And it was told⁵⁰⁴⁶ Joab,³⁰⁹⁷ Behold, the king⁴⁴²⁸ weepeth¹⁰⁵⁸ and mourneth⁵⁶ for Absalom.⁵³

And the victory⁸⁶⁶⁸ that day³¹¹⁷ was turned into mourning⁶⁰ unto all the people:⁵⁹⁷¹ for the people⁵⁹⁷¹ heard⁸⁰⁸⁵ say⁵⁵⁹ that day³¹¹⁷ how the king⁴⁴²⁸ was grieved⁶⁰⁸⁷ for his son.¹¹²¹

And the people⁵⁹⁷¹ gat⁹³⁵ them by stealth¹⁵⁸⁹ that day³¹¹⁷ into the city,⁵⁸⁹² as people⁵⁹⁷¹ being ashamed³⁶³⁷ steal away¹⁵⁸⁹ when they flee⁵¹²⁷ in battle.⁴⁴²¹

But the king⁴⁴²⁸ covered³⁸¹³ his face,⁶⁴⁴⁰ and the king⁴⁴²⁸ cried²¹⁹⁹ with a loud¹⁴¹⁹ voice,⁶⁹⁶³ O my son¹¹²¹ Absalom,⁵³ O Absalom,⁵³ my son,¹¹²¹ my son!¹¹²¹

And Joab³⁰⁹⁷ came⁹³⁵ into the house¹⁰⁰⁴ to the king,⁴⁴²⁸ and said,⁵⁵⁹ Thou hast shamed³⁰⁰¹ this day³¹¹⁷ the faces⁶⁴⁴⁰ of all thy servants,⁵⁶⁵⁰ which this day³¹¹⁷ have saved⁴⁴²² thy life,⁵³¹⁵ and the lives⁵³¹⁵ of thy sons¹¹²¹ and of thy daughters,¹³²³ and the lives⁵³¹⁵ of thy wives,⁸⁰² and the lives⁵³¹⁵ of thy concubines;⁶³⁷⁰

In that thou lovest¹⁵⁷ thine enemies,⁸¹³⁰ and hatest⁸¹³⁰ thy friends.¹⁵⁷ For thou hast declared⁵⁰⁴⁶ this day,³¹¹⁷ that thou regardest neither princes⁸²⁶⁹ nor servants:⁵⁶⁵⁰ for this day³¹¹⁷ I perceive,³⁰⁴⁵ that if³⁸⁶³ Absalom⁵³ had lived,²⁴¹⁶ and all we had died⁴¹⁹¹ this day,³¹¹⁷ then it had pleased³⁴⁷⁷ thee well.

Now therefore arise,⁶⁹⁶⁵ go forth,³³¹⁸ and speak¹⁶⁹⁶ comfortably³⁸²⁰ unto thy servants:⁵⁶⁵⁰ for I swear⁷⁶⁵⁰ by Yahweh,³⁰⁶⁸ if thou go not forth,³³¹⁸ there will not tarry³⁸⁸⁵ one³⁷⁶ with thee this night:³⁹¹⁵ and that will be worse⁷⁴⁸⁹ unto thee than all the evil⁷⁴⁵¹ that befell⁹³⁵ thee from thy youth⁵²⁷¹ until now.

Then the king⁴⁴²⁸ arose,⁶⁹⁶⁵ and sat³⁴²⁷ in the gate.⁸¹⁷⁹ And they told⁵⁰⁴⁶ unto all the people,⁵⁹⁷¹ saying,⁵⁵⁹ Behold, the king⁴⁴²⁸ doth sit³⁴²⁷ in the gate.⁸¹⁷⁹ And all the people⁵⁹⁷¹ came⁹³⁵ before⁶⁴⁴⁰ the king:⁴⁴²⁸ for Israel³⁴⁷⁸ had fled⁵¹²⁷ every man³⁷⁶ to his tent.¹⁶⁸

