¹ And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

² And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

³ And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

⁴ But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

⁵ And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

⁶ In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

⁷ Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.

⁸ Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

⁹ And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

¹⁰ And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

¹¹ And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.

¹² Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

¹³ And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

¹⁴ And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.

¹⁵ So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

¹⁶ And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

¹⁷ And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.

¹⁸ And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;

¹⁹ And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

²⁰ For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

²¹ But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?

²² And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

²³ Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

²⁴ And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.

²⁵ And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

²⁶ And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.

²⁷ And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

²⁸ For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?

²⁹ And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

³⁰ And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.

³¹ And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

³² Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

³³ And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

³⁴ And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

³⁵ I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

³⁶ Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

³⁷ Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

³⁸ And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.

³⁹ And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.

⁴⁰ Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

⁴¹ And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?

⁴² And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?

⁴³ And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

---

¹ And it was told ^H5046 Joab, ^H3097 Behold, the king ^H4428 weepeth ^H1058 and mourneth ^H56 for Absalom. ^H53

² And the victory ^H8668 that day ^H3117 was turned into mourning ^H60 unto all the people: ^H5971 for the people ^H5971 heard ^H8085 say ^H559 that day ^H3117 how the king ^H4428 was grieved ^H6087 for his son. ^H1121

³ And the people ^H5971 gat ^H935 them by stealth ^H1589 that day ^H3117 into the city, ^H5892 as people ^H5971 being ashamed ^H3637 steal away ^H1589 when they flee ^H5127 in battle. ^H4421

⁴ But the king ^H4428 covered ^H3813 his face, ^H6440 and the king ^H4428 cried ^H2199 with a loud ^H1419 voice, ^H6963 O my son ^H1121 Absalom, ^H53 O Absalom, ^H53 my son, ^H1121 my son! ^H1121

⁵ And Joab ^H3097 came ^H935 into the house ^H1004 to the king, ^H4428 and said, ^H559 Thou hast shamed ^H3001 this day ^H3117 the faces ^H6440 of all thy servants, ^H5650 which this day ^H3117 have saved ^H4422 thy life, ^H5315 and the lives ^H5315 of thy sons ^H1121 and of thy daughters, ^H1323 and the lives ^H5315 of thy wives, ^H802 and the lives ^H5315 of thy concubines; ^H6370

⁶ In that thou lovest ^H157 thine enemies, ^H8130 and hatest ^H8130 thy friends. ^H157 For thou hast declared ^H5046 this day, ^H3117 that thou regardest neither princes ^H8269 nor servants: ^H5650 for this day ^H3117 I perceive, ^H3045 that if ^H3863 Absalom ^H53 had lived, ^H2416 and all we had died ^H4191 this day, ^H3117 then it had pleased thee well. ^{H3477 H5869}

⁷ Now therefore arise, ^H6965 go forth, ^H3318 and speak ^H1696 comfortably ^H3820 unto thy servants: ^H5650 for I swear ^H7650 by the LORD, ^H3068 if thou go not forth, ^H3318 there will not tarry ^H3885 one ^H376 with thee this night: ^H3915 and that will be worse ^H7489 unto thee than all the evil ^H7451 that befell ^H935 thee from thy youth ^H5271 until now.

⁸ Then the king ^H4428 arose, ^H6965 and sat ^H3427 in the gate. ^H8179 And they told ^H5046 unto all the people, ^H5971 saying, ^H559 Behold, the king ^H4428 doth sit ^H3427 in the gate. ^H8179 And all the people ^H5971 came ^H935 before ^H6440 the king: ^H4428 for Israel ^H3478 had fled ^H5127 every man ^H376 to his tent. ^H168

⁹ And all the people ^H5971 were at strife ^H1777 throughout all the tribes ^H7626 of Israel, ^H3478 saying, ^H559 The king ^H4428 saved ^H5337 us out of the hand ^H3709 of our enemies, ^H341 and he delivered ^H4422 us out of the hand ^H3709 of the Philistines; ^H6430 and now he is fled ^H1272 out of the land ^H776 for Absalom. ^H53

¹⁰ And Absalom, ^H53 whom we anointed ^H4886 over us, is dead ^H4191 in battle. ^H4421 Now therefore why speak ^H2790 ye not a word of bringing ^H7725 the king ^H4428 back? ^H7725

