2 Samuel 19 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Joab Tells David to Speak to His Servants

1 Then it was told ^H5046 to Joab ^H3097, “Behold ^H2009, the king ^H4428 is weeping ^H1058 and mourns ^H56 for Absalom ^H53.”

2 And the salvation ^H8668 that day ^H3117 was turned ^H1961 to mourning ^H60 for all ^H3605 the people ^H5971, for the people ^H5971 heard ^H8085 it said ^H559 that day ^H3117, “The king ^H4428 is grieved ^H6087 for his son ^H1121.” 3 So the people ^H5971 stole ^H1589 away ^H1589 to enter ^H935 into the city ^H5892 that day ^H3117, as people ^H5971 who are dishonored ^H3637 steal ^H1589 away ^H1589 when they flee ^H5127 in battle ^H4421. 4 But as for the king ^H4428, he wrapped ^H3813 his face ^H6440 up ^H3813. Then the king cried ^H2199 out ^H2199 with a loud ^H1419 voice ^H6963, “O my son ^H1121 Absalom ^H53, O Absalom ^H53, my son ^H1121, my son ^H1121!” 5 Then Joab ^H3097 came ^H935 into the house ^H1004 to the king ^H4428 and said ^H559, “Today ^H3117 you have shamed ^H954 the faces ^H6440 of all ^H3605 your servants ^H5650, who today ^H3117 have provided ^H4422 escape ^H4422 for your life ^H5315 and the lives ^H5315 of your sons ^H1121 and daughters ^H1323, the lives ^H5315 of your wives ^H802, and the lives ^H5315 of your concubines ^H6370, 6 by loving ^H157 those who hate ^H8130 you, and by hating ^H8130 those who love ^H157 you. For you have informed ^H5046 all of us today ^H3117 that [fn]princes ^H8269 and servants ^H5650 are nothing ^H369 to you; for I know ^H3045 this day ^H3117 that if ^H3863 Absalom ^H53 were alive ^H2416 and all ^H3605 of us were dead ^H4191 today ^H3117, surely then ^H227 it would be ^H3474 right ^H3474 in your eyes ^H5869. 7 So now ^H6258, arise ^H6965, go ^H3318 out ^H3318 and speak ^H1696 to the heart ^H3820 of your servants ^H5650, for I swear ^H7650 by Yahweh ^H3068, if ^H3588 you do not go ^H3318 out ^H3318, surely ^H518 not a man ^H376 will pass ^H3885 the night ^H3915 with you, and this ^H2088 will be ^H7489 of greater evil ^H7489 for you than ^H4480 all ^H3605 the evil ^H7451 that has come ^H935 upon you from your youth ^H5271 until ^H5704 now ^H6258.”

David Returns to Jerusalem

8 So the king ^H4428 arose ^H6965 and sat ^H3427 in the gate ^H8179. And they told ^H5046 all ^H3605 the people ^H5971, saying ^H559, “Behold ^H2009, the king ^H4428 is sitting ^H3427 in the gate ^H8179.” Then all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 came ^H935 before ^H6440 the king ^H4428.

Now Israel ^H3478 had fled ^H5127, each ^H376 to his tent ^H168. 9 And it happened ^H1961 that all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 were disputing ^H1777 throughout all ^H3605 the tribes ^H7626 of Israel ^H3478, saying ^H559, “The king ^H4428 delivered ^H5337 us from the [fn]hand ^H3709 of our enemies ^H340 and provided ^H4422 us escape ^H4422 from the [fn]hand ^H3709 of the Philistines ^H6430, but now ^H6258 he has fled ^H1272 out of the land ^H776 from Absalom ^H53. 10 However, Absalom ^H53, whom ^H834 we anointed ^H4886 over ^H5921 us, has died ^H4191 in battle ^H4421. So now ^H6258, why ^H4100 are ^H2790 you silent ^H2790 about having ^H7725 the king ^H4428 return ^H7725?”

