2nd Shamu'AL (2 Samuel) — 19

Yuab Rebukes the King

1 Word soon reached Yuab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalum. 

2 As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. 

3 They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. 

4 The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalum! O Absalum, my son, my son!”

5 Then Yuab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves. 

6 You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalum had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased. 

7 Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH that if you do not go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.”

8 So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him. Meanwhile, the Yasharalym who had supported Absalum fled to their homes. 

9 And throughout all the tribes of Yashar'AL there was much discussion and argument going on. The people were saying, “The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but Absalum chased him out of the country. 

10 Now Absalum, whom we anointed to rule over us, is dead. Why not ask Daud to come back and be our king again?”

11 Then King Daud sent Zaduk and Abiathar, the Kuhanym, to say to the elders of Yahudah, “Why are you the last ones to welcome back the king into his palace? For I have heard that all Yashar'AL is ready. 

12 You are my relatives, my own tribe, my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last ones to welcome back the king?” 

13 And Daud told them to tell Amasa, “Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Yuab, may 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place.”

14 Then Amasa convinced all the men of Yahudah, and they responded unanimously. They sent word to the king, “Return to us, and bring back all who are with you.”

Daud’s Return to Yahushalam 

15 So the king started back to Yahushalam. And when he arrived at the Yurdan River, the people of Yahudah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the river. 

16 Shimai son of Gara, the man from Bahurim in Banyamin, hurried across with the men of Yahudah to welcome King Daud. 

17 A thousand other men from the tribe of Banyamin were with him, including Ziba, the chief servant of the house of Shaul, and Ziba’s fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Yurdan to meet the king. 

18 They crossed the shallows of the Yurdan to bring the king’s household across the river, helping him in every way they could.

Daud’s Mercy to Shimai 

As the king was about to cross the river, Shimai fell down before him. 

19 “My master the king, please forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Yahushalam. May the king put it out of his mind. 

20 I know how much I sinned. That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Yashar'AL to greet my master the king.”

21 Then Abishai son of Zaruyahu said, “Shimai should die, for he cursed our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH’s anointed king!”

22 “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zaruyahu!” Daud exclaimed. “Why have you become my adversary today? This is not a day for execution, for today I am once again the king of Yashar'AL!” 

23 Then, turning to Shimai, Daud vowed, “Your life will be spared.”

Daud’s Kindness to Maphibushath 

24 Now Maphibushath, Shaul’s grandson, came down from Yahushalam to meet the king, he had not cared for his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes since the day the king left Yahushalam. 

25 “And king Daud asked him; Why did you not come with me, Maphibushath?”.

26 Maphibushath replied, “My master the king, my servant Ziba deceived me. I told him, ‘Saddle my donkey so I can go with the king.’ For as you know I am crippled. 

27 Ziba has slandered me by saying that I refused to come. But I know that my master the king is like a Malak of 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, so do what you think is best. 

28 All my relatives and I could expect only death from you, my master, but instead you have honored me by allowing me to eat at your own table! What more can I ask?”

29 “Daud said to him; You have said enough, “I have decided that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you.”

30 “Give him all of it,” Maphibushath said. “I am content just to have you safely back again, my master the king!”

Daud’s Kindness to Barzillai

31 Barzillai of Gilaad had come down from Rugalim to escort the king across the Yurdan.

32 He was very old eighty years of age, and very wealthy. He was the one who had provided food for the king during his stay in Mahanaim. 

33 “Come across with me and live in Yahushalam,” the king said to Barzillai. “I will take care of you there.”

34 “No,” he replied, “I am far too old to go with the king to Yahushalam. 

35 I am eighty years old today, and I can no longer enjoy anything. Food and wine are no longer tasty, and I cannot hear the singers as they sing. I would only be a burden to my master the king. 

36 Just to go across the Yurdan River with the king is all the honor I need! 

37 Then let me return again to die in my own town, where my father and mother are buried. But here is your servant, my son Kimham. Let him go with my master the king and receive whatever you want to give him.”

38 “Good,” the king agreed. “Kimham will go with me, and I will help him in any way you would like. And I will do for you anything you want.” 

39 So all the people crossed the Yurdan with the king. After Daud had Baraked Barzillai and kissed him, Barzillai returned to his own home.

40 The king then crossed over to Gilgal, taking Kimham with him. All the troops of Yahudah and half the troops of Yashar'AL escorted the king on his way.

An Argument over the King

41 But all the men of Yashar'AL complained to the king, “The men of Yahudah stole the king and did not give us the honor of helping to take you, your household, and all your men across the Yurdan.”

42 The men of Yahudah replied, “The king is one of our own kinsmen. Why should this make you angry? We have not eaten any of the king’s food or received any special favors!”

43 “But there are ten tribes in Yashar'AL,” the others replied. “So we have ten times as much right to the king as you do. What right do you have to treat us with such contempt? Are we not the first to speak of bringing Daud back to be our king again?” The argument continued back and forth, and the men of Yahudah spoke even more harshly than the men of Yashar'AL.