¹¹ And king ^H4428 David ^H1732 sent ^H7971 to Zadok ^H6659 and to Abiathar ^H54 the priests, ^H3548 saying, ^H559 Speak ^H1696 unto the elders ^H2205 of Judah, ^H3063 saying, ^H559 Why are ye the last ^H314 to bring ^H7725 the king ^H4428 back ^H7725 to his house? ^H1004 seeing the speech ^H1697 of all Israel ^H3478 is come ^H935 to the king, ^H4428 even to his house. ^H1004

¹² Ye are my brethren, ^H251 ye are my bones ^H6106 and my flesh: ^H1320 wherefore then are ye the last ^H314 to bring back ^H7725 the king? ^H4428

¹³ And say ^H559 ye to Amasa, ^H6021 Art thou not of my bone, ^H6106 and of my flesh? ^H1320 God ^H430 do ^H6213 so to me, and more ^H3254 also, if thou be not captain ^H8269 of the host ^H6635 before ^H6440 me continually ^H3117 in the room ^H8478 of Joab. ^H3097

¹⁴ And he bowed ^H5186 the heart ^H3824 of all the men ^H376 of Judah, ^H3063 even as the heart of one ^H259 man; ^H376 so that they sent ^H7971 this word unto the king, ^H4428 Return ^H7725 thou, and all thy servants. ^H5650

¹⁵ So the king ^H4428 returned, ^H7725 and came ^H935 to Jordan. ^H3383 And Judah ^H3063 came ^H935 to Gilgal, ^H1537 to go ^H3212 to meet ^H7125 the king, ^H4428 to conduct ^H5674 the king ^H4428 over ^H5674 Jordan. ^H3383

¹⁶ And Shimei ^H8096 the son ^H1121 of Gera, ^H1617 a Benjamite, ^H1145 which was of Bahurim, ^H980 hasted ^H4116 and came down ^H3381 with the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 to meet ^H7125 king ^H4428 David. ^H1732

¹⁷ And there were a thousand ^H505 men ^H376 of Benjamin ^H1145 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 went over ^H6743 Jordan ^H3383 before ^H6440 the king. ^H4428

¹⁸ And there went over ^H5674 a ferry boat ^H5679 to carry over ^H5674 the king's ^H4428 household, ^H1004 and to do ^H6213 what he thought ^H5869 good. ^H2896 And Shimei ^H8096 the son ^H1121 of Gera ^H1617 fell down ^H5307 before ^H6440 the king, ^H4428 as he was come over ^H5674 Jordan; ^H3383

¹⁹ And said ^H559 unto the king, ^H4428 Let not my lord ^H113 impute ^H2803 iniquity ^H5771 unto me, neither do thou remember ^H2142 that which thy servant ^H5650 did perversely ^H5753 the day ^H3117 that my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 went out ^H3318 of Jerusalem, ^H3389 that the king ^H4428 should take ^H7760 it to his heart. ^H3820

²⁰ For thy servant ^H5650 doth know ^H3045 that I have sinned: ^H2398 therefore, behold, I am come ^H935 the first ^H7223 this day ^H3117 of all the house ^H1004 of Joseph ^H3130 to go down ^H3381 to meet ^H7125 my lord ^H113 the king. ^H4428

²¹ But Abishai ^H52 the son ^H1121 of Zeruiah ^H6870 answered ^H6030 and said, ^H559 Shall not Shimei ^H8096 be put to death ^H4191 for this, because he cursed ^H7043 the LORD'S ^H3068 anointed? ^H4899

²² And David ^H1732 said, ^H559 What have I to do with you, ye sons ^H1121 of Zeruiah, ^H6870 that ye should this day ^H3117 be adversaries ^H7854 unto me? shall there any man ^H376 be put to death ^H4191 this day ^H3117 in Israel? ^H3478 for do not I know ^H3045 that I am this day ^H3117 king ^H4428 over Israel? ^H3478

²³ Therefore the king ^H4428 said ^H559 unto Shimei, ^H8096 Thou shalt not die. ^H4191 And the king ^H4428 sware ^H7650 unto him.