And all the people⁵⁹⁷¹ were at strife¹⁷⁷⁷ throughout all the tribes⁷⁶²⁶ of Israel,³⁴⁷⁸ saying,⁵⁵⁹ The king⁴⁴²⁸ saved⁵³³⁷ us out of the hand³⁷⁰⁹ of our enemies,³⁴¹ and he delivered⁴⁴²² us out of the hand³⁷⁰⁹ of the Philistines;⁶⁴³⁰ and now he is fled¹²⁷² out of the land⁷⁷⁶ for Absalom.⁵³

And Absalom,⁵³ whom we anointed⁴⁸⁸⁶ over us, is dead⁴¹⁹¹ in battle.⁴⁴²¹ Now therefore why speak ye not a word²⁷⁹⁰ of bringing the king⁴⁴²⁸ back?⁷⁷²⁵

And king⁴⁴²⁸ David¹⁷³² sent⁷⁹⁷¹ to Zadok⁶⁶⁵⁹ and to Abiathar⁵⁴ the priests,³⁵⁴⁸ saying,⁵⁵⁹ Speak¹⁶⁹⁶ unto the elders²²⁰⁵ of Judah,³⁰⁶³ saying,⁵⁵⁹ Why are ye the last³¹⁴ to bring the king⁴⁴²⁸ back⁷⁷²⁵ to his house?¹⁰⁰⁴ seeing the speech¹⁶⁹⁷ of all Israel³⁴⁷⁸ is come⁹³⁵ to the king,⁴⁴²⁸ even to his house.¹⁰⁰⁴

Ye are my brethren,²⁵¹ ye are my bones⁶¹⁰⁶ and my flesh:¹³²⁰ wherefore then are ye the last³¹⁴ to bring back⁷⁷²⁵ the king?⁴⁴²⁸

And say⁵⁵⁹ ye to Amasa,⁶⁰²¹ Art thou not of my bone,⁶¹⁰⁶ and of my flesh?¹³²⁰ Elohim⁴³⁰ do⁶²¹³ so to me, and more³²⁵⁴ also, if thou be not captain⁸²⁶⁹ of the host⁶⁶³⁵ before⁶⁴⁴⁰ me continually³⁶⁰⁵ in the room⁸⁴⁷⁸ of Joab.³⁰⁹⁷

And he bowed⁵¹⁸⁶ the heart³⁸²⁴ of all the men³⁷⁶ of Judah,³⁰⁶³ even as the heart of one²⁵⁹ man;³⁷⁶ so that they sent⁷⁹⁷¹ this word unto the king,⁴⁴²⁸ Return⁷⁷²⁵ thou, and all thy servants.⁵⁶⁵⁰

So the king⁴⁴²⁸ returned,⁷⁷²⁵ and came⁹³⁵ to Jordan.³³⁸³ And Judah³⁰⁶³ came⁹³⁵ to Gilgal,¹⁵³⁷ to go³²¹² to meet⁷¹²⁵ the king,⁴⁴²⁸ to conduct the king⁴⁴²⁸ over⁵⁶⁷⁴ Jordan.³³⁸³

And Shimei⁸⁰⁹⁶ the son¹¹²¹ of Gera,¹⁶¹⁷ a Benjamite,¹¹⁴⁵ which was of Bahurim,⁹⁸⁰ hasted⁴¹¹⁶ and came down³³⁸¹ with the men³⁷⁶ of Judah³⁰⁶³ to meet⁷¹²⁵ king⁴⁴²⁸ David.¹⁷³²

And there were a thousand⁵⁰⁵ men³⁷⁶ of Benjamin¹¹⁴⁴ with him, and Ziba⁶⁷¹⁷ the servant⁵²⁸⁸ of the house¹⁰⁰⁴ of Saul,⁷⁵⁸⁶ and his fifteen²⁵⁶⁸ sons¹¹²¹ and his twenty⁶²⁴² servants⁵⁶⁵⁰ with him; and they went over⁶⁷⁴³ Jordan³³⁸³ before⁶⁴⁴⁰ the king.⁴⁴²⁸

