| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | International Standard Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1 Someone informed Joab, "The king is weeping bitterly, mourning for Absalom." |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2The 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3So men snuck into the city that day like men do who are ashamed after they've run away from a battle. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Meanwhile, the king veiled his face and kept on crying loudly, "My son Absalom! Absalom my son, my son!" |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Joab 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6You 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 mean nothing to you! I've learned today that you would rather have Absalom alive today and all the rest of us dead! |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Now get up and restore the morale of 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 by nightfall! You'll be in more trouble today than all the disasters you've been through from your boyhood until now!" |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8So 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. Meanwhile, the Israelis had run away back to their own homes. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Throughout 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10"The very same Absalom we anointed to rule just died in battle…!" "Now then, why remain silent about bringing the king back…?" |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11So King David sent this message 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12You're my relatives! You're my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last to bring back the king?' |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Then 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14By doing things like this, he persuaded all the men of Judah to unite in support of him. They sent the king this message: "Come on back, you and all of your army!" |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15So the king returned to Israel as far as the Jordan River. The men of Judah went out as far as Gilgal to greet the king and escort him across the Jordan River |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16while Gera's son Shimei, a descendant of Benjamin from Bahurim, accompanied them to meet King David. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17Ziba, 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18and 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19and addressed him, "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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20because 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21But Zeruiah's son Abishai asked, "Why shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? After all, he cursed the LORD's anointed!" |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22David replied, "What do you sons of Zeruiah have in common with me? 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23Then the king addressed Shimei, "You won't die!" affirming his promise with an oath. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24Meanwhile, 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25When he arrived from Jerusalem to greet the king, the king asked him, "So why didn't you come with me, Mephibosheth?" |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26He 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27by slandering your servant to your majesty. But your majesty the king is like an angel from God: so do what you think is best. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28Everyone 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29In response, the king told him, "What's the point of us talking anymore? My decision is that you and Ziba divide the fields." |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30But Mephibosheth told the king, "Let him take all of it, now that your majesty the king has returned safely to his palace." |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31Barzillai 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32Now Barzillai was a very old man at the age of 80 years. A very wealthy man, Barzillai had provided for king David during his sojourn in Mahanaim. |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33So the king invited Barzillai, "Cross the Jordan River with me, live with me in Jerusalem, and I'll provide for you there." |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 35I'm now 80 years old! I can hardly tell the difference between what tastes 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36Your servant will cross the Jordan River with the king for a short distance, but why should the king offer me this reward? |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37Please 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! Let him accompany your majesty the king. Please do for him whatever seems best to you." |
| 38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38So 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 39Then all the people crossed the Jordan River, followed by the king. The king embraced Barzillai, blessed him, and then Barzillai returned to his home. |
| 40[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 40As the king crossed over the Jordan River to Gilgal, Chimham accompanied him, as did all the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel. |
| 41[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 41Not long afterward, all the men of Israel started coming to the king, complaining to him, "Why did our relatives in Judah's army sneak you away, taking the king and his household over the Jordan River, along with David's army?" |
| 42[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 42Everybody 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 the king's expense? Have we appropriated anything for ourselves?" |
| 43[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 43But the men from Israel answered the men from Judah: "We represent ten of the tribes of Israel! So we have more right to David than you do! Why haven't you taken us seriously? Weren't we the first to talk about bringing back our king?" But what the people of Judah had to say was harsher than what the people of Israel were saying. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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