²⁴ And Mephibosheth ^H4648 the son ^H1121 of Saul ^H7586 came down ^H3381 to meet ^H7125 the king, ^H4428 and had neither ^H3808 dressed ^H6213 his feet, ^H7272 nor trimmed ^H6213 his beard, ^H8222 nor washed ^H3526 his clothes, ^H899 from the day ^H3117 the king ^H4428 departed ^H3212 until the day ^H3117 he came ^H935 again in peace. ^H7965

²⁵ And it came to pass, when he was come ^H935 to Jerusalem ^H3389 to meet ^H7125 the king, ^H4428 that the king ^H4428 said ^H559 unto him, Wherefore wentest ^H1980 not thou with me, Mephibosheth? ^H4648

²⁶ And he answered, ^H559 My lord, ^H113 O king, ^H4428 my servant ^H5650 deceived ^H7411 me: for thy servant ^H5650 said, ^H559 I will saddle ^H2280 me an ass, ^H2543 that I may ride ^H7392 thereon, and go ^H3212 to the king; ^H4428 because thy servant ^H5650 is lame. ^H6455

²⁷ And he hath slandered ^H7270 thy servant ^H5650 unto my lord ^H113 the king; ^H4428 but my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 is as an angel ^H4397 of God: ^H430 do ^H6213 therefore what is good ^H2896 in thine eyes. ^H5869

²⁸ For all of my father's ^H1 house ^H1004 were but ^H3808 dead ^H4194 men ^H582 before my lord ^H113 the king: ^H4428 yet didst thou set ^H7896 thy servant ^H5650 among them that did eat ^H398 at thine own table. ^H7979 What right ^H6666 therefore have ^H3426 I yet to cry ^H2199 any more unto the king? ^H4428

²⁹ And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 unto him, Why speakest ^H1696 thou any more of thy matters? ^H1697 I have said, ^H559 Thou and Ziba ^H6717 divide ^H2505 the land. ^H7704

³⁰ And Mephibosheth ^H4648 said ^H559 unto the king, ^H4428 Yea, let him take ^H3947 all, forasmuch ^H310 as ^H834 my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 is come again ^H935 in peace ^H7965 unto his own house. ^H1004

³¹ And Barzillai ^H1271 the Gileadite ^H1569 came down ^H3381 from Rogelim, ^H7274 and went over ^H5674 Jordan ^H3383 with the king, ^H4428 to conduct ^H7971 him over Jordan. ^H3383

³² Now Barzillai ^H1271 was a very ^H3966 aged ^H2204 man, even fourscore ^H8084 years ^H8141 old: ^H1121 and he had provided the king ^H4428 of sustenance ^H3557 while he lay ^H7871 at Mahanaim; ^H4266 for he was a very ^H3966 great ^H1419 man. ^H376

³³ And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 unto Barzillai, ^H1271 Come thou over ^H5674 with me, and I will feed ^H3557 thee with me in Jerusalem. ^H3389

³⁴ And Barzillai ^H1271 said ^H559 unto the king, ^H4428 How long ^H3117 have I to live, ^{H8141 H2416} that I should go up ^H5927 with the king ^H4428 unto Jerusalem? ^H3389

³⁵ I am this day ^H3117 fourscore ^H8084 years ^H8141 old: ^H1121 and can I discern ^H3045 between good ^H2896 and evil? ^H7451 can thy servant ^H5650 taste ^H2938 what ^H834 I eat ^H398 or what ^H834 I drink? ^H8354 can I hear ^H8085 any more the voice ^H6963 of singing men ^H7891 and singing women? ^H7891 wherefore then should thy servant ^H5650 be yet a burden ^H4853 unto my lord ^H113 the king? ^H4428

³⁶ Thy servant ^H5650 will go ^H5674 a little way ^H4592 over ^H5674 Jordan ^H3383 with the king: ^H4428 and why should the king ^H4428 recompense ^H1580 it me with such a reward? ^H1578

³⁷ Let thy servant, ^H5650 I pray thee, turn back again, ^H7725 that I may die ^H4191 in mine own city, ^H5892 and be buried by the grave ^H6913 of my father ^H1 and of my mother. ^H517 But behold thy servant ^H5650 Chimham; ^H3643 let him go over ^H5674 with my lord ^H113 the king; ^H4428 and do ^H6213 to him what shall seem good ^{H2896 H5869} unto thee.

³⁸ And the king ^H4428 answered, ^H559 Chimham ^H3643 shall go ^H5674 over with me, and I will do ^H6213 to him that which shall seem good ^{H2896 H5869} unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require ^H977 of me, that will I do ^H6213 for thee.

