2 Samuel 19:1-13 ▼

1 It was told Joab, |Look, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.|

2 The 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.|

3 So the people went quietly into the city that day, the way that people who are humiliated creep away when fleeing in battle.

4 The king covered his face, and he cried with a loud voice, |My son Absalom, Absalom, my son.|

5 Then 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;

6 by 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.

7 Now 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.|

8 So 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.

9 All 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.

10 Absalom, 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.

11 So 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?

12 You are my brothers, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?'

13 Say 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.'|