over the water quickly, because this is what Ahithophel has advised against you.” 22 Then David and all the people who were with him set out and crossed the Jordan; by [an]dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan.
23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been [ao]followed, he saddled his donkey and set out and went to his home, to (CX)his city, and [ap](CY)set his house in order, and (CZ)hanged himself; so he died and was buried in his father’s grave.
24 Then David came to (DA)Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Absalom put (DB)Amasa [aq]in command of the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was [ar]Ithra the Israelite, who [as]had relations with Abigail the daughter of (DC)Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
27 Now when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi (DD)the son of Nahash from (DE)Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, (DF)Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and (DG)Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought (DH)beds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, roasted seeds, 29 honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him, (DI)to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and exhausted and thirsty in the wilderness.”
Absalom Killed
18 Then David [at]took a count of the people who were with him and (DJ)appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent the people out, (DK)a third [au]under the command of Joab, a third [av]under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third [aw]under the command of (DL)Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will certainly go out with you also.” 3 But the people said, “(DM)You should not go out; for if in fact we flee, they will not care about us; and if half of us die, they will not care about us. But [ax]you are [ay]worth ten thousand of us; so now it is better that you will be ready to help us from the city.” 4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So (DN)the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 5 But the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And (DO)all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders regarding Absalom.
6 Then the people went out to the field against Israel, and the battle took place in (DP)the forest of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were [az]defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, twenty thousand men. 8 For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 Now Absalom encountered the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the branches of a massive oak. Then (DQ)his head caught firmly in the oak, and he was [ba]left hanging between the sky and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. 10 When a certain man saw him, he informed Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Then Joab said to the man who had informed him, “So behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And it would have been [bb]my duty to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 But the man said to Joab, “Even if I were to [bc]receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for (DR)in our hearing the king commanded you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘[bd]Protect the young man Absalom for me!’ 13 Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against [be]his life (and (DS)there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have [bf]avoided me.” 14 Then Joab said, “I will not [bg]waste time here with you.” (DT)So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the [bh]midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.
16 Then (DU)Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. 17 And they took Absalom and threw him into [bi]a deep pit in the forest, and (DV)erected over him a very large pile of stones. And (DW)all Israel fled, each to his own tent. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and (DX)set up for himself a memorial stone, which is in (DY)the King’s Valley, for he said, “(DZ)I have no son to [bj]continue my name.” So he named the memorial stone after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
David Is Grief-stricken
19 Then (EA)Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news (EB)that the Lord has [bk]freed him from the hand of his enemies!” 20 But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to bring news this day, but you shall bring news another day; however, you shall bring no news this day, because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 22 However, Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since (EC)you will have no messenger’s reward for going?” 23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed by the Cushite.
24 Now (ED)David was sitting between the two gates; and (EE)the watchman went to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked; and behold, a man was running by himself. 25 So the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer. 26 Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man is running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27 The watchman said, “I [bl]think the running form of the first one (EF)is like the running form of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “(EG)This is a good man, and he is coming with good news.”
28 Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “[bm]All is well.” And (EH)he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “(EI)Blessed is the Lord your God, who has turned over the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.” 29 But the king said, “(EJ)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great commotion, but (EK)I did not know what it was.” 30 Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31 Then behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for (EL)the Lord has [bn]freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “(EM)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “(EN)May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be like that young man!”
33 [bo]Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And this is what he said as he walked: “(EO)My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! (EP)If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
Joab Disapproves of David’s Mourning
19 [bp]Then it was reported to Joab, “Behold, (EQ)the king is weeping and he mourns for Absalom.” 2 So the [bq]victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, because the people heard it said that day, “The king is in mourning over his son.” 3 And the people entered the city surreptitiously that day, just as people who are humiliated surreptitiously flee in battle. 4 And the king (ER)covered his face and [br]cried out with a loud voice, “(ES)My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!” 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed [bs]all your servants, who have saved your life today and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6 by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have revealed today that [bt]commanders and servants are nothing to you; for I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then it would be right [bu]as far as you are concerned. 7 Now therefore arise, go out and speak [bv]kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, (ET)no man will stay the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the misfortune that has [bw]happened to you from your youth until now!”
David Restored as King
8 So the king got up and sat at the gate. When they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is (EU)sitting at the gate,” then all the people came before the king.
