Bible History
Bible History

2 Samuel 19 - International Standard Version (ISV)

You are here: Home International Standard Version (ISV) 2 Samuel 19

Joab Rebukes David

19 [a]Someone informed Joab, “The king is weeping bitterly, mourning for Absalom.” 2 The victory had become an occasion for the army to mourn, because on that very day the troops heard the announcement, “The king is grieving for his son!” 3 So men snuck into the city that day like men do who are ashamed after they’ve run away from a battle.

4 Meanwhile, the king veiled his face and kept on crying loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom my son, my son!”

5 Joab went up to the palace and rebuked the king: “Today you’ve humiliated your entire army who just saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and mistresses! 6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you! You’ve made it abundantly clear today that your officers and the men under them[b] mean nothing to you! I’ve learned today that you would rather have Absalom alive today and all the rest of us dead! 7 Now get up and restore the morale of[c] your army. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t get out there, you won’t have a single man left in your army[d] by nightfall! You’ll be in more trouble today than all the disasters you’ve been through from your boyhood until now!” 8 So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the army was informed, “The king is sitting in the gateway!” they all gathered together in his presence.

David is Reinstated as King

Meanwhile, the Israelis had run away back to their own homes. 9 Throughout the tribes of Israel, everyone was quarreling with one another:

“The king delivered us from the domination of our enemies….”

“He’s the one who rescued us from Philistine control….”

“Now he’s fleeing the country because of Absalom…!”

10 “The very same Absalom we anointed to rule just died in battle…!”

“Now then, why remain silent about bringing the king back…?”

11 So King David sent this message[e] to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his palace, considering that what’s being reported throughout all of Israel has come to the king at his palace? 12 You’re my relatives! You’re my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last to bring back the king?’ 13 Then ask Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my own flesh and blood? So may God deal with me, no matter how severely, if from this day forward you don’t take Joab’s place as commander of my army.’

14 By doing things like this,[f] he persuaded all the men of Judah to unite in support of him.[g] They sent the king this message: “Come on back, you and all of your army!” 15 So the king returned to Israel as far as the Jordan River.[h]

Shimei is Shown Mercy

The men of Judah went out as far as Gilgal to greet the king and escort him across the Jordan River 16 while Gera’s son Shimei,[i] a descendant of Benjamin from Bahurim, accompanied them to meet King David. 17 Ziba, the steward in charge of Saul’s household, and 1,000 descendants of Benjamin accompanied him, along with Ziba’s fifteen sons and 20 servants. They rushed toward the Jordan River ahead of the king 18 and forded it to assist the king at the crossing so he could do whatever he wished.

Just as the king was about to ford the Jordan River, Gera’s son Shimei fell down in front of the king 19 and addressed him,[j] “May your majesty not hold me guilty. Don’t remember how your servant did wrong the day your majesty the king left Jerusalem. May the king not let it burden his heart, 20 because your servant knows that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first one from the entire house of Joseph to meet your majesty the king.”

21 But Zeruiah’s son Abishai asked, “Why shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? After all, he cursed the Lord’s anointed!”

22 David replied, “What do you sons of Zeruiah have in common with me?[k] You’ve become my enemies today! Should anyone be executed in Israel today? Don’t you know that I’ve been reinstated as king over Israel today?” 23 Then the king addressed Shimei, “You won’t die!” affirming his promise with an oath.

David Meets Mephibosheth

24 Meanwhile, Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth also went out to greet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 25 When he arrived from Jerusalem to greet the king, the king asked him, “So why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?”

26 He replied, “Well, your majesty, since your servant is lame, I told myself, ‘I’ll have my donkey saddled and I’ll ride on it so I can leave with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me 27 by slandering your servant to your majesty.[l] But your majesty the king is like an angel from God: so do what you think is best. 28 Everyone from my grandfather’s household deserved nothing but death from your majesty the king, but you provided a place for your servant among those who have been eating from your table. So what right do I have to ask for anything more from the king?”

29 In response, the king told him, “What’s the point of us talking anymore? My decision is that you and Ziba divide the fields.”

30 But Mephibosheth told the king, “Let him take all of it, now that your majesty the king has returned safely to his palace.”

David’s Mercy for Barzillai

31 Barzillai the Gileadite also had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan River with the king and to see him on his way from there. 32 Now Barzillai was a very old man at the age of 80 years. A very wealthy man, Barzillai[m] had provided for king David during his sojourn in Mahanaim.[n] 33 So the king invited Barzillai, “Cross the Jordan River[o] with me, live with me in Jerusalem, and I’ll provide for you there.”[p]

34 “How many more years do I have to live,” Barzillai replied to the king, “that I should move to Jerusalem with the king? 35 I’m now 80 years old! I can hardly tell the difference between what tastes[q] good or bad! I can’t tell what I eat or drink! I can’t hear the voice of men and women when they sing! So why should your servant be an added burden to your majesty the king? 36 Your servant will cross the Jordan River[r] with the king for a short distance, but why should the king offer me this reward? 37 Please let your servant return so I can die in my own home town near the grave of my father and mother. Meanwhile, here is your servant Chimham![s] Let him accompany your majesty the king. Please do for him whatever seems best to you.”

38 So the king answered, “Chimham will accompany me, and I’ll do for him whatever seems best to you! I’ll do anything for you that you want!” 39 Then all the people crossed the Jordan River,[t] followed by the king. The king embraced[u] Barzillai, blessed him, and then Barzillai[v] returned to his home.[w] 40 As the king crossed over the Jordan River[x] to Gilgal, Chimham accompanied him, as did all the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel.

Petty Quarrels Arise between Israel and Judah

41 Not long afterward, all the men of Israel started coming to the king, complaining to him,[y] “Why did our relatives in Judah’s army sneak you away, taking the king and his household over the Jordan River,[z] along with David’s army?”

42 Everybody from Judah shouted to the men from Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. So why are you angry about this? Have we lived off[aa] the king’s expense? Have we appropriated anything for ourselves?”

43 But the men from Israel answered the men from Judah: “We[ab] represent ten of the tribes[ac] of Israel! So we[ad] have more right to David than you[ae] do! Why haven’t you[af] taken us[ag] seriously? Weren’t we[ah] the first to talk about bringing back our[ai] king?” But what the people of Judah had to say was harsher than what the people of Israel were saying.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 19:1 This v. is 19:2 in MT, 19:2 is 19:3 in MT, and so through 19:43
  2. 2 Samuel 19:6 Lit. and the servants
  3. 2 Samuel 19:7 Lit. and encourage
  4. 2 Samuel 19:7 Lit. left with you
  5. 2 Samuel 19:11 The Heb. lacks this message
  6. 2 Samuel 19:14 The Heb. lacks By doing things like this
  7. 2 Samuel 19:14 The Heb. lacks in support of him
  8. 