³⁹ And all the people ^H5971 went over ^H5674 Jordan. ^H3383 And when the king ^H4428 was come over, ^H5674 the king ^H4428 kissed ^H5401 Barzillai, ^H1271 and blessed ^H1288 him; and he returned ^H7725 unto his own place. ^H4725

⁴⁰ Then the king ^H4428 went on ^H5674 to Gilgal, ^H1537 and Chimham ^H3643 went on ^H5674 with him: and all the people ^H5971 of Judah ^H3063 conducted ^{H5674 H5674} the king, ^H4428 and also half ^H2677 the people ^H5971 of Israel. ^H3478

⁴¹ And, behold, all the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 came ^H935 to the king, ^H4428 and said ^H559 unto the king, ^H4428 Why have our brethren ^H251 the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 stolen thee away, ^H1589 and have brought ^H5674 the king, ^H4428 and his household, ^H1004 and all David's ^H1732 men ^H582 with him, over Jordan? ^H3383

⁴² And all the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 answered ^H6030 the men ^H376 of Israel, ^H3478 Because the king ^H4428 is near of kin ^H7138 to us: wherefore then be ye angry ^H2734 for this matter? ^H1697 have we eaten ^H398 at all ^H398 of the king's ^H4428 cost? or hath he given ^H5375 us any gift? ^H5379

⁴³ And the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 answered ^H6030 the men ^H376 of Judah, ^H3063 and said, ^H559 We have ten ^H6235 parts ^H3027 in the king, ^H4428 and we ^H589 have also more right in David ^H1732 than ye: why then did ye despise ^H7043 us, that our advice ^H1697 should not be first ^H7223 had in bringing back ^H7725 our king? ^H4428 And the words ^H1697 of the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 were fiercer ^H7185 than the words ^H1697 of the men ^H376 of Israel. ^H3478

---

¹ And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

² And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people; for the people heard say that day, The king grieveth for his son.

³ And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people that are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

⁴ And the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

⁵ And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, who this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

⁶ in that thou lovest them that hate thee, and hatest them that love thee. For thou hast declared this day, that princes and servants are nought unto thee: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

⁷ Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants; for I swear by Jehovah, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry a man with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that hath befallen thee from thy youth until now.

⁸ Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate: and all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent.

⁹ And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land from Absalom.

¹⁰ And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

¹¹ And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, `to bring him' to his house.

¹² Ye are my brethren, ye are my bone and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

¹³ And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

¹⁴ And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as `the heart of' one man; so that they sent unto the king, `saying', Return thou, and all thy servants.

¹⁵ So the king returned, and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan.

¹⁶ And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

¹⁷ And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went through the Jordan in the presence of the king.

¹⁸ And there went over a ferry-boat to bring over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he was come over the Jordan.

¹⁹ And he said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

²⁰ For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

²¹ But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed Jehovah's anointed?

²² And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

²³ And the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

²⁴ And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.

²⁵ And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

²⁶ And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go with the king; because thy servant is lame.

²⁷ And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

²⁸ For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more unto the king?

²⁹ And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I say, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

³⁰ And Mephibosheth said unto the king, yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come in peace unto his own house.

³¹ And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim; and he went over the Jordan with the king, to conduct him over the Jordan.

³² Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

³³ And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will sustain thee with me in Jerusalem.

³⁴ And Barzillai said unto the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

³⁵ I am this day fourscore years old: can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

³⁶ Thy servant would but just go over the Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

³⁷ Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

³⁸ And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.

³⁹ And all the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over: and the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.

⁴⁰ So the king went over to Gilgal, and Chimham went over with him: and all the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel.

⁴¹ And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and brought the king, and his household, over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?

⁴² And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then are ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all at the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?

⁴³ And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more `right' in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

---

¹ And it is declared to Joab, `Lo, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom;'

² and the salvation on that day becometh mourning to all the people, for the people hath heard on that day, saying, `The king hath been grieved for his son.'

³ And the people stealeth away, on that day, to go in to the city, as the people steal away, who are ashamed, in their fleeing in battle;

⁴ and the king hath covered his face, yea, the king crieth -- a loud voice -- `My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son.'

⁵ And Joab cometh in unto the king to the house, and saith, `Thou hast put to shame to-day the faces of all thy servants, those delivering thy life to-day, and the life of thy sons, and of thy daughters, and the life of thy wives, and the life of thy concubines,

⁶ to love thine enemies, and to hate those loving thee, for thou hast declared to-day that thou hast no princes and servants, for I have known to-day that if Absalom `were' alive, and all of us to-day dead, that then it were right in thine eyes.

