Parallel Bible results for "2 samuel 19"

2 Samuel 19

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.

New Century Version NCV

1 People told Joab, "Look, the king is sad and crying because of Absalom."

2 David's army had won the battle that day. But it became a very sad day for all the people, because they heard that the king was very sad for his son.

3 The people came into the city quietly that day. They were like an army that had been defeated in battle and had run away.

4 The king covered his face and cried loudly, "My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!"

5 Joab went into the king's house and said, "Today you have shamed all your men. They saved your life and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives, and slave women.

6 You have shamed them because you love those who hate you, and you hate those who love you. Today you have made it clear that your commanders and men mean nothing to you. What if Absalom had lived and all of us were dead? I can see you would be pleased.

7 Now go out and encourage your servants. I swear by the Lord that if you don't go out, no man will be left with you by tonight! That will be worse than all the troubles you have had from your youth until today."

8 So the king went to the city gate. When the news spread that the king was at the gate, everyone came to see him. All the Israelites who had followed Absalom had run away to their homes.

9 People in all the tribes of Israel began to argue, saying, "The king saved us from the Philistines and our other enemies, but he left the country because of Absalom.

10 We appointed Absalom to rule us, but now he has died in battle. We should make David the king again."

11 King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, that said, "Speak to the older leaders of Judah. Say, 'Even in my house I have heard what all the Israelites are saying. So why are you the last tribe to bring the king back to his palace?

12 You are my brothers, my own family. Why are you the last tribe to bring back the king?'

13 And say to Amasa, 'You are part of my own family. May God punish me terribly if I don't make you commander of the army in Joab's place!'"

14 David touched the hearts of all the people of Judah at once. They sent a message to the king that said, "Return with all your men."

15 Then the king returned as far as the Jordan River. The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and to bring him across the Jordan.

16 Shimei son of Gera, a Benjaminite who lived in Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David.

17 With Shimei came a thousand Benjaminites. Ziba, the servant from Saul's family, also came, bringing his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him. They all hurried to the Jordan River to meet the king.

18 The people went across the Jordan to help bring the king's family back to Judah and to do whatever the king wanted. As the king was crossing the river, Shimei son of Gera came to him and bowed facedown on the ground in front of the king.

19 He said to the king, "My master, don't hold me guilty. Don't remember the wrong I did when you left Jerusalem! Don't hold it against me.

20 I know I have sinned. That is why I am the first person from Joseph's family to come down and meet you today, my master and king!"

21 But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shimei should die because he cursed you, the Lord's appointed king!"

22 David said, "This does not concern you, sons of Zeruiah! Today you're against me! No one will be put to death in Israel today. Today I know I am king over Israel!"

23 Then the king promised Shimei, "You won't die."

24 Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, also went down to meet King David. Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet, cut his beard, or washed his clothes from the time the king had left Jerusalem until he returned safely.

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

26 He answered, "My master, my servant Ziba tricked me! I said to Ziba, 'I am crippled, so saddle a donkey. Then I will ride it so I can go with the king.'

27 But he lied about me to you. You, my master and king, are like an angel from God. Do what you think is good.

28 You could have killed all my grandfather's family. Instead, you put me with those people who eat at your own table. So I don't have a right to ask anything more from the king!"

29 The king said to him, "Don't say anything more. I have decided that you and Ziba will divide the land."

30 Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let Ziba take all the land now that my master the king has arrived safely home."

31 Barzillai of Gilead came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan River with the king.

32 Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old. He had taken care of the king when David was staying at Mahanaim, because Barzillai was a very rich man.

33 David said to Barzillai, "Cross the river with me. Come with me to Jerusalem, and I will take care of you."

34 But Barzillai answered the king, "Do you know how old I am? Do you think I can go with you to Jerusalem?

35 I am eighty years old! I am too old to taste what I eat or drink. I am too old to hear the voices of men and women singers. Why should you be bothered with me?

36 I am not worthy of a reward from you, but I will cross the Jordan River with you.

37 Then let me go back so I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is Kimham, your servant. Let him go with you, my master and king. Do with him whatever you want."

38 The king answered, "Kimham will go with me. I will do for him anything you wish, and I will do anything for you that you wish."

39 The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai returned home, and the king and all the people crossed the Jordan.

40 When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel led David across the river.

41 Soon all the Israelites came to the king and said to him, "Why did our relatives, the people of Judah, steal you away? Why did they bring you and your family across the Jordan River with your men?"

42 All the people of Judah answered the Israelites, "We did this because the king is our close relative. Why are you angry about it? We have not eaten food at the king's expense or taken anything for ourselves!"

43 The Israelites answered the people of Judah, "We have ten tribes in the kingdom, so we have more right to David than you do! But you ignored us! We were the first ones to talk about bringing our king back!" But the people of Judah spoke even more unkindly than the people of Israel.