11 Now King ^H4428 David ^H1732 had sent ^H7971 to Zadok ^H6659 and Abiathar ^H54 the priests ^H3548, saying ^H559, “Speak ^H1696 to the elders ^H2205 of Judah ^H3063, saying ^H559, ‘Why ^H4100 are you the last ^H314 to have ^H7725 the king ^H4428 return ^H7725 to his house ^H1004, while the word ^H1697 of all ^H3605 Israel ^H3478 has come ^H935 to the king ^H4428, even to his house ^H1004? 12 You are my brothers ^H251; you are my bone ^H6106 and my flesh ^H1320. Why ^H4100 then should you be the last ^H314 to have ^H7725 the king ^H4428 return ^H7725?’ 13 And say ^H559 to Amasa ^H6021, ‘Are you not my bone ^H6106 and my flesh ^H1320? May God ^H430 do ^H6213 so ^H3541 to me, and more ^H3254 also ^H3541, if ^H518 you will not be commander ^H8269 of the army ^H6635 before ^H6440 me continually ^H3605 H3117 in ^H8478 place ^H8478 of ^H8478 Joab ^H3097.’” 14 Thus he inclined ^H5186 the hearts ^H3824 of all ^H3605 the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 as one ^H259 man ^H376, so they sent ^H7971 word to the king ^H4428, saying, “Return ^H7725, you and all ^H3605 your servants ^H5650.” 15 The king ^H4428 then returned ^H7725 and came ^H935 as far ^H5704 as the Jordan ^H3383. And Judah ^H3063 came ^H935 to Gilgal ^H1537 in order to go ^H1980 to meet ^H7122 the king ^H4428, to cause the king ^H4428 to pass ^H5674 over ^H5674 across ^H5674 the Jordan ^H3383.

16 Then Shimei ^H8096 the son ^H1121 of Gera ^H1617, the Benjamite ^H1145 who ^H834 was from Bahurim ^H980, hurried ^H4116 and came ^H3381 down ^H3381 with the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 to meet ^H7122 King ^H4428 David ^H1732. 17 Now there were one thousand ^H505 men ^H376 of Benjamin ^H1144 with him, with Ziba ^H6717 the young ^H5288 man ^H5288 of the house ^H1004 of Saul ^H7586, and his fifteen ^H2568 H6240 sons ^H1121 and his twenty ^H6242 servants ^H5650 with him; and they rushed ^H6743 to the Jordan ^H3383 before ^H6440 the king ^H4428. 18 Then they kept passing ^H5674 over ^H5674 the ford ^H5679 to cause the king’s ^H4428 household ^H1004 to pass ^H5674 over ^H5674, and to do ^H6213 what ^H2896 was ^H2896 good ^H2896 in his sight ^H5869. And Shimei ^H8096 the son ^H1121 of Gera ^H1617 fell ^H5307 down ^H5307 before ^H6440 the king ^H4428 as he was about to pass ^H5674 over ^H5674 the Jordan ^H3383. 19 So he said ^H559 to the king ^H4428, “Let not my lord ^H113 consider ^H2803 me guilty ^H5771, nor ^H408 remember ^H2142 what ^H834 your servant ^H5650 did ^H5753 wrong ^H5753 on the day ^H3117 when ^H834 my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 went ^H3318 out ^H3318 from Jerusalem ^H3389, so that the king ^H4428 would [fn]take ^H7760 it to heart ^H3820. 20 For your servant ^H5650 knows ^H3045 that I have sinned ^H2398; therefore behold ^H2009, I have come ^H935 today ^H3117, the first ^H7223 of all ^H3605 the house ^H1004 of Joseph ^H3130 to go ^H3381 down ^H3381 to meet ^H7122 my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428.” 21 But Abishai ^H52 the son ^H1121 of Zeruiah ^H6870 said ^H559, “Should not Shimei ^H8096 be put ^H4191 to ^H4191 death ^H4191 for this ^H2088, because ^H3588 he cursed ^H7043 the anointed ^H4899 of Yahweh ^H3068?” 22 David ^H1732 then said ^H559, “What ^H4100 have I to do with you, O sons ^H1121 of Zeruiah ^H6870, that you should this day ^H3117 be an adversary ^H7854 to me? Should any ^H376 man ^H376 be put ^H4191 to ^H4191 death ^H4191 in Israel ^H3478 today ^H3117? For do I not know ^H3045 that I am king ^H4428 over ^H5921 Israel ^H3478 today ^H3117?” 23 And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to Shimei ^H8096, “You shall not die ^H4191.” Thus the king ^H4428 swore ^H7650 to him.

