Old/New Testament
Joab Rebukes David
19 [a]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[b] 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[c] 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[d] 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[e] 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,[f] he persuaded all the men of Judah to unite in support of him.[g] 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.[h]
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,[i] 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,[j] “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?[k] 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.[l] 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[m] had provided for king David during his sojourn in Mahanaim.[n] 33 So the king invited Barzillai, “Cross the Jordan River[o] with me, live with me in Jerusalem, and I’ll provide for you there.”[p]
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[q] 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[r] 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![s] 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,[t] followed by the king. The king embraced[u] Barzillai, blessed him, and then Barzillai[v] returned to his home.[w] 40 As the king crossed over the Jordan River[x] 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,[y] “Why did our relatives in Judah’s army sneak you away, taking the king and his household over the Jordan River,[z] 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[aa] the king’s expense? Have we appropriated anything for ourselves?”
43 But the men from Israel answered the men from Judah: “We[ab] represent ten of the tribes[ac] of Israel! So we[ad] have more right to David than you[ae] do! Why haven’t you[af] taken us[ag] seriously? Weren’t we[ah] the first to talk about bringing back our[ai] king?” But what the people of Judah had to say was harsher than what the people of Israel were saying.
Sheba’s Rebellion
20 Right about then, Bichri’s son Sheba, an ungodly man[aj] from the tribe of Benjamin, sounded a battle trumpet and announced:
We’ve never been a part of David!
We’ll never gain anything from Jesse’s son!
It’s every man to his tent, Israel!
2 So all of the other Israeli soldiers[ak] abandoned David to follow Bichri’s son Sheba, while the army of Judah remained with the king all the way from the Jordan River[al] to Jerusalem.
3 When David arrived at his palace in Jerusalem, the king took the ten mistresses[am] whom he had left behind to keep the palace in order and placed them in a separate house, providing for them under the care of a protective guard. He never visited them again, so they were under care until they died, living as if their husbands had died.
4 Meanwhile, David ordered Amasa, “Muster the army of Judah here within three days, and be here yourself!”
5 But when Amasa went out to muster the army of[an] Judah, he delayed to act within the time allotted to him. 6 So David told Abishai, “Now Bichri’s son Sheba is about to do more damage than did Absalom. So take my personal guards and go after them. Otherwise, he’ll run to one of the fortified cities and escape from us.” 7 So Joab’s men, the special forces[ao] and mercenaries,[ap] and all of David’s elite forces left Jerusalem in pursuit of Bichri’s son Sheba.
Joab Murders Amasa
8 When they arrived at the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came out to meet them. Joab was dressed in a soldier’s uniform, over which was a belt that fastened a sword sheath to his thigh. As he walked forward, the sword was exposed. 9 Joab asked Amasa, “Is everything going well with you, my brother?” As Joab took Amasa by his beard to greet him, 10 Amasa did not notice the sword that Joab was holding in his hand. Joab stabbed him in the abdomen, spilling his intestines to the ground in a single stroke and killing him. After this, Joab and his brother pursued Bichri’s son Sheba.
11 One of Joab’s soldiers stood by Amasa while he lay dying[aq] and announced, “Whoever is in favor of Joab and David, let him follow Joab.” 12 While Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway, everybody who passed by was stopping to stare at him, so when the soldier saw that all of the army was stopping, he carried Amasa off the highway into a nearby field and covered him with a garment. 13 After Amasa[ar] had been removed from the highway, the rest of the army followed Joab in pursuit of Bichri’s son Sheba.
Sheba Dies at Abel of Beth-maacah
14 Meanwhile, Sheba traveled throughout the tribes of Israel in the direction of Abel and Beth-maacah, and all of the descendants of Beri[as] gathered together and followed him inside. 15 All of the men who had accompanied Joab arrived and besieged Sheba in Abel of Beth-maacah. They threw up a siege ramp against the city rampart and began to batter the wall to demolish it. 16 Just then a wise woman called out from the city. “Attention!” she said, “Go tell Joab ‘Come here! I want to talk to you!’” 17 Joab came over and the woman asked him, “Are you Joab?”
“I am,” he answered.
So she told him, “Listen to what your servant has to say!”
“I’m listening,” he replied.
18 So she said, “In days past, people used to settle a dispute by saying ‘Let’s ask for advice at Abel!’ 19 I’m one of the peaceful and faithful citizens of Israel. You’re trying to destroy a city that’s a mother in Israel. Why are you devouring the heritage of the Lord?”
20 But Joab replied, “No way! No way! I’m not here to devour or destroy! 21 That’s a lie! But there is a man from the Ephraim hill country—he’s known as Bichri’s son Sheba—who has rebelled against King David. Turn him over and I’ll withdraw from the city!”
So the woman replied, “Watch this! His head will be thrown to you over the city wall.” 22 Then the woman wisely went back to her people. They cut off the head of Bichri’s son Sheba and threw it out to Joab, so Joab sounded his battle trumpet and they withdrew from the city. Everybody went back home and Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.
23 Joab commanded the entire army of Israel, Jehoiada’s son Benaiah commanded the special forces[at] and mercenaries,[au] 24 Adoram supervised conscripted labor, Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was the recorder, 25 Sheva was secretary, Zadok and Abiathar were priests, 26 and Ira the Jairite[av] was David’s priest.
The Parable about the Judge and the Widow
18 Jesus[a] told his disciples[b] a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up. 2 He said, “In a city there was a judge who didn’t fear God or respect people. 3 In that city there was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while the judge[c] refused. But later, he told himself, ‘I don’t fear God or respect people, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice. Otherwise, she will keep coming and wear me out.’”
6 Then the Lord added, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says. 7 Won’t God grant his chosen people justice when they cry out to him day and night? Is he slow to help them? 8 I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
The Parable about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 Jesus[d] also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves, thinking they were righteous, but who looked down on everyone else: 10 “Two men went up to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘O God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—thieves, dishonest people, adulterers, or even this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of my entire income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even look up to heaven. Instead, he continued to beat his chest and said, ‘O God, be merciful to me, the sinner that I am!’[e] 14 I tell you, this man, rather than the other one, went down to his home justified, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus Blesses the Little Children(A)
15 Now some people[f] were even bringing their infants to Jesus[g] to have him touch them. But when the disciples saw this, they sternly told the people[h] not to do that. 16 Jesus, however, called for the children[i] and said, “Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these. 17 I tell all of you[j] with certainty, whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never get into it at all.”
A Rich Man Comes to Jesus(B)
18 Then an official asked Jesus,[k] “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Nobody is good except for one—God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Never commit adultery.[l] Never murder.[m] Never steal.[n] Never give false testimony.[o] Honor your father and mother.’”[p]
21 The official[q] replied, “I have kept all of these since I was a young man.”
22 When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still need to do one thing. Sell everything you have and give the money[r] to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.” 23 But when the official[s] heard this he became sad, because he was very rich.
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