1It was told Joab, "Look, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom." 2The victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people; for the people heard it said that day, "The king grieves for his son." 3So the people went quietly into the city that day, the way that people who are humiliated creep away when fleeing in battle. 4The king covered his face, and he cried with a loud voice, "My son Absalom, Absalom, my son." 5Then Joab went into the house to the king, and said, "Today you have humiliated the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and of your daughters and the lives of your wives and the lives of your secondary wives; 6by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you. For you know that if Absalom were alive today, and all of us had died, then you would be pleased. 7Now therefore get up, go out and speak kindly to your servants. For I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, not a man will remain with you this night, and that will be worse for you than all the evil that has happened to you from your youth until now."

8So the king got up and sat at the gate. And all the people were informed, saying, "Look, the king is sitting at the gate." And all the people came before the king. Meanwhile, Israel had fled each man to his tent. 9All the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land and from being over his kingdom. 10Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you not speak a word of bringing the king back?" And the talk of all Israel came to the king.

11So king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his palace? 12You are my brothers, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?' 13Say to Amasa, 'Aren’t you my bone and my flesh? Now then, God do so to me, and more also, if you aren’t commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.'" 14Thus the heart of all the men of Judah was inclined as one man, so that they sent a message to the king, "Return, you and all your servants." 15So the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, having come down to meet the king, to bring the king across the Jordan.

16And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David, 17and a thousand men from Benjamin with him. But Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him, waded through the Jordan ahead of the king, 18and did the work of bringing the king across and to do whatever he wished. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he crossed the Jordan. 19Then he said to the king, "May my lord not consider punishment. Do not remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king left Jerusalem, so that the king should call it to mind. 20For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, look, I have come today the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king." 21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah replied, "Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?" 22But David replied, "What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should become my adversaries today? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? For do you not know that today I begin to rule over Israel?" 23Then the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." And the king gave him his oath.

24Now Mippibaal son of Jonathan son of Saul came down to meet the king, and he had neither cared for his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back safely. 25And it happened when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mippibaal?" 26So he answered, "My lord king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said to him, ‘Saddle a donkey for me so that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ for your servant is lame. 27And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king did that which was good in my eyes, like an angel of God. 28For though all my father’s house were but men doomed to death before my lord the king, yet you placed your servant among those who eat at your table. From whom, then, could I have finer treatment?" But when he cried out to the king," 29the king said, "Why do you multiply your words? I say: You and Ziba divide the property." 30And Mippibaal said to the king, "Yes, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home."

31Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, and he went with the king to conduct him from the Jordan. 32Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old; and he had provided for the king while he was staying at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. 33And the king said to Barzillai, "Come over with me, and I will provide for your old age in Jerusalem with me." 34But Barzillai said to the king, "How many more days would I have there, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35I am now eighty years old. Can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear the voice of male and female singers? Why then should your servant be any further burden to my lord the king? 36Your servant will cross the Jordan with the king for a short distance. Why should the king compensate me in this way? 37Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and my mother. But look, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you." 38And the king answered, "Kimham will go over with me, and I will do for him whatever I consider appropriate, and whatever you require of me I will do for you." 39All the people crossed over the Jordan, but the king remained. Then the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own place.

40So the king went over to Gilgal, and Kimham went over with him. All the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel. 41Look, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, "Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king, and his household, over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?" 42The men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is a close relative to us. Why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s cost? Has he given us a gift? Or has he brought us a portion? " 43Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, "We have ten shares in the king, and we are the firstborn rather than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?" But the comments of the men of Judah were more forceful than the comments of the men of Israel.