Parallel Bible results for "2 samuel 19"

2 Samuel 19

Common English Bible CEB

1 Joab was told that the king was crying and mourning Absalom.

2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops because they heard that day that the king was grieving for his son.

3 So that day the troops crept back into the city like soldiers creep back ashamed after they've fled from battle.

4 The king covered his face and cried out in a loud voice, "Oh, my son Absalom! Oh, Absalom, my son! My son!"

5 Joab came to the king inside and said, "Today you have humiliated all your servants who have saved your life today, not to mention the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your secondary wives,

6 by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you! Today you have announced that the commanders and their soldiers are nothing to you, because I know that if Absalom were alive today and the rest of us dead, that would be perfectly fine with you!

7 Now get up! Go out and encourage your followers! I swear to the LORD that if you don't go out there, not one man will stick with you tonight—and that will be more trouble for you than all the trouble that you've faced from your youth until now."

8 So the king went and sat down in the city gate. All the troops were told that the king was sitting in the gate, so they came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes.

9 Everyone was arguing throughout Israel's tribes, saying, "The king delivered us from our enemies' power, and he rescued us from the Philistines' power, but now he has fled from the land and from controlling his own kingdom.

10 And Absalom, the one we anointed over us, is dead in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"

11 When the things that all the Israelites were saying reached the king, David sent a message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: "Say the following to the elders of Judah: ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace?

12 You are my relatives! You are my flesh and bones! Why should you be the last to bring the king back?'

13 And tell Amasa, ‘Aren't you my flesh and bones too? May God deal harshly with me and worse still if you don't become commander of my army from now on instead of Joab!'"

14 So he won over the hearts of everyone in Judah as though they were one person, and they sent word to the king: "Come back—you and all your servants."

15 So the king came back and arrived at the Jordan River. Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and bring him across the Jordan.

16 Gera's son Shimei, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the people of Judah to meet King David.

17 A thousand men from Benjamin were with him. Ziba too, the servant of Saul's house, along with his fifteen sons and twenty servants, rushed to the Jordan ahead of the king

18 to do the work of ferrying over the king's household and to do whatever pleased him. Gera's son Shimei fell down before the king when he crossed the Jordan.

19 He said to the king, "May my master not hold me guilty or remember your servant's wrongdoing that day my master the king left Jerusalem. Please forget about it, Your Majesty,

20 because your servant knows that I have sinned. But look, I am the first person from the entire family of Joseph to come down today and meet my master the king."

21 Zeruiah's son Abishai responded, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for that—for cursing the LORD's anointed?"

22 But David said, "My problems aren't yours, you sons of Zeruiah. Why are you becoming my enemy today? Should anyone in Israel be put to death today? Don't I know that today I am again king over Israel?"

23 Then the king told Shimei, "You will not die." And the king swore this to him.

24 Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, also came down to meet the king. He hadn't taken care of his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely.

25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Mephibosheth, why didn't you go with me?"

26 "My master and king," Mephibosheth answered, "my servant abandoned me! Because your servant is lame, I asked my servant, ‘Saddle a donkey for me so I can ride and go to the king.'

27 So Ziba has slandered your servant to my master and king, but my master and king is a messenger of God. So do whatever seems best to you.

28 Even though all the members of my grandfather's family were nothing short of demonic toward my master and king, you still put your servant with those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to beg for still more from the king?"

29 "You don't need to talk any more about this," the king said to him. "I order you and Ziba to divide the property."

30 Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take all of it, since my master and king has come home safely."

31 Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim. He accompanied the king to the Jordan River to send him off there.

32 Barzillai was very old, 80 years of age. He had supported the king during his stay at Mahanaim because Barzillai was a very wealthy man.

33 The king said to Barzillai, "Come over the Jordan with me. I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem."

34 But Barzillai said to the king, "How many years do I have left that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

35 I am now 80 years old. Do I know what is good or bad anymore? Can your servant taste what I eat or drink? Can I even hear the voices of men or women singers? Why should your servant be a burden to my master and king?

36 Your servant will cross a short way over the Jordan with the king, but why should the king give me such a reward?

37 Let your servant return so I may die in my own town near the grave of my parents. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my master and king, and treat him as you think best."

38 The king said, "Okay. Chimham will cross over with me, and I will treat him as I think best. And I will do for you anything you desire from me."

39 So all the people crossed over the Jordan River, and the king stayed behind. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and then Barzillai went back to his home.

40 When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king across.

41 Then everyone in Israel came and said to the king, "Why did our relatives the people of Judah steal you away, and bring the king and his household across the Jordan River, along with all of his soldiers?"

42 Then all the people of Judah answered the Israelites, "Because the king is our relative! Why are you angry at us about this? Have we taken any of the king's food? Has he given us any gifts?"

43 But the Israelites answered the people of Judah, "We have ten shares in the monarchy! What's more, we are the oldest offspring, not you! So why have you disrespected us? Weren't we the first to talk about bringing back our king?" But the words of the people of Judah were even harsher than the words of the Israelites.