24 Now Mephibosheth ^H4648 the [fn]son ^H1121 of Saul ^H7586 had come ^H3381 down ^H3381 to meet ^H7122 the king ^H4428; and he had not ^H3808 done ^H6213 anything for his feet ^H7272, nor ^H3808 done ^H6213 anything for his mustache ^H8222, nor ^H3808 washed ^H3526 his clothes ^H899, from the day ^H3117 the king ^H4428 departed ^H1980 until ^H5704 the day ^H3117 he came ^H935 home in peace ^H7965. 25 Now it happened ^H1961 when ^H3588 he came ^H935 from Jerusalem ^H3389 to meet ^H7122 the king ^H4428, that the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to him, “Why ^H4100 did you not go ^H1980 with me, Mephibosheth ^H4648?” 26 So he answered ^H559, “O my lord ^H113, the king ^H4428, my servant ^H5650 deceived ^H7411 me; for your servant ^H5650 said ^H559, ‘I will saddle ^H2280 a donkey ^H2543 for myself that I may ride ^H7392 on it and go ^H1980 with the king ^H4428,’ because ^H3588 your servant ^H5650 is lame ^H6455. 27 Moreover, he has slandered ^H7270 your servant ^H5650 to my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428; but my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 is like the angel ^H4397 of God ^H430, therefore do ^H6213 what ^H2896 is ^H2896 good ^H2896 in your sight ^H5869. 28 For all ^H3605 my father’s ^H1 household ^H1004 was nothing ^H3808 but men ^H376 worthy of death ^H4194 before my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428; yet you set ^H7896 your servant ^H5650 among those who ate ^H398 at your own table ^H7979. What ^H4100 right ^H6666 do I have ^H3426 yet ^H5750 that I should [fn]complain ^H2199 anymore ^H5750 to the king ^H4428?” 29 So the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to him, “Why ^H4100 do you still ^H5750 speak ^H1696 of your affairs ^H1697? I have [fn]decided ^H559, ‘You and Ziba ^H6717 shall divide ^H2505 the land ^H7704.’” 30 And Mephibosheth ^H4648 said ^H559 to the king ^H4428, “Let him even ^H1571 take ^H3947 it all ^H3605, since ^H310 H834 my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 has come ^H935 in ^H935 peace ^H7965 to his own house ^H1004.”

