Then David 1numbered the people who were with him and aset over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 David sent the people out, aone third under the 1command of Joab, one third under the 1command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the 1command of bIttai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.” 3 But the people said, “aYou should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But 1you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.” 4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So athe king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 5 The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And aall the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom. 6 Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in athe forest of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were 1defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. 8 For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 9 Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And ahis head caught fast in the oak, so he was 1left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. 10 When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 The man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for ain our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘1Protect for me the young man Absalom!’ 13 Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and athere is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14 Then Joab said, “I will not 1waste time here with you.” aSo he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the 2midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him. 16 Then aJoab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. 17 They took Absalom and cast him into 1a deep pit in the forest and aerected over him a very great heap of stones. And ball Israel fled, each to his tent. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and aset up for himself a pillar which is in bthe King’s Valley, for he said, “cI have no son 1to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
David Is Grief‑stricken
19 Then aAhimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news bthat the Lord has 1freed him from the hand of his enemies.” 20 But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 22 Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since ayou will have no reward for going?” 23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite. 24 Now aDavid was sitting between the two gates; and bthe watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself. 25 The watchman called and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer. 26 Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27 The watchman said, “I 1think the running of the first one ais like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “bThis is a good man and comes with good news.” 28 Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “1All is well.” And ahe prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “bBlessed is the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.” 29 The king said, “aIs it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but bI did not know what it was.” 30 Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still. 31 Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for athe Lord has 1freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “aIs it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “bLet the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!” 33 1The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “aO my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! bWould I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Joab Reproves David’s Lament
Then it was told Joab, “Behold, athe king is weeping and mourns for Absalom.” 2 The 1victory that day was turned to mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 So the people went by stealth into the city that day, as people who are humiliated steal away when they flee in battle. 4 The king acovered his face and 1cried out with a loud voice, “bO my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6 by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have shown today that 1princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then 2you would be pleased. 7 Now therefore arise, go out and speak 1kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, surely anot a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”
David Restored as King
8 So the king arose and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is asitting in the gate,” then all the people came before the king. Now bIsrael had fled, each to his tent. 9 All the people were quarreling throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “aThe king delivered us from the 1hand of our enemies and bsaved us from the 1hand of the Philistines, but now che has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10 However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?” 11 Then King David sent to aZadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house? 12 You are my brothers; ayou are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13 Say to aAmasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? bMay God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be ccommander of the army before me continually din place of Joab.’” 14 Thus he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah aas one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.” 15 The king then returned and came as far as the Jordan. And Judah came to aGilgal in order to go to meet the king, to bring the king across the Jordan. 16 Then aShimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, with aZiba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they rushed to the Jordan before the king. 18 Then they kept crossing the ford to bring over the king’s household, and to do what was good in his sight. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan. 19 So he said to the king, “aLet not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king came out from Jerusalem, so that the king would 1take it to heart. 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, athe first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, “aShould not Shimei be put to death for this, bbecause he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” 22 David then said, “aWhat have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be an adversary to me? bShould any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?” 23 The king said to Shimei, “aYou shall not die.” Thus the king swore to him. 24 Then aMephibosheth the 1son of Saul came down to meet the king; and bhe had neither 2cared for his feet, nor 2trimmed his mustache, nor cwashed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace. 25 It was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “aWhy did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26 So he answered, “O my lord, the king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ abecause your servant is lame. 27 Moreover, ahe has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is blike the angel of God, therefore do what is good in your sight. 28 For aall my father’s household was nothing but dead men before my lord the king; byet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have yet that I should 1complain anymore to the king?” 29 So the king said to him, “Why do you still speak of your affairs? I have 1decided, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’” 30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has come safely to his own house.” 31 Now aBarzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he went on to the Jordan with the king to 1escort him over the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was very old, being eighty years old; and he had 1asustained the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. 33 The king said to Barzillai, “You cross over with me and I will 1sustain you in Jerusalem with me.” 34 But Barzillai said to the king, “aHow long 1have I yet to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am 1now aeighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I hear anymore bthe voice of singing men and women? cWhy then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king compensate me with this reward? 37 Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant aChimham, let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.” 38 The king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you 1require of me, I will do for you.” 39 All the people crossed over the Jordan and the king crossed too. The king then akissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place. 40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; and all the people of Judah and also ahalf the people of Israel 1accompanied the king. 41 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “aWhy had our brothers bthe men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him over the Jordan?” 42 Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because athe king is a close relative to 1us. Why then 2are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense, or has 3anything been taken for us?” 43 But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “1aWe have ten parts in the king, therefore 1we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not 1our advice first to bring back 1our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.
Sheba’s Revolt
Now aa worthless fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of bBichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet and said,
“cWe have no portion in David,
Nor do we have inheritance in dthe son of Jesse;
eEvery man to his tents, O Israel!”
2 So all the men of Israel 1withdrew from following David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah 2remained steadfast to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem. 3 Then David came to his house at Jerusalem, and athe king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and placed them under guard and provided them with sustenance, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows. 4 Then the king said to aAmasa, “Call out the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.” 5 So Amasa went to call out the men of Judah, but he adelayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him. 6 And David said to aAbishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; btake your lord’s servants and pursue him, so that he does not find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight.” 7 So Joab’s men went out after him, aalong with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 When they were at the large stone which is in aGibeon, Amasa came 1to meet them. Now Joab was 2dressed in his military attire, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist; and as he went forward, it fell out. 9 Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And aJoab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
Amasa Murdered
10 But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab’s hand so ahe struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 Now there stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, alet him follow Joab.” 12 But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he 1removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
Revolt Put Down
13 As soon as he was removed from the highway, all the men passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. 14 Now he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, even Beth-maacah, and all the Berites; and they were gathered together and also went after him. 15 They came and besieged him in aAbel Beth-maacah, and bthey 1cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood by the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction in order to topple the wall. 16 Then aa wise woman called from the city, “Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, ‘Come here that I may speak with you.’” 17 So he approached her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” And he answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your maidservant.” And he answered, “I am listening.” 18 Then she spoke, saying, “Formerly they used to say, ‘They will surely ask advice at Abel,’ and thus they ended the dispute. 19 I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. aYou are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up bthe inheritance of the Lord?” 20 Joab replied, “Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy! 21 Such is not the case. But a man from athe hill country of Ephraim, bSheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” 22 Then the woman awisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So bhe blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem. 23 aNow Joab was over the whole army of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; 24 and Adoram was over the forced labor, and aJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder; 25 and Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and aAbiathar were priests; 26 and Ira the Jairite was also a priest to David.