And there went over⁵⁶⁷⁴ a ferry boat⁵⁶⁷⁹ to carry over⁵⁶⁷⁴ the king's⁴⁴²⁸ household,¹⁰⁰⁴ and to do⁶²¹³ what he thought⁵⁸⁶⁹ good.²⁸⁹⁶ And Shimei⁸⁰⁹⁶ the son¹¹²¹ of Gera¹⁶¹⁷ fell down⁵³⁰⁷ before⁶⁴⁴⁰ the king,⁴⁴²⁸ as he was come over⁵⁶⁷⁴ Jordan;³³⁸³

And said⁵⁵⁹ unto the king,⁴⁴²⁸ Let not my sovereign¹¹³ impute²⁸⁰³ iniquity⁵⁷⁷¹ unto me, neither do thou remember²¹⁴² that which thy servant⁵⁶⁵⁰ did perversely⁵⁷⁵³ the day³¹¹⁷ that my sovereign¹¹³ the king⁴⁴²⁸ went out³³¹⁸ of Jerusalem,³³⁸⁹ that the king⁴⁴²⁸ should take⁷⁷⁶⁰ it to his heart.³⁸²⁰

For thy servant⁵⁶⁵⁰ doth know³⁰⁴⁵ that I have sinned:²³⁹⁸ therefore, behold, I am come⁹³⁵ the first⁷²²³ this day³¹¹⁷ of all the house¹⁰⁰⁴ of Joseph³¹³⁰ to go down³³⁸¹ to meet⁷¹²⁵ my sovereign¹¹³ the king.⁴⁴²⁸

But Abishai⁵² the son¹¹²¹ of Zeruiah⁶⁸⁷⁰ answered⁶⁰³⁰ and said,⁵⁵⁹ Shall not Shimei⁸⁰⁹⁶ be put to death⁴¹⁹¹ for this, because he cursed⁷⁰⁴³ Yahweh's³⁰⁶⁸ anointed?⁴⁸⁹⁹

And David¹⁷³² said,⁵⁵⁹ What have I to do with you, ye sons¹¹²¹ of Zeruiah,⁶⁸⁷⁰ that ye should this day³¹¹⁷ be adversaries⁷⁸⁵⁴ unto me? shall there any man³⁷⁶ be put to death⁴¹⁹¹ this day³¹¹⁷ in Israel?³⁴⁷⁸ for do not I know³⁰⁴⁵ that I am this day³¹¹⁷ king⁴⁴²⁸ over Israel?³⁴⁷⁸

Therefore the king⁴⁴²⁸ said⁵⁵⁹ unto Shimei,⁸⁰⁹⁶ Thou shalt not die.⁴¹⁹¹ And the king⁴⁴²⁸ sware⁷⁶⁵⁰ unto him.

And Mephibosheth⁴⁶⁴⁸ the son¹¹²¹ of Saul⁷⁵⁸⁶ came down³³⁸¹ to meet⁷¹²⁵ the king,⁴⁴²⁸ and had neither³⁸⁰⁸ dressed⁶²¹³ his feet,⁷²⁷² nor³⁸⁰⁸ trimmed⁶²¹³ his beard,⁸²²² nor³⁸⁰⁸ washed³⁵²⁶ his clothes,⁸⁹⁹ from the day³¹¹⁷ the king⁴⁴²⁸ departed³²¹² until the day³¹¹⁷ he came⁹³⁵ again in peace.⁷⁹⁶⁵

And it came to pass, when he was come⁹³⁵ to Jerusalem³³⁸⁹ to meet⁷¹²⁵ the king,⁴⁴²⁸ that the king⁴⁴²⁸ said⁵⁵⁹ unto him, Wherefore wentest¹⁹⁸⁰ not thou with me, Mephibosheth?⁴⁶⁴⁸

And he answered,⁵⁵⁹ my sovereign,¹¹³ O king,⁴⁴²⁸ my servant⁵⁶⁵⁰ deceived⁷⁴¹¹ me: for thy servant⁵⁶⁵⁰ said,⁵⁵⁹ I will saddle²²⁸⁰ me a donkey,²⁵⁴³ that I may ride⁷³⁹² thereon, and go³²¹² to the king;⁴⁴²⁸ because thy servant⁵⁶⁵⁰ is lame.⁶⁴⁵⁵

