2 Samuel 19 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Joab Disapproves of David’s Mourning

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

2 So the [fn]victory ^H8668 that day ^H3117 was turned ^H1961 into mourning ^H60 for all ^H3605 the people ^H5971, because ^H3588 the people ^H5971 heard ^H8085 it said ^H559 that day ^H3117, “The king ^H4428 is in mourning ^H6087 over his son ^H1121.” 3 And the people ^H5971 entered ^H935 the city ^H5892 surreptitiously ^H1589 that day ^H3117, just ^H834 as ^H834 people ^H5971 who are humiliated ^H3637 surreptitiously ^H1589 flee ^H5127 in battle ^H4421. 4 And the king ^H4428 covered ^H3813 his face ^H6440 and [fn]cried ^H2199 out ^H2199 with a loud ^H1419 voice ^H6963, “My son ^H1121 Absalom ^H53, 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 [fn]all ^H3605 your servants ^H5650, who have saved ^H4422 your life ^H5315 today ^H3117 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 revealed ^H5046 today ^H3117 that [fn]commanders ^H8269 and servants ^H5650 are nothing ^H369 to you; for I know ^H3045 today ^H3117 that if ^H3863 Absalom ^H53 were alive ^H2416 and all ^H3605 of us were dead ^H4191 today ^H3117, then ^H227 it would be ^H3474 right ^H3474 [fn]as far as you are concerned ^H5869. 7 Now ^H6258 therefore arise ^H6965, go ^H3318 out ^H3318 and speak ^H1696 [fn]kindly ^H3820 to your servants ^H5650, for I swear ^H7650 by the LORD ^H3068, if ^H3588 you do not go ^H3318 out ^H3318, no ^H518 man ^H376 will stay ^H3885 the night ^H3915 with you, and this ^H2088 will be ^H7489 worse ^H7489 for you than ^H4480 all ^H3605 the misfortune ^H7451 that has [fn]happened ^H935 to you from your youth ^H5271 until ^H5704 now ^H6258!”

David Restored as King

8 So the king ^H4428 got ^H6965 up ^H6965 and sat ^H3427 at the gate ^H8179. When they told ^H5046 all ^H3605 the people ^H5971, saying ^H559, “Behold ^H2009, the king ^H4428 is sitting ^H3427 at 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 all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 were quarreling ^H1777 throughout ^H3605 the tribes ^H7626 of Israel ^H3478, saying ^H559, “The king ^H4428 rescued ^H5337 us from the [fn]hands ^H3709 of our enemies ^H340 and saved ^H4422 us from the [fn]hands ^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. Now ^H6258 then, why ^H4100 are ^H2790 you silent ^H2790 about bringing ^H7725 the king ^H4428 back ^H7725?”

11 Then King ^H4428 David ^H1732 sent ^H7971 word 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 bring ^H7725 the king ^H4428 back ^H7725 to his house ^H1004, since 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 bring ^H7725 back ^H7725 the king ^H4428?’ 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 so ^H3541, if ^H518 you will not be commander ^H8269 of the army ^H6635 [fn]for me continually ^H3605 H3117, in ^H8478 place ^H8478 of ^H8478 Joab ^H3097.’” 14 So he turned ^H5186 the hearts ^H3824 of all ^H3605 the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 as one ^H259 man ^H376, so that 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 the men of Judah ^H3063 came ^H935 to Gilgal ^H1537 in order to go ^H1980 to meet ^H7122 the king ^H4428, to escort ^H5674 the king ^H4428 across ^H5674 the Jordan ^H3383.

16 Then Shimei ^H8096 the son ^H1121 of Gera ^H1617, the Benjaminite ^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 And there were a thousand ^H505 men ^H376 of Benjamin ^H1144 with him, and Ziba ^H6717 the servant ^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 crossed ^H5674 the shallow ^H5679 places ^H5679 repeatedly to bring ^H5674 over ^H5674 the king’s ^H4428 household ^H1004, 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 cross ^H5674 the Jordan ^H3383. 19 And he said ^H559 to the king ^H4428, “May my lord ^H113 not consider ^H2803 me guilty ^H5771, nor ^H408 call ^H2142 to ^H2142 mind ^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; so 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 responded ^H6030 H559, “Should Shimei ^H8096 not be put ^H4191 to ^H4191 death ^H4191 for this ^H2088, the fact ^H3588 that he cursed ^H7043 the LORD’S ^H3068 anointed ^H4899?” 22 David ^H1732 then said ^H559, “What ^H4100 [fn]is there between you and me, you sons ^H1121 of Zeruiah ^H6870, that you should be an adversary ^H7854 to me today ^H3117? Should anyone ^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 So the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to Shimei ^H8096, “You shall not die ^H4191.” The king ^H4428 also swore ^H7650 to him.