31 Now Barzillai ^H1271 the Gileadite ^H1569 had come ^H3381 down ^H3381 from Rogelim ^H7274; and he passed ^H5674 over ^H5674 the Jordan ^H3383 with the king ^H4428 in order to send ^H7971 him off over the Jordan ^H3383. 32 Now Barzillai ^H1271 was ^H2204 very ^H3966 old ^H2204, being eighty ^H8084 years ^H8141 old ^H1121; and he had [fn]sustained ^H3557 the king ^H4428 while he stayed ^H7871 at Mahanaim ^H4266, for he was a very ^H3966 great ^H1419 man ^H376. 33 And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to Barzillai ^H1271, “You pass ^H5674 over ^H5674 with me and I will [fn]sustain ^H3557 you in Jerusalem ^H3389 with me.” 34 But Barzillai ^H1271 said ^H559 to the king ^H4428, “How ^H4100 long ^H4100 [fn]have I yet to live ^H2416, that I should go ^H5927 up ^H5927 with the king ^H4428 to Jerusalem ^H3389? 35 I am [fn]now ^H3117 eighty ^H8084 years ^H8141 old ^H1121. Can I know ^H3045 between ^H996 good ^H2896 and bad ^H7451? Or ^H518 can your servant ^H5650 taste ^H2938 what ^H834 I eat ^H398 or what ^H834 I drink ^H8354? Or ^H518 can I hear ^H8085 anymore ^H5750 the voice ^H6963 of singing ^H7891 men and women? Why ^H4100 then should your servant ^H5650 be an added ^H5750 burden ^H4853 to my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428? 36 Your servant ^H5650 would merely ^H4592 pass ^H5674 over ^H5674 the Jordan ^H3383 with the king ^H4428. Why ^H4100 should the king ^H4428 compensate ^H1580 me with this ^H2088 reward ^H1578? 37 Please ^H4994 let your servant ^H5650 return ^H7725, that I may die ^H4191 in my own city ^H5892 near ^H5973 the grave ^H6913 of my father ^H1 and my mother ^H517. However, here ^H2009 is your servant ^H5650 Chimham ^H3643, let him pass ^H5674 over ^H5674 with my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428, and do ^H6213 for him what ^H834 is good ^H2895 in your sight ^H5869.” 38 So the king ^H4428 answered ^H559, “Chimham ^H3643 shall pass ^H5674 over ^H5674 with me, and I will do ^H6213 for him what ^H2896 is ^H2896 good ^H2896 in your sight ^H5869; and whatever ^H3605 H834 you [fn]require ^H977 of me, I will do ^H6213 for you.” 39 Then all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 passed ^H5674 over ^H5674 the Jordan ^H3383 and the king ^H4428 passed ^H5674 over ^H5674 too. The king ^H4428 then kissed ^H5401 Barzillai ^H1271 and blessed ^H1288 him, and he returned ^H7725 to his place ^H4725.

40 Now the king ^H4428 went ^H5674 on ^H5674 to Gilgal ^H1537, and Chimham ^H3643 went ^H5674 on ^H5674 with him; and all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 of Judah ^H3063 and also ^H1571 half ^H2677 the people ^H5971 of Israel ^H3478 [fn]accompanied ^H5674 the king ^H4428. 41 And behold ^H2009, all ^H3605 the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 came ^H935 to the king ^H4428 and said ^H559 to the king ^H4428, “Why ^H4069 had our brothers ^H251 the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 stolen ^H1589 you away ^H1589, and caused the king ^H4428 and his household ^H1004 and all ^H3605 David’s ^H1732 men ^H376 with him to pass ^H5674 over ^H5674 the Jordan ^H3383?” 42 Then all ^H3605 the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 answered ^H6030 the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478, “Because ^H3588 the king ^H4428 is a close ^H7138 relative ^H7138 to [fn]us. Why ^H4100 then [fn]are ^H2734 you angry ^H2734 about ^H5921 this ^H2088 matter ^H1697? Have we eaten ^H398 at ^H398 all ^H398 at the king’s ^H4428 expense, or ^H518 has [fn]anything ^H5375 been taken ^H5375 for us?” 43 But the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 answered ^H6030 the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 and said ^H559, “[fn]We have ten ^H6235 parts ^H3027 in the king ^H4428, therefore [fn]we also ^H1571 have more ^H4480 claim on David ^H1732 than ^H4480 you. Why ^H4069 then did you treat ^H7043 us with ^H7043 contempt ^H7043? Was it not [fn]our word ^H1697 first ^H7223 to have [fn]our king ^H4428 return ^H7725?” Yet the words ^H1697 of the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 were ^H7185 harsher ^H7185 than ^H4480 the words ^H1697 of the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478.