The Message Bible MSG

1 Joab was told that David was weeping and lamenting over Absalom.

2 The day's victory turned into a day of mourning as word passed through the army, "David is grieving over his son."

3 The army straggled back to the city that day demoralized, dragging their tails.

4 And the king held his face in his hands and lamented loudly, O my son Absalom, Absalom my dear, dear son!

5 But in private Joab rebuked the king: "Now you've done it - knocked the wind out of your loyal servants who have just saved your life, to say nothing of the lives of your sons and daughters, wives and concubines.

6 What is this - loving those who hate you and hating those who love you? Your actions give a clear message: officers and soldiers mean nothing to you. You know that if Absalom were alive right now, we'd all be dead - would that make you happy?

7 Get hold of yourself; get out there and put some heart into your servants! I swear to God that if you don't go to them they'll desert; not a soldier will be left here by nightfall. And that will be the worst thing that has happened yet."

8 So the king came out and took his place at the city gate. Soon everyone knew: "Oh, look! The king has come out to receive us." And his whole army came and presented itself to the king. But the Israelites had fled the field of battle and gone home.

9 Meanwhile, the whole populace was now complaining to its leaders, "Wasn't it the king who saved us time and again from our enemies, and rescued us from the Philistines? And now he has had to flee the country on account of Absalom.

10 And now this Absalom whom we made king is dead in battle. So what are you waiting for? Why don't you bring the king back?"

11 When David heard what was being said, he sent word to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, "Ask the elders of Judah, 'Why are you so laggard in bringing the king back home?

12 You're my brothers! You're my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last ones to bring the king back home?'

13 And tell Amasa, 'You, too, are my flesh and blood. As God is my witness, I'm making you the permanent commander of the army in place of Joab.'"

14 He captured the hearts of everyone in Judah. They were unanimous in sending for the king: "Come back, you and all your servants."

15 So the king returned. He arrived at the Jordan just as Judah reached Gilgal on their way to welcome the king and escort him across the Jordan.

16 Even Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down to join the men of Judah so he could welcome the king,

17 a thousand Benjaminites with him. And Ziba, Saul's steward, with his fifteen sons and twenty servants, waded across the Jordan to meet the king

18 and brought his entourage across, doing whatever they could to make the king comfortable.

19 and said, "Don't think badly of me, my master! Overlook my irresponsible outburst on the day my master the king left Jerusalem - don't hold it against me!

20 I know I sinned, but look at me now - the first of all the tribe of Joseph to come down and welcome back my master the king!"

21 Abishai son of Zeruiah interrupted, "Enough of this! Shouldn't we kill him outright? Why, he cursed God's anointed!"

22 But David said, "What is it with you sons of Zeruiah? Why do you insist on being so contentious? Nobody is going to be killed today. I am again king over Israel!"

23 Then the king turned to Shimei, "You're not going to die." And the king gave him his word.

24 Next Mephibosheth grandson of Saul arrived from Jerusalem to welcome the king. He hadn't combed his hair or trimmed his beard or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safe and sound.

25 The king said, "And why didn't you come with me, Mephibosheth?"

26 "My master the king," he said, "my servant betrayed me. I told him to saddle my donkey so I could ride it and go with the king, for, as you know, I am lame.

27 And then he lied to you about me. But my master the king has been like one of God's angels: he knew what was right and did it.

28 Wasn't everyone in my father's house doomed? But you took me in and gave me a place at your table. What more could I ever expect or ask?"

29 "That's enough," said the king. "Say no more. Here's my decision: You and Ziba divide the property between you."

30 Mephibosheth said, "Oh, let him have it all! All I care about is that my master the king is home safe and sound!"

31 Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim. He crossed the Jordan with the king to give him a good send-off.

32 Barzillai was a very old man - eighty years old! He had supplied the king's needs all the while he was in Mahanaim since he was very wealthy.

33 "Join me in Jerusalem," the king said to Barzillai. "Let me take care of you."

34 But Barzillai declined the offer, "How long do you think I'd live if I went with the king to Jerusalem?

35 I'm eighty years old and not much good anymore to anyone. Can't taste food; can't hear music. So why add to the burdens of my master the king?

36 I'll just go a little way across the Jordan with the king. But why would the king need to make a great thing of that?

37 Let me go back and die in my hometown and be buried with my father and mother. But my servant Kimham here; let him go with you in my place. But treat him well!"

38 The king said, "That's settled; Kimham goes with me. And I will treat him well! If you think of anything else, I'll do that for you, too."

39 The army crossed the Jordan but the king stayed. The king kissed and blessed Barzillai, who then returned home.

40 Then the king, Kimham with him, crossed over at Gilgal.

41 The men of Israel came to the king and said, "Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, taken over as if they owned the king, escorting the king and his family and close associates across the Jordan?"

42 The men of Judah retorted, "Because the king is related to us, that's why! But why make a scene? You don't see us getting treated special because of it, do you?"

43 The men of Israel shot back, "We have ten shares in the king to your one. Besides we're the firstborn - so why are we having to play second fiddle? It was our idea to bring him back." But the men of Judah took a harder line than the men of Israel.