⁷ `And now, rise, go out and speak unto the heart of thy servants, for by Jehovah I have sworn, that -- thou art not going out -- there doth not lodge a man with thee to-night; and this `is' worse for thee than all the evil that hath come upon thee from thy youth till now.'

⁸ And the king riseth, and sitteth in the gate, and to all the people they have declared, saying, `Lo, the king is sitting in the gate;' and all the people come in before the king, and Israel hath fled, each to his tents.

⁹ And it cometh to pass, all the people are contending through all the tribes of Israel, saying, `The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, yea, he himself delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines, and now he hath fled out of the land because of Absalom,

¹⁰ and Absalom whom we anointed over us `is' dead in battle, and now, why are ye silent -- to bring back the king?'

¹¹ And king David sent unto Zadok and unto Abiathar the priests, saying, `Speak ye unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye last to bring back the king unto his house? (and the word of all Israel hath come unto the king, unto his house;)

¹² my brethren ye `are', my bone and my flesh ye `are', and why are ye last to bring back the king?

¹³ And to Amasa say ye, Art not thou my bone and my flesh? Thus doth God do to me, and thus He doth add, if thou art not head of the host before me all the days instead of Joab.'

¹⁴ And he inclineth the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they send unto the king, `Turn back, thou, and all thy servants.'

¹⁵ And the king turneth back, and cometh in unto the Jordan, and Judah hath come to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan,

¹⁶ and Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite, who `is' from Bahurim, hasteth, and cometh down with the men of Judah, to meet king David,

¹⁷ and a thousand men `are' with him from Benjamin, and Ziba servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him, and they have gone prosperously over the Jordan before the king.

¹⁸ And passed over hath the ferry-boat to carry over the household of the king, and to do that which `is' good in his eyes, and Shimei son of Gera hath fallen before the king in his passing over into Jordan,

¹⁹ and saith unto the king, `Let not my lord impute to me iniquity; neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely in the day that my lord the king went out from Jerusalem, -- for the king to set `it' unto his heart;

²⁰ for thy servant hath known that I have sinned; and lo, I have come to-day, first of all the house of Joseph, to go down to meet my lord the king.'

²¹ And Abishai son of Zeruiah answereth and saith, `For this is not Shimei put to death -- because he reviled the anointed of Jehovah?'

²² And David saith, `What -- to me and to you, O sons of Zeruiah, that ye are to me to-day for an adversary? to-day is any man put to death in Israel? for have I not known that to-day I `am' king over Israel?'

²³ And the king saith unto Shimei, `Thou dost not die;' and the king sweareth to him.

²⁴ And Mephibosheth son of Saul hath come down to meet the king -- and he prepared not his feet, nor did he prepare his upper lip, yea, his garments he washed not, even from the day of the going away of the king, till the day that he came in peace --

²⁵ and it cometh to pass, when he hath come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king saith to him, `Why didst thou not go with me, Mephibosheth?'

²⁶ And he saith, `My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for thy servant said, I saddle for me the ass, and ride on it, and go with the king, for thy servant `is' lame;

²⁷ and he uttereth slander against thy servant unto my lord the king, and my lord the king `is' as a messenger of God; and do thou that which is good in thine eyes,

²⁸ for all the house of my father have been nothing except men of death before my lord the king, and thou dost set thy servant among those eating at thy table, and what right have I any more -- even to cry any more unto the king?'

²⁹ And the king saith to him, `Why dost thou speak any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba -- share ye the field.'

³⁰ And Mephibosheth saith unto the king, `Yea, the whole let him take, after that my lord the king hath come in peace unto his house.'

³¹ And Barzillai the Gileadite hath gone down from Rogelim, and passeth over the Jordan with the king, to send him away over the Jordan;

³² and Barzillai `is' very aged, a son of eighty years, and he hath sustained the king in his abiding in Mahanaim, for he `is' a very great man;

³³ and the king saith unto Barzillai, `Pass thou over with me, and I have sustained thee with me in Jerusalem.'

³⁴ And Barzillai saith unto the king, `How many `are' the days of the years of my life, that I go up with the king to Jerusalem?

³⁵ A son of eighty years I `am' to-day; do I know between good and evil? doth thy servant taste that which I am eating, and that which I drink? do I hearken any more to the voice of singers and songstresses? and why is thy servant any more for a burden unto my lord the king?

³⁶ As a little thing, thy servant doth pass over the Jordan with the king, and why doth the king recompense me this recompense?

