2 Samuel 19 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Joab was told, "The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom."

So the victory that day turned into mourning for the entire army, because the troops heard that the king was devastated over his son.

The troops snuck back into the city that day the way an army sneaks back when they're humiliated after running from battle.

The king covered his face and kept crying out loudly, "My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!"

Then Joab went inside to the king and said, "Today you've humiliated every one of your men — the ones who just saved your life, and the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines."

You're showing love for the people who hate you and hatred for the people who love you. You've made it crystal clear today that your officers and men mean nothing to you. I can see that if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead, you'd be perfectly happy with that.

Now get up, go out, and encourage your men! Because I swear by Yahweh — if you don't go out there, not a single man will stay with you tonight. And that will be worse for you than every disaster you've faced from the time you were young until now.

So the king got up and took his seat at the city gate. When all the troops were told, "Look, the king is sitting at the gate," the entire army came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had all fled to their homes.

Throughout all the tribes of Israel, people were arguing with each other, saying, "The king rescued us from our enemies. He saved us from the Philistines. But now he's fled the country because of Absalom."

"And Absalom, whom we anointed as our king, has died in battle. So why isn't anyone talking about bringing the king back?"

King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: "Tell the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace? The talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters.'"

"You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. Why should you be the last to bring the king back?"

"And say to Amasa, 'Aren't you my flesh and blood? May God strike me dead if you don't become my permanent army commander in place of Joab.'"

He won over the hearts of every man in Judah as if they were one person, and they sent word to the king: "Come back — you and all your men."

So the king started back and arrived at the Jordan River. The men of Judah had come to Gilgal to meet the king and escort him across the Jordan.

Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, rushed down with the men of Judah to meet King David.

A thousand men from Benjamin were with him, along with Ziba, the servant of Saul's household, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan ahead of the king.

They crossed at the ford to bring the king's household over and to do whatever the king wanted. Shimei son of Gera fell on his face before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan.

He said to the king, "Please don't hold my wrongdoing against me, my lord. Don't remember the terrible thing your servant did on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Please don't take it to heart."

"Your servant knows that I've done wrong. That's why I'm the first from the entire house of Joseph to come down today to meet my lord the king."

But Abishai son of Zeruiah spoke up: "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed Yahweh's anointed king!"

David said, "What does this have to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Are you going to be my adversaries today? Should anyone in Israel be put to death today? Don't I know that today I am king over Israel again?"

Then the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." And the king gave him his oath.

Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, also came down to meet the king. He hadn't washed his feet, trimmed his mustache, or laundered his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely.

When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Why didn't you come with me, Mephibosheth?"

He answered, "My lord the king, my servant deceived me. Your servant said, 'Let me saddle my donkey so I can ride it and go with the king' — because your servant is lame."

"He slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like a messenger of God — so do whatever seems right to you."

"All of my grandfather's family deserved nothing but death from my lord the king. But you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your own table. So what right do I have to appeal to the king for anything more?"

The king said to him, "Why keep talking about all this? I've decided — you and Ziba will split the land."

Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take it all! I'm just glad my lord the king has come home safely."

Barzillai the Gileadite had also come down from Rogelim and crossed the Jordan with the king to escort him across the river.

Barzillai was very old — eighty years old. He had provided for the king during his stay at Mahanaim, because he was an extremely wealthy man.

The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me and I'll take care of you in Jerusalem — you'll live with me there."

But Barzillai said to the king, "How many years do I have left that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?"

"I'm eighty years old. Can I still tell the difference between good and bad? Can your servant even taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still enjoy the sound of singing men and women? Why should your servant be another burden on my lord the king?"

"Your servant would barely make it across the Jordan with the king. Why should the king reward me like this?"

"Please let your servant go back so I can die in my own town, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham — let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him whatever you think is right."

The king said, "Chimham will cross over with me, and I'll do for him whatever you think is right. And anything you want from me, I'll do for you."

So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and gave him his farewell, and Barzillai went back home.

The king then crossed over to Gilgal, and Chimham crossed with him. The entire army of Judah and half the army of Israel escorted the king across.

Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said, "Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal you away? Why did they escort the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all of David's men?"

All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is our close relative! Why are you so upset about this? Have we eaten anything at the king's expense? Has he given us any special gifts?"

The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in the king, and we have a greater claim on David than you do. So why did you treat us with contempt? Weren't we the first to talk about bringing the king back?" But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.