24 Then Mephibosheth ^H4648 the [fn]grandson ^H1121 of Saul ^H7586 came ^H3381 down ^H3381 to meet ^H7122 the king ^H4428; but he had neither ^H3808 [fn]tended ^H6213 to ^H6213 his feet ^H7272, nor ^H3808 [fn]trimmed ^H6213 his mustache ^H8222, nor ^H3808 washed ^H3526 his clothes ^H899 since ^H4480 the day ^H3117 the king ^H4428 departed ^H1980 until ^H5704 the day ^H3117 he came ^H935 home in peace ^H7965. 25 And it was 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 said ^H559, “My lord ^H113 the king ^H4428, my servant ^H5650 betrayed ^H7411 me; for your servant ^H5650 said ^H559, ‘I will [fn]saddle ^H2280 the donkey ^H2543 for myself so that I may ride ^H7392 on it and go ^H1980 with the king ^H4428,’ since ^H3588 your servant ^H5650 cannot ^H6455 walk ^H6455. 27 Furthermore, 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 only ^{H3808 H3588 H518} people ^H376 worthy of death ^H4194 to my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428; yet you placed ^H7896 your servant ^H5650 among those who ate ^H398 at your own table ^H7979. So what ^H4100 right ^H6666 do I still ^H5750 have ^H3426, 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 safely ^H7965 to his own house ^H1004.”

31 Now Barzillai ^H1271 the Gileadite ^H1569 had come ^H3381 down ^H3381 from Rogelim ^H7274; and he went ^H5674 on ^H5674 to the Jordan ^H3383 with the king ^H4428 to [fn]escort ^H7971 him over the Jordan ^H3383. 32 Barzillai ^H1271 was ^H2204 very ^H3966 old ^H2204: eighty ^H8084 years ^H8141 old ^H1121; and he had provided ^H3557 the king ^H4428 food ^H3557 while he stayed ^H7871 in Mahanaim ^H4266, for he was a very ^H3966 great ^H1419 man ^H376. 33 So the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to Barzillai ^H1271, “You cross ^H5674 over ^H5674 with me, and I will provide ^H3557 you food ^H3557 in Jerusalem ^H3389 with me.” 34 But Barzillai ^H1271 said ^H559 to the king ^H4428, “How ^H4100 long ^H3117 H8141 [fn]do I still have 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 distinguish ^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 still ^H5750 hear ^H8085 the voice ^H6963 of men ^H7891 and women ^H7891 singing ^H7891? 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 cross ^H5674 over ^H5674 the Jordan ^H3383 with the king ^H4428. So why ^H4100 should the king ^H4428 compensate ^H1580 me with this ^H2088 reward ^H1578? 37 Please ^H4994 let your servant ^H5650 return ^H7725, so 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 cross ^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 And the king ^H4428 answered ^H559, “Chimham ^H3643 shall cross ^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 All ^H3605 the people ^H5971 crossed ^H5674 over ^H5674 the Jordan ^H3383 and the king ^H4428 crossed ^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 have our brothers ^H251, the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063, abducted ^H1589 you and brought ^H5674 the king ^H4428 and his household ^H1004 and all ^H3605 David’s ^H1732 men ^H376 with him, 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 are ^H2734 you angry ^H2734 about ^H5921 this ^H2088 matter ^H1697? Have we eaten ^H398 at ^H398 all ^H398 [fn]at the king’s ^H4428 expense, or ^H518 has 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 [fn]us with ^H7043 contempt ^H7043? Was it not [fn]our [fn]advice ^H1697 first ^H7223 to bring ^H7725 back ^H7725 [fn]our king ^H4428?” 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.