Now (EV)Israel had fled, each to his tent. 9 And all the people were quarreling throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “(EW)The king rescued us from the [bx]hands of our enemies and (EX)saved us from the [by]hands of the Philistines, but now (EY)he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10 However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?”
11 Then King David sent word to (EZ)Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house? 12 You are my brothers; (FA)you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13 And say to (FB)Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? (FC)May God do so to me, and more so, if you will not be (FD)commander of the army [bz]for me continually, (FE)in place of Joab.’” 14 So he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah (FF)as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.” 15 The king then returned and came as far as the Jordan. And the men of Judah came to (FG)Gilgal in order to go to meet the king, to escort the king across the Jordan.
16 Then (FH)Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and (FI)Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they rushed to the Jordan before the king. 18 Then they crossed the shallow places repeatedly to bring over the king’s household, and to do what was good in his sight. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan. 19 And he said to the king, “(FJ)May my lord not consider me guilty, nor call to mind what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king went out from Jerusalem, so that the king would [ca]take it to heart. 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned; so behold, I have come today, (FK)the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah responded, “(FL)Should Shimei not be put to death for this, (FM)the fact that he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” 22 David then said, “(FN)What [cb]is there between you and me, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be an adversary to me today? (FO)Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?” 23 So the king said to Shimei, “(FP)You shall not die.” The king also swore to him.
24 Then (FQ)Mephibosheth the [cc]grandson of Saul came down to meet the king; but (FR)he had neither [cd]tended to his feet, nor [ce]trimmed his mustache, nor (FS)washed his clothes since the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace. 25 And it was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “(FT)Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26 So he said, “My lord the king, my servant betrayed me; for your servant said, ‘I will [cf]saddle the donkey for myself so that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ (FU)since your servant cannot walk. 27 Furthermore, (FV)he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is (FW)like the angel of God, therefore do what is good in your sight. 28 For (FX)all my father’s household was only people worthy of death to my lord the king; (FY)yet you placed your servant among those who ate at your own table. So what right do I still have, that I should [cg]complain anymore to the king?” 29 So the king said to him, “Why do you still speak of your affairs? I have [ch]decided, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’” 30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has come safely to his own house.”
31 Now (FZ)Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he went on to the Jordan with the king to [ci]escort him over the Jordan. 32 Barzillai was very old: eighty years old; and he had (GA)provided the king food while he stayed in Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. 33 So the king said to Barzillai, “You cross over with me, and I will provide you food in Jerusalem with me.” 34 But Barzillai said to the king, “(GB)How long [cj]do I still have to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am [ck]now (GC)eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I still hear (GD)the voice of men and women singing? (GE)Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king. So why should the king compensate me with this reward? 37 Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant (GF)Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.” 38 And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you [cl]require of me, I will do for you.” 39 All the people crossed over the Jordan and the king crossed too. The king then (GG)kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.