³⁷ Let, I pray thee, thy servant turn back again, and I die in mine own city, near the burying-place of my father and of my mother, -- and lo, thy servant Chimham, let him pass over with my lord the king, and do thou to him that which `is' good in thine eyes.'

³⁸ And the king saith, `With me doth Chimham go over, and I do to him that which `is' good in thine eyes, yea, all that thou dost fix on me I do to thee.'

³⁹ And all the people pass over the Jordan, and the king hath passed over, and the king giveth a kiss to Barzillai, and blesseth him, and he turneth back to his place.

⁴⁰ And the king passeth over to Gilgal, and Chimham hath passed over with him, and all the people of Judah, and they bring over the king, and also the half of the people of Israel.

⁴¹ And, lo, all the men of Israel are coming unto the king, and they say unto the king, `Wherefore have they stolen thee -- our brethren, the men of Judah?' (and they bring the king and his household over the Jordan, and all the men of David with him).

⁴² And all the men of Judah answer against the men of Israel, `Because the king `is' near unto us, and why `is' this -- ye are displeased about this matter? have we at all eaten of the king's `substance?' a gift hath he lifted up to us?'

⁴³ And the men of Israel answer the men of Judah, and say, `Ten parts we have in the king, and also in David more than you; and wherefore have ye lightly esteemed us, that our word hath not been first to bring back our king?' And the word of the men of Judah is sharper than the word of the men of Israel.

---

¹ And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.

² And the victory that day was [turned] into mourning for all the people; for the people heard say that day, The king is grieved for his son.

³ And the people stole away that day into the city, as people steal away when ashamed of fleeing in battle.

⁴ And the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!

⁵ And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast put to shame this day the faces of all thy servants who have this day saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives and the lives of thy concubines;

⁶ in that thou lovest them that hate thee, and hatest those that love thee. For thou hast declared this day, that neither princes nor servants are anything to thee: for to-day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died to-day, then it would have been right in thine eyes.

⁷ But now arise, go forth, and speak consolingly to thy servants; for I swear by Jehovah, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night; and that would be worse to thee than all the evil that has befallen thee from thy youth until now.

⁸ Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate. And all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent.

⁹ And all the people were at strife throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land because of Absalom.

¹⁰ And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle; and now why are ye silent as to bringing the king back?

¹¹ And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, to his house.

¹² Ye are my brethren, ye are my bone and my flesh; and why will ye be the last to bring back the king?

¹³ And say to Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually instead of Joab.

¹⁴ And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah as of one man; and they sent to the king, Return, thou and all thy servants.

¹⁵ And the king returned and came as far as the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over the Jordan.

¹⁶ And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, who was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

¹⁷ And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they forded the Jordan before the king.

¹⁸ And a ferry boat passed to and fro to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was [just] crossing over the Jordan.

¹⁹ And he said to the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity to me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart.

²⁰ For thy servant knows that I have sinned; and behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

²¹ And Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed Jehovah's anointed?

²² And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries to me? Should there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

²³ And the king said to Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king swore to him.

²⁴ And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. Now he had neither washed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came [again] in peace.

²⁵ And as soon as Jerusalem came to meet the king, the king said to him, Why didst thou not go with me, Mephibosheth?

²⁶ And he said, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me; for thy servant said, I will saddle me the ass, and ride thereon, and go with the king; for thy servant is lame.

²⁷ And he has slandered thy servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God; do therefore what is good in thy sight.

²⁸ For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king; and thou didst set thy servant among them that eat at thine own table. What further right therefore have I? and for what should I cry any more to the king?

²⁹ And the king said to him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

³⁰ And Mephibosheth said to the king, Let him even take all, since my lord the king is come again in peace to his own house.

³¹ And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over the Jordan with the king, to conduct him over the Jordan.

³² And Barzillai was very aged, eighty years old; and it was he that had maintained the king while he abode at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

³³ And the king said to Barzillai, Pass thou over with me, and I will maintain thee with me in Jerusalem.

³⁴ And Barzillai said to the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

³⁵ I am this day eighty years old: can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat and what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? and why should thy servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?

³⁶ Thy servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king; and why should the king recompense it to me with this reward?

³⁷ Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham: let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what seems good to thee.

³⁸ And the king said, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which seems good to thee; and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.

³⁹ And all the people went over the Jordan; and the king went over; and the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own place.

⁴⁰ And the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

⁴¹ And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over the Jordan?