And he hath slandered⁷²⁷⁰ thy servant⁵⁶⁵⁰ unto my sovereign¹¹³ the king;⁴⁴²⁸ but my sovereign¹¹³ the king⁴⁴²⁸ is as an angel⁴³⁹⁷ of Elohim:⁴³⁰ do⁶²¹³ therefore what is good²⁸⁹⁶ in thine eyes.⁵⁸⁶⁹

For all of my father's¹ house¹⁰⁰⁴ were but³⁸⁰⁸ dead⁴¹⁹⁴ men⁵⁸² before my sovereign¹¹³ the king:⁴⁴²⁸ yet didst thou set⁷⁸⁹⁶ thy servant⁵⁶⁵⁰ among them that did eat³⁹⁸ at thine own table.⁷⁹⁷⁹ What right⁶⁶⁶⁶ therefore have³⁴²⁶ I yet to cry²¹⁹⁹ any more unto the king?⁴⁴²⁸

And the king⁴⁴²⁸ said⁵⁵⁹ unto him, Why speakest¹⁶⁹⁶ thou any more of thy matters?¹⁶⁹⁷ I have said,⁵⁵⁹ Thou and Ziba⁶⁷¹⁷ divide²⁵⁰⁵ the land.⁷⁷⁰⁴

And Mephibosheth⁴⁶⁴⁸ said⁵⁵⁹ unto the king,⁴⁴²⁸ Yea, let him take³⁹⁴⁷ all, forasmuch³¹⁰ as⁸³⁴ my sovereign¹¹³ the king⁴⁴²⁸ is come⁹³⁵ again in peace⁷⁹⁶⁵ unto his own house.¹⁰⁰⁴

And Barzillai¹²⁷¹ the Gileadite¹⁵⁶⁹ came down³³⁸¹ from Rogelim,⁷²⁷⁴ and went over⁵⁶⁷⁴ Jordan³³⁸³ with the king,⁴⁴²⁸ to conduct⁷⁹⁷¹ him over Jordan.³³⁸³

Now Barzillai¹²⁷¹ was a very³⁹⁶⁶ aged²²⁰⁴ man, even fourscore⁸⁰⁸⁴ years⁸¹⁴¹ old:¹¹²¹ and he had provided the king⁴⁴²⁸ of sustenance³⁵⁵⁷ while he lay⁷⁸⁷¹ at Mahanaim;⁴²⁶⁶ for he was a very³⁹⁶⁶ great¹⁴¹⁹ man.³⁷⁶

And the king⁴⁴²⁸ said⁵⁵⁹ unto Barzillai,¹²⁷¹ Come thou over⁵⁶⁷⁴ with me, and I will feed³⁵⁵⁷ thee with me in Jerusalem.³³⁸⁹

And Barzillai¹²⁷¹ said⁵⁵⁹ unto the king,⁴⁴²⁸ How long³¹¹⁷ have I to live,⁸¹⁴¹ that I should go up⁵⁹²⁷ with the king⁴⁴²⁸ unto Jerusalem?³³⁸⁹

I am this day³¹¹⁷ fourscore⁸⁰⁸⁴ years⁸¹⁴¹ old:¹¹²¹ and can I discern³⁰⁴⁵ between good²⁸⁹⁶ and evil?⁷⁴⁵¹ can thy servant⁵⁶⁵⁰ taste²⁹³⁸ what⁸³⁴ I eat³⁹⁸ or what⁸³⁴ I drink?⁸³⁵⁴ can I hear⁸⁰⁸⁵ any more the voice⁶⁹⁶³ of singing⁷⁸⁹¹ men and singing⁷⁸⁹¹ women? wherefore then should thy servant⁵⁶⁵⁰ be yet a burden⁴⁸⁵³ unto my sovereign¹¹³ the king?⁴⁴²⁸

