2 Samuel 19:8–15

⁸So the king got up and sat in the city gate,^o and all the people were told, “Look, the king is sitting in the city gate.” Then they all came into the king’s presence.

Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent.^{a 9}People throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves, saying, “The king rescued us from the grasp of our enemies,^b and he saved us from the grasp of the Philistines,^c but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.^{d 10}But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”

¹¹King David sent word to the priests Zadok and Abiathar:^e “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace? The talk of all Israel has reached the king at his house. ¹²You are my brothers, my flesh and blood.^Cf So why should you be the last to restore the king?’ ¹³And tell Amasa,^g ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood?^D May God punish me and do so severely if you don’t become commander of my army from now on instead of Joab!’ ”

¹⁴So he won over^A all the men of Judah, and they unanimously sent word to the king: “Come back, you and all your servants.” ¹⁵Then the king returned. When he arrived at the Jordan, Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and escort him across the Jordan.