⁴² And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to me; and why then are ye angry for this matter? have we eaten anything which came from the king, or has he given us any present?

⁴³ And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, I have ten parts in the king and I have also more right in David than thou; and why didst thou slight me? and was not my advice the first, to bring back my king? And the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.

---

¹ It was told Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.

² The victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people; for the people heard say that day, The king grieves for his son.

³ The people got them by stealth that day into the city, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

⁴ The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, my son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!

⁵ Joab came into the house to the king, and said, You have shamed this day the faces of all your servants, who this day have saved your life, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines;

⁶ in that you love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. For you have declared this day, that princes and servants are nothing to you: for this day I perceive that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased you well.

⁷ Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably to your servants; for I swear by Yahweh, if you don't go forth, there will not stay a man with you this night: and that will be worse to you than all the evil that has happened to you from your youth until now.

⁸ Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. They told to all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate: and all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent.

⁹ All the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land from Absalom.

¹⁰ Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why don't you speak a word of bringing the king back?

¹¹ King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, [to bring him] to his house.

¹² You are my brothers, you are my bone and my flesh: why then are you the last to bring back the king?

¹³ Say you to Amasa, Aren't you my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you aren't captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

¹⁴ He bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent to the king, [saying], Return you, and all your servants.

¹⁵ So the king returned, and came to the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan.

¹⁶ Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

¹⁷ There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went through the Jordan in the presence of the king.

¹⁸ There went over a ferry-boat to bring over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he was come over the Jordan.

¹⁹ He said to the king, Don't let my lord impute iniquity to me, neither do you remember that which your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

²⁰ For your servant does know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

²¹ But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, Shall Shimei not be put to death for this, because he cursed Yahweh's anointed?

²² David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries to me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for don't I know that I am this day king over Israel?

²³ The king said to Shimei, You shall not die. The king swore to him.

²⁴ Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.

²⁵ It happened, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?

²⁶ He answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for your servant said, I will saddle me a donkey, that I may ride thereon, and go with the king; because your servant is lame.

²⁷ He has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in your eyes.

²⁸ For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more to the king?

²⁹ The king said to him, Why speak you any more of your matters? I say, You and Ziba divide the land.

³⁰ Mephibosheth said to the king, yes, let him take all, because my lord the king is come in peace to his own house.

³¹ Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim; and he went over the Jordan with the king, to conduct him over the Jordan.

³² Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old: and he had provided the king with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

³³ The king said to Barzillai, Come you over with me, and I will sustain you with me in Jerusalem.

³⁴ Barzillai said to the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

³⁵ I am this day eighty years old: can I discern between good and bad? can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? why then should your servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?

³⁶ Your servant would but just go over the Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

³⁷ Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.

³⁸ The king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you: and whatever you shall require of me, that will I do for you.

³⁹ All the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over: and the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own place.

⁴⁰ So the king went over to Gilgal, and Chimham went over with him: and all the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel.

⁴¹ Behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king, and his household, over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?

⁴² All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is a close relative to us: why then are you angry for this matter? have we eaten at all at the king's cost? or has he given us any gift?

⁴³ The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more [right] in David than you: why then did you despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? The words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

---

¹ And word was given to Joab that the king was weeping and sorrowing for Absalom.

² And the salvation of that day was changed to sorrow for all the people: for it was said to the people, The king is in bitter grief for his son.

³ And the people made their way back to the town quietly and secretly, as those who are shamed go secretly when they go in flight from the war.

⁴ But the king, covering his face, gave a great cry, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

⁵ And Joab came into the house to the king and said, Today you have put to shame the faces of all your servants who even now have kept you and your sons and your daughters and your wives and all your women safe from death;

⁶ For your haters, it seems, are dear to you, and your friends are hated. For you have made it clear that captains and servants are nothing to you: and now I see that if Absalom was living and we had all been dead today, it would have been right in your eyes.

⁷ So get up now, and go out and say some kind words to your servants; for, by the Lord, I give you my oath, that if you do not go out, not one of them will keep with you tonight; and that will be worse for you than all the evil which has overtaken you from your earliest years.

⁸ Then the king got up and took his seat near the town-door. And word was given to all the people that the king was in the public place: and all the people came before the king. Now all the men of Israel had gone back in flight to their tents.

⁹ And through all the tribes of Israel the people were having arguments, saying, The king made us safe from the hands of those who were against us and made us free from the hands of the Philistines; and now he has gone in flight from the land, because of Absalom.

