2 Samuel 19 - Amplified Bible (AMP)

Joab Reproves David’s Lament

19 It was told to Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory on that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said on that day, “The king grieves for his son.” 3 The people stole into the city [of Mahanaim] that day, as people who are humiliated and ashamed steal away when they retreat in battle. 4 But the king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have put all your servants to shame who this day have saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and [a]concubines. 6 For you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have shown today that commanders and servants are nothing to you; for today I know that if Absalom had lived and all the rest of us had died today, then you would be pleased. 7 So now stand up, go out and speak kindly and encouragingly to your servants; for I swear by the Lord that if you do not go out, not a man will stay with you tonight. And this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”

David Restored as King

8 Then the king stood and sat at the gate [of Mahanaim]. And they told all the people, “The king is sitting at the gate,” and all the people came before the king.

But Israel [Absalom’s troops] had fled, every man to his tent. 9 All the people were quarreling throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king rescued us from the hands of our enemies, and he saved us from the hands of the Philistines, but now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. So now, why are you [leaders] doing nothing about bringing back the king?”

11 Then King David sent word to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house [in Jerusalem], since the word of all Israel has come to the king, and to his house? 12 You are my brothers (relatives, relations); you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’ 13 Say to Amasa [the commander of Absalom’s troops], ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.’” 14 In this way he changed the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so they sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your [b]servants.” 15 So David returned and came to the Jordan. And [supporters from] Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king, to escort him across the Jordan.

16 Then Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men [from the tribe of] of Judah to meet King David, 17 and a thousand men [from the tribe] of Benjamin with him. And Ziba, the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him, rushed down to the Jordan before the king. 18 Then they [repeatedly] crossed the ford to bring over the king’s household (family), and to do what pleased him. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan, 19 and said to the king, “Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did [c]wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart. 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, behold, I have come today, the first of all the [d]house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, “Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” 22 David said, “What [e]business is this of yours, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be an adversary to me today? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not be put to death.” And so the king gave him his promise.(A)

24 Then Mephibosheth the [grand]son of Saul came down to meet the king, but he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned in peace and safety. 25 And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26 He said, “My lord the king, my servant [Ziba] betrayed me; for I said, ‘Saddle a donkey for me so that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ for your servant is lame [but he took the donkeys and left without me].(B) 27 Further, he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is like the angel of God; so do what is good in your eyes. 28 For were not all of my father’s household (family) nothing but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. So what right do I still have to cry out anymore to the king [for help]?” 29 The king said to him, “Why speak anymore of your affairs? I have said, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’” 30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has returned to his own house in safety and peace.”

31 Now Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went on to the Jordan with the king to escort him over the Jordan. 32 Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old; and he had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great and wealthy man. 33 The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and I will provide for you in Jerusalem with me.” 34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How much longer have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am this day eighty years old. Can I [be useful to advise you to] discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or drink? Can I still hear the voices of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king compensate me with this reward? 37 Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own city [and be buried] by the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham [my son]; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”(C) 38 The king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you; and whatever you ask of me, I will do for you.” 39 So all the people crossed over the Jordan. When the king had crossed over, he kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.

40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; and all the people of Judah and also half the people of Israel accompanied the king. 41 And all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, “Why have our brothers (relatives), the men [from the tribe] of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him over the Jordan [instead of waiting for us to arrive]?” 42 Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative to us. So why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has anything been taken for us?” 43 Then the men of [f]Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten [tribes’] shares in the king, and we have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt and ignore us [by rushing ahead]? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” [g]But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 19:5 See note Gen 22:24.
  2. 2 Samuel 19:14 See note 15:14.
  3. 2 Samuel 19:19 Shimei’s insulting behavior is recorded in 16:5-8.
  4. 2 Samuel 19:20 A general reference to the ten northern tribes. The most important tribes in the north descended from Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph’s sons.
  5. 2 Samuel 19:22 Lit to me and to you.
  6. 2 Samuel 19:43 I.e. the ten tribes of the north.
  7. 2 Samuel 19:43 This tribal dispute led to the revolt of Sheba.

Cross references

  1. 2 Samuel 19:23 : 1 Kin 2:44-46
  2. 2 Samuel 19:26 : 2 Sam 16:1-4
  3. 2 Samuel 19:37 : 1 Kin 2:7

You Might Also Like:

2 Samuel 19 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

19 And it is declared to Joab, `Lo, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom;' 2 and the salvation on that day becometh mourning to all the people, for the people hath heard on that day, saying, `The king hath been grieved for his son.' 3 And the people stealeth away, on that day, to go in to th...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

19 Forsooth it was told to Joab, that the king wept, and bewailed his son; 2 and the victory in that day was turned into mourning to all the people; for the people heard, that it was said in that day, The king maketh sorrow on his son. (and so the victory that day was turned into mourning for all th...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - World English Bible (WEB)

19 Joab was told, “Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.” 2 The victory that day was turned into mourning among all the people; for the people heard it said that day, “The king grieves for his son.” 3 The people sneaked into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - The Voice (VOICE)

David should never be counted out. Hours before, Absalom has everything going his way, and David is run out of his kingdom. Smart and fierce, he doesn’t spend all those years hiding from Saul and fighting with little or no resources for nothing. Although he orders his generals to be merciful to his ...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

David Weeps Over Absalom19 The king was shaken. So he went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. As he walked he cried, “My son Absalom! O my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Then Joab was told, “Look, the king is weeping and mourning over Absal...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

19 It was told Jo′ab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Ab′salom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people; for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed ...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

19 It was told Jo′ab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Ab′salom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people; for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed ...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

19 It was told Joab, ‘The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.’ 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops; for the troops heard that day, ‘The king is grieving for his son.’ 3 The troops stole into the city that day as soldiers steal in who are ashamed when they fl...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

19 It was told Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”(A)2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops, for the troops heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 The troops stole into the city that day as soldiers steal in who are ashamed when they fl...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Joab Rebukes the King19 [a]Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. 2 As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. 3 They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and h...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New Life Version (NLV)

19 Then Joab was told, “See, the king is crying. He is filled with sorrow for Absalom.” 2 So the happiness of winning the battle that day was changed to sorrow for all the people. For they heard that day, “The king is filled with sorrow for his son.” 3 So the people were quiet as they went in secr...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New King James Version (NKJV)

David Returns to Jerusalem19 And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and (A)mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into (B)mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 And the people [a]stole back (C)into the ...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

19 [a]Joab was told, ‘The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.’ 2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, ‘The king is grieving for his son.’ 3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New International Version (NIV)

19 [a]Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when t...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

19 Someone told Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom. He’s filled with sadness because his son has died.” 2 The army had won a great battle that day. But their joy turned into sadness. That’s because someone had told the troops, “The king is filled with sorrow because his son is dead...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New English Translation (NET)

19 (19:2) Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.” 2 So the victory of that day was turned to mourning as far as all the people were concerned. For the people heard on that day, “The king is grieved over his son.” 3 That day the people stole away to go to the city the way pe...
Read More