1 Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 The victory that day turned to mourning for all the people, because the people heard that day that the king was grieving for his son. 3 The people stole into the city that day as people steal away in shame when they flee from battle. 4 The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”

5 Joab came to the king in the house and said, “Today you have put to shame all your servants who have saved your life today, and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives and concubines. 6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. Today you have made it clear that commanders and servants mean nothing to you. I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, that would please you. 7 Now get up, go out and speak to the hearts of your servants. I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a man will stay with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come upon you from your youth until now.”

8 So the king got up and sat in the gateway. All the people were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,” and all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled, each to his tents.

9 Throughout all the tribes of Israel, all the people were arguing, saying, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the land because of Absalom. 10 Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why are you silent about bringing the king back?”

11 King David sent word to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: “Speak to the elders of Judah and say, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the words of all Israel have reached the king at his house? 12 You are my brothers, my bone and my flesh. Why should you be the last to bring the king back?’ 13 And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me always in place of Joab.’ ” 14 He turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, and they sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your servants.” 15 So the king set out to return and came to the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. 16 Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 With him were a thousand men from Benjamin. Ziba, the servant of Saul’s house, also came with his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They crossed the Jordan ahead of the king. 18 The ferry crossed over to bring the king’s household across and to do whatever seemed good to him. Shimei son of Gera fell down before the king as he was crossing the Jordan. 19 He said to the king, “Let my lord not count me guilty or remember the wrong your servant did on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Let the king not take it to heart. 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned. So today I have come, the first of all the house of Joseph, to come down and meet my lord the king.”

21 Abishai son of Zeruiah replied, “Should Shimei not be put to death for this, since he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”

22 But David said, “What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 The king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” And the king swore it to him.

24 Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also came down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet, trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned in peace. 25 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 deceived me. Your servant had said, ‘I will saddle the donkey for myself, ride on it and go with the king,’ for your servant is lame. 27 But he slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like an angel of God, so do what seems good to you. 28 For all my father’s house were nothing but men doomed to death before my lord the king, yet you placed your servant among those who eat at your table. What right do I still have to appeal to the king?”

29 The king said to him, “Why speak any more about your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.” 30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take it all, since my lord the king has come home in peace.”

31 Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and crossed the Jordan with the king to see him across the Jordan. 32 Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. 33 The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.” 34 Barzillai said to the king, “How many days of life have I left, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am eighty years old today. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat and drink? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singing? Why should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will cross the Jordan with the king for a little way. Why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. Here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”

38 The king said, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Whatever you ask of me, I will do for you.” 39 All the people crossed the Jordan, and the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned to his own place.

40 The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimhan went with him. All the people of Judah brought the king across, along with half the people of Israel. 41 Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, “Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king and his household across the Jordan, with all David’s men?”

42 All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is our close relative. Why are you angry about this? Have we eaten at the king’s expense, or has any gift been given to us?”

43 The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and more claim to David than you. Why have you treated us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.