David’s Mourning for Absalom

33 Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: q“O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, rmy son!”

19 And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and amourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into bmourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 And the people 1stole back cinto the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But the king dcovered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, e“O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

5 Then fJoab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines, 6 in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you 2regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well. 7 Now therefore, arise, go out and speak 3comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.” 8 Then the king arose and sat in the ggate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king.

For everyone of Israel had hfled to his tent.

David Returns to Jerusalem

9 Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our ienemies, he delivered us from the hand of the jPhilistines, and now he has kfled from the land because of Absalom. 10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”

11 So King David sent to lZadok 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 words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house? 12 You are my brethren, you are mmy bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’ 13 nAnd say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? oGod do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me 4continually in place of Joab.’ ” 14 So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, pjust as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”

15 Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to qGilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king racross the Jordan. 16 And sShimei the son of Gera, a 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 tBenjamin with him, and uZiba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king. 18 Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good.