Thy servant⁵⁶⁵⁰ will go a little⁴⁵⁹² way over⁵⁶⁷⁴ Jordan³³⁸³ with the king:⁴⁴²⁸ and why should the king⁴⁴²⁸ recompense¹⁵⁸⁰ it me with such a reward?¹⁵⁷⁸

Let thy servant,⁵⁶⁵⁰ I pray thee, turn back again,⁷⁷²⁵ that I may die⁴¹⁹¹ in mine own city,⁵⁸⁹² and be buried by the grave⁶⁹¹³ of my father¹ and of my mother.⁵¹⁷ But behold thy servant⁵⁶⁵⁰ Chimham;³⁶⁴³ let him go over⁵⁶⁷⁴ with my sovereign¹¹³ the king;⁴⁴²⁸ and do⁶²¹³ to him what shall seem good²⁸⁹⁶ unto thee.

And the king⁴⁴²⁸ answered,⁵⁵⁹ Chimham³⁶⁴³ shall go over⁵⁶⁷⁴ with me, and I will do⁶²¹³ to him that which shall seem good²⁸⁹⁶ unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require⁹⁷⁷ of me, that will I do⁶²¹³ for thee.

And all the people⁵⁹⁷¹ went over⁵⁶⁷⁴ Jordan.³³⁸³ And when the king⁴⁴²⁸ was come over,⁵⁶⁷⁴ the king⁴⁴²⁸ kissed⁵⁴⁰¹ Barzillai,¹²⁷¹ and blessed¹²⁸⁸ him; and he returned⁷⁷²⁵ unto his own place.⁴⁷²⁵

Then the king⁴⁴²⁸ went on⁵⁶⁷⁴ to Gilgal,¹⁵³⁷ and Chimham³⁶⁴³ went on⁵⁶⁷⁴ with him: and all the people⁵⁹⁷¹ of Judah³⁰⁶³ conducted⁵⁶⁷⁴ the king,⁴⁴²⁸ and also half²⁶⁷⁷ the people⁵⁹⁷¹ of Israel.³⁴⁷⁸

And, behold, all the men³⁷⁶ of Israel³⁴⁷⁸ came⁹³⁵ to the king,⁴⁴²⁸ and said⁵⁵⁹ unto the king,⁴⁴²⁸ Why have our brethren²⁵¹ the men³⁷⁶ of Judah³⁰⁶³ stolen thee away,¹⁵⁸⁹ and have brought⁵⁶⁷⁴ the king,⁴⁴²⁸ and his household,¹⁰⁰⁴ and all David's¹⁷³² men⁵⁸² with him, over Jordan?³³⁸³

And all the men³⁷⁶ of Judah³⁰⁶³ answered⁶⁰³⁰ the men³⁷⁶ of Israel,³⁴⁷⁸ Because the king⁴⁴²⁸ is near of kin⁷¹³⁸ to us: wherefore then be ye angry²⁷³⁴ for this matter?¹⁶⁹⁷ have we eaten³⁹⁸ at all³⁹⁸ of the king's⁴⁴²⁸ cost? or hath he given⁵³⁷⁵ us any gift?⁵³⁷⁹

And the men³⁷⁶ of Israel³⁴⁷⁸ answered⁶⁰³⁰ the men³⁷⁶ of Judah,³⁰⁶³ and said,⁵⁵⁹ We have ten⁶²³⁵ parts³⁰²⁷ in the king,⁴⁴²⁸ and we⁵⁸⁹ have also more right in David¹⁷³² than ye: why then did ye despise⁷⁰⁴³ us, that our advice¹⁶⁹⁷ should not be first⁷²²³ had in bringing back⁷⁷²⁵ our king?⁴⁴²⁸ And the words¹⁶⁹⁷ of the men³⁷⁶ of Judah³⁰⁶³ were fiercer⁷¹⁸⁵ than the words¹⁶⁹⁷ of the men³⁷⁶ of Israel.³⁴⁷⁸