People told Joab, “Look, the king is sad and crying because of Absalom.” David’s army had won the battle that day. But it became a very sad day for all the people, because they heard that the king was very sad for his son. The people came into the city quietly that day. They were like an army that had been defeated in battle and had run away. The king covered his face and cried loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
Joab went into the king’s house and said, “Today you have shamed all your men. They saved your life and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives, and slave women. You have shamed them because you love those who hate you, and you hate those who love you. Today you have made it clear that your commanders and men mean nothing to you. What if Absalom had lived and all of us were dead? I can see you would be pleased. Now go out and encourage your servants. I swear by the LORD that if you don’t go out, no man will be left with you by tonight! That will be worse than all the troubles you have had from your youth until today.”
So the king went to the city gate. When the news spread that the king was at the gate, everyone came to see him.
All the Israelites who had followed Absalom had run away to their homes. People in all the tribes of Israel began to argue, saying, “The king saved us from the Philistines and our other enemies, but he left the country because of Absalom. We appointed Absalom to rule us, but now he has died in battle. We should make David the king again.”
King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, that said, “Speak to the elders of Judah. Say, ‘Even in my house I have heard what all the Israelites are saying. So why are you the last tribe to bring the king back to his palace? You are my brothers, my own family. Why are you the last tribe to bring back the king?’ And say to Amasa, ‘You are part of my own family. May God punish me terribly if I don’t make you commander of the army in Joab’s place!’ ”
David touched the hearts of all the people of Judah at once. They sent a message to the king that said, “Return with all your men.” Then the king returned as far as the Jordan River. The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and to bring him across the Jordan.
Shimei son of Gera, a Benjaminite who lived in Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. With Shimei came a thousand Benjaminites. Ziba, the servant from Saul’s family, also came, bringing his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him. They all hurried to the Jordan River to meet the king. The people went across the Jordan to help bring the king’s family back to Judah and to do whatever the king wanted. As the king was crossing the river, Shimei son of Gera came to him and bowed facedown on the ground in front of the king. He said to the king, “My master, don’t hold me guilty. Don’t remember the wrong I did when you left Jerusalem! Don’t hold it against me. I know I have sinned. That is why I am the first person from Joseph’s family to come down and meet you today, my master and king!”
But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shimei should die because he cursed you, the LORD’s appointed king!”
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