40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; and all the people of Judah and also (GH)half the people of Israel [cm]accompanied the king. 41 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “(GI)Why have our brothers, (GJ)the men of Judah, abducted you and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him, over the Jordan?” 42 Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because (GK)the king is a close relative to [cn]us. Why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all [co]at the king’s expense, or has anything been taken for us?” 43 But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “[cp](GL)We have ten parts in the king, therefore [cq]we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat [cr]us with contempt? Was it not [cs]our [ct]advice first to bring back [cu]our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 15:1 Lit as runners ahead
- 2 Samuel 15:3 Lit words
- 2 Samuel 15:7 As in some ancient versions; MT forty
- 2 Samuel 15:11 Lit in their integrity
- 2 Samuel 15:13 Lit after
- 2 Samuel 15:16 Lit at his feet
- 2 Samuel 15:17 Lit at his feet
- 2 Samuel 15:18 Lit at his feet
- 2 Samuel 15:19 Lit the king
- 2 Samuel 15:20 Or faithfulness
- 2 Samuel 15:22 I.e., children; here, families of the men
- 2 Samuel 15:26 Lit in His sight
- 2 Samuel 15:32 Or tunic
- 2 Samuel 15:32 Lit earth
- 2 Samuel 16:9 Lit take off
- 2 Samuel 16:10 Lit What to me and to you, an ancient idiom
- 2 Samuel 16:12 As in ancient versions; MT wrongdoing
- 2 Samuel 16:12 Lit the Lord will return
- 2 Samuel 16:17 Or faithfulness
- 2 Samuel 16:23 Lit advised
- 2 Samuel 17:2 Lit come upon
- 2 Samuel 17:2 Lit slack of hands
- 2 Samuel 17:3 Lit As the return of the whole is the man whom you seek
- 2 Samuel 17:4 Lit word was pleasing in the sight of
- 2 Samuel 17:5 Lit is in his mouth—even he
- 2 Samuel 17:6 Lit him, saying
- 2 Samuel 17:6 Lit spoken according to this word
- 2 Samuel 17:6 Lit do his word
- 2 Samuel 17:7 Lit advised
- 2 Samuel 17:8 Lit bitter of soul
- 2 Samuel 17:8 Lit man of war
- 2 Samuel 17:11 Lit your face goes
- 2 Samuel 17:12 Lit settle down
- 2 Samuel 17:13 Or wadi; i.e., a dry stream bed
- 2 Samuel 17:15 Lit According to this and this
- 2 Samuel 17:15 Lit According to this and this
- 2 Samuel 17:16 Lit swallowed up
- 2 Samuel 17:18 Lit there
- 2 Samuel 17:19 Lit took and spread the covering
- 2 Samuel 17:22 Lit the light of the morning
- 2 Samuel 17:23 Lit done
- 2 Samuel 17:23 Lit ordered in regard to
- 2 Samuel 17:25 Lit over the army
- 2 Samuel 17:25 In 1 Chr 2:17, Jether the Ishmaelite
- 2 Samuel 17:25 Lit came in to
- 2 Samuel 18:1 Lit mustered
- 2 Samuel 18:2 Lit by the hand of
- 2 Samuel 18:2 Lit by the hand of
- 2 Samuel 18:2 Lit by the hand of
- 2 Samuel 18:3 As in some ancient versions; MT for now there are 10,000 like us
- 2 Samuel 18:3 Lit like us by 10,000
- 2 Samuel 18:7 Lit struck
- 2 Samuel 18:9 Lit placed
- 2 Samuel 18:11 Lit And upon me
- 2 Samuel 18:12 Lit weigh
- 2 Samuel 18:12 As in some mss and ancient versions; MT Protect, whoever you are, the
- 2 Samuel 18:13 Another reading is my life; i.e., at the risk of my own life
- 2 Samuel 18:13 Lit stood aloof
- 2 Samuel 18:14 Lit wait so with
- 2 Samuel 18:14 Lit heart
- 2 Samuel 18:17 Lit the great
- 2 Samuel 18:18 Lit bring to remembrance
- 2 Samuel 18:19 Lit vindicated
- 2 Samuel 18:27 Lit see
- 2 Samuel 18:28 Lit Peace; Heb Shalom
- 2 Samuel 18:31 Lit vindicated
- 2 Samuel 18:33 Ch 19:1 in Heb
- 2 Samuel 19:1 Ch 19:2 in Heb
- 2 Samuel 19:2 Lit salvation
- 2 Samuel 19:4 Lit the king cried
- 2 Samuel 19:5 Lit the faces of all
- 2 Samuel 19:6 Or princes
- 2 Samuel 19:6 Lit in your eyes
- 2 Samuel 19:7 Lit to the heart of your
- 2 Samuel 19:7 Lit come upon
- 2 Samuel 19:9 Lit palm
- 2 Samuel 19:9 Lit palm
- 2 Samuel 19:13 Lit before me
- 2 Samuel 19:19 Lit set
- 2 Samuel 19:22 Lit to me and to you; an ancient idiom
- 2 Samuel 19:24 Lit son
- 2 Samuel 19:24 Lit done
- 2 Samuel 19:24 Lit done
- 2 Samuel 19:26 I.e., have the donkey saddled
- 2 Samuel 19:28 Lit cry out
- 2 Samuel 19:29 Lit said
- 2 Samuel 19:31 Lit send
- 2 Samuel 19:34 Lit are the days of the years of my life
- 2 Samuel 19:35 Lit today
- 2 Samuel 19:38 Lit choose
- 2 Samuel 19:40 Lit crossed over with
- 2 Samuel 19:42 Lit me
- 2 Samuel 19:42 Lit from the king
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Singular in Heb
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Singular in Heb
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Singular in Heb
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Singular in Heb
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit word
- 2 Samuel 19:43 Singular in Heb
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