¹⁰ And Absalom, whom we made a ruler over us, is dead in the fight. So now why do you say nothing about getting the king back? And word of what all Israel was saying came to the king.

¹¹ And King David sent word to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, Say to the responsible men of Judah, Why are you the last to take steps to get the king back to his house?

¹² You are my brothers, my bone and my flesh; why are you the last to get the king back again?

¹³ And say to Amasa, Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God's punishment be on me, if I do not make you chief of the army before me at all times in place of Joab!

¹⁴ And the hearts of the men of Judah were moved like one man; so that they sent to the king, saying, Come back, with all your servants.

¹⁵ So the king came back, and came as far as Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, meeting the king there, to take him back with them over Jordan.

¹⁶ And Shimei, the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, got up quickly and went down with the men of Judah for the purpose of meeting King David;

¹⁷ And with him a thousand men of Benjamin, and Ziba, the servant of Saul, with his fifteen sons and twenty servants, came rushing to Jordan before the king,

¹⁸ And kept going across the river to take the people of the king's house over, and to do whatever was desired by the king. And Shimei, the son of Gera, went down on his face in the dust before the king, when he was about to go over Jordan,

¹⁹ And said to him, Let me not be judged as a sinner in your eyes, O my lord, and do not keep in mind the wrong I did on the day when my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, or take it to heart.

²⁰ For your servant is conscious of his sin: and so, as you see, I have come today, the first of all the sons of Joseph, for the purpose of meeting my lord the king.

²¹ But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said, Is not death the right fate for Shimei, because he has been cursing the one marked by the holy oil?

²² And David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you put yourselves against me today? is it right for any man in Israel to be put to death today? for I am certain today that I am king in Israel.

²³ So the king said to Shimei, You will not be put to death. And the king gave him his oath.

²⁴ And Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son, came down for the purpose of meeting the king; his feet had not been cared for or his hair cut or his clothing washed from the day when the king went away till the day when he came back in peace.

²⁵ Now when he had come from Jerusalem to see the king, the king said to him, Why did you not come with me, Mephibosheth?

²⁶ And he said in answer, Because of the deceit of my servant, my lord king: for I, your servant, said to him, You are to make ready an ass and on it I will go with the king, for your servant has not the use of his feet.

²⁷ He has given you a false account of me: but my lord the king is like the angel of God: do then whatever seems good to you.

²⁸ For all my father's family were only dead men before my lord the king: and still you put your servant among those whose place is at the king's table. What right then have I to say anything more to the king?

²⁹ And the king said, Say nothing more about these things. I say, Let there be a division of the land between Ziba and you.

³⁰ And Mephibosheth said, Let him take it all, now that my lord the king has come back to his house in peace!

³¹ And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim; and he went on as far as Jordan with the king to take him across Jordan.

³² Now Barzillai was a very old man, as much as eighty years old: and he had given the king everything he had need of, while he was at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.

³³ And the king said to Barzillai, Come over with me, and I will take care of you in Jerusalem.

³⁴ And Barzillai said to the king, How much of my life is still before me, for me to go up to Jerusalem with the king?

³⁵ I am now eighty years old: good and bad are the same to me; have meat and drink any taste for me now? am I able to take pleasure in the voices of men or women in song? why then am I to be a trouble to my lord the king?

³⁶ Your servant's desire was only to take the king over Jordan; why is the king to give me such a reward?

³⁷ Let your servant now go back again, so that when death comes to me, it may be in my town and by the resting-place of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham: let him go with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.

³⁸ And the king said in answer, Let Chimham go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you: and whatever your desire is, I will do it for you.

³⁹ Then all the people went over Jordan, and the king went over: and the king gave Barzillai a kiss, with his blessing; and he went back to his place.

⁴⁰ So the king went over to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him: and all the people of Judah, as well as half the people of Israel, took the king on his way.

⁴¹ Then the men of Israel came to the king and said, Why have our countrymen of Judah taken you away in secret and come over Jordan with the king and all his family, because all his people are David's men?

⁴² And all the men of Judah gave this answer to the men of Israel, Because the king is our near relation: why then are you angry about this? have we taken any of the king's food, or has he given us any offering?

⁴³ And in answer to the men of Judah, the men of Israel said, We have ten parts in the king, and we are the first in order of birth: why did you make nothing of us? and were we not the first to make suggestions for getting the king back? And the words of the men of Judah were more violent than the words of the men of Israel.