2 Samuel 19:9-39

2 Samuel 19

⁹ All the people in all the tribes of Israel were quarreling and saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies. He saved us from the hand of the Philistines. Now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. ¹⁰ But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now why are you silent about bringing back the king?”

¹¹ King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. He said, “Speak to the elders of Judah. Ask them, ‘Why will you be the last to bring the king back to his palace?’ The plan that all Israel has been discussing has been reported to the king at his house. ¹² You are my brothers. You are my flesh and blood. ^[1] Why will you be the last to bring back the king?”

¹³ He also said, “Say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my flesh and blood? May God punish me severely and double it, ^[2] if you are not the permanent commander of my army in place of Joab.’”

¹⁴ David turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as if they were one man. They sent to the king and said, “Return, you and all your servants.”

¹⁵ So the king returned and came to the Jordan. The men of Judah came out to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king across the Jordan.

¹⁶ Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. ¹⁷ One thousand men from Benjamin were with him. Also, Ziba, the manager of the house of Saul, came, along with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king. ¹⁸ They crossed over the ford to escort the household of the king across and to make a good impression on the king.

Shimei son of Gera bowed down before the king when he was crossing over the Jordan. ¹⁹ He spoke to the king: “My lord, do not consider me guilty. Do not remember the wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king went out from Jerusalem, and do not take it to heart, ²⁰ for I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Look! I have come today, the first one from the whole house of Joseph to come down to welcome my lord the king.”

²¹ Abishai son of Zeruiah answered, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death because he cursed the anointed of the Lord?”

²² But David said, “What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? For today you are my adversaries. Should any man in Israel be put to death today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” ²³ The king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” The king took an oath concerning him.

²⁴ Mephibosheth, grandson of Saul, also came down to welcome the king. He had not taken care of his feet or his beard and had not washed his clothing from the day the king departed until the day he came back in safety. ²⁵ When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”

²⁶ Mephibosheth answered, “Your servant said, ‘Because I am crippled, I need to have the donkey saddled so that I can ride on it and go with the king.’ But, my lord the king, my servant deceived me. ²⁷ He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. However, my lord the king is like an angel of God. Do what is right in your eyes. ²⁸ All the house of my father deserved death from my lord the king, but you included your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right do I have to cry out again to the king?”

²⁹ The king said to him, “Why say more about your situation? I say that you and Ziba are to divide the land.”

³⁰ Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has come safely to his house.”

³¹ Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim. He crossed over the Jordan, escorting the king back over the Jordan. ³² Barzillai was very old, eighty years old. He had provided food for the king during his stay at Mahanaim because he was a very wealthy man. ³³ The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me. I will provide for you as my guest in Jerusalem.”

³⁴ But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years am I going to be alive? Why should I go up with the king to Jerusalem? ³⁵ Today I am eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat and what I drink? Can I still hear the voice of the male and female singers? Why should your servant become a further burden to my lord the king? ³⁶ Let your servant cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance. Why will the king pay me back with such a reward? ³⁷ Please, let your servant return and die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But look! Here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems good to you.”

³⁸ So the king said, “Kimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you. All that you want from me, I will do for you.”

³⁹ So all the people crossed over the Jordan, and the king also crossed over. Then he kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Barzillai then returned to his own home.