David's Return to Jerusalem; Reconciliation and Disputes
2 Samuel 19:9-43
9All the people of the tribes of Israel were judging, saying, "The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom."10Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in the battle. Why then are you silent about bringing the king back?11King David sent to the priests Zadok and Abiathar, saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, 'Why should you be the last to restore the king to his house?'" The word of all Israel had come to the king at his house.12You are my brothers; you are my own bone and flesh. Why then should you be last to bring the king back?13Say also 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 all the days in place of Joab."14He turned the heart of every man of Judah as one man, and they sent this message to the king: Return, you and all your servants.15The king therefore returned and came as far as the Jordan, while Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring him across the Jordan.16Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the man of Judah to meet King David.17A thousand men from Benjamin were with him, together with Ziba the servant of Saul's household, his fifteen sons, and his twenty servants; they rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king.18The ford was crossed to bring the king's household across and to do what was good in his eyes. Shimei son of Gera fell before the king as he crossed the Jordan.19He said to the king, Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember the wrong your servant committed on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem; may the king take it to heart no longer.20For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph, to meet my lord the king.21Abishai son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall Shimei not be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?22David said, What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah, that you should today become an adversary to me? Shall any man be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that I am king over Israel this day?23So the king said to Shimei, You shall not die; and the king gave him his oath.24Mephibosheth son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had neither cared for his feet nor trimmed his mustache nor washed his garments from the day the king departed until the day he came in peace.25When he arrived in Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?26He answered, My lord the king, my servant deceived me. Your servant said, I will saddle a donkey for myself so that I may ride on it and go with the king, because your servant is lame.27He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God; therefore do the pleasant in your eyes.28For all my father's house were nothing but men of death to my lord the king, yet you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further righteousness have I to cry out still to the king?29The king said to him, "Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land."30Mephibosheth said to the king, Let him take all, since my lord the king has come in peace to his house.31Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went with the king across the Jordan to escort him on his way.32Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had sustained the king during his sojourn at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.33The king said to Barzillai, Cross over with me, and I will sustain you with me in Jerusalem.34Barzillai replied to the king, How many years are left to me that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?35I am eighty years old today. Can I still know between good and bad? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks, or still hear the voice of singers and songstresses? Why should your servant still be a burden to my lord the king?36Your servant will cross the Jordan with the king for only a short distance; why should the king repay me with such a reward?37Let your servant please return and die in my city with the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is pleasant in your eyes.38The king said, "Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is pleasant in your eyes, and whatever you choose upon me I will do for you."39All the people crossed the Jordan, and the king also crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned to his own place.40The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him; all the people of Judah and half the people of Israel escorted the king across.41Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said, Why did our brothers the men of Judah steal you away and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all David's men?42All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near to us. Why then has this angered you over the word? Have we eaten at all from the king, or has any gift been taken for us?43The man of Israel answered the man of Judah and said, I have ten hands in the king, and also in David I am more than you. Why then did you treat me with contempt? Was not my word first to bring back my king? Yet the word of the man of Judah was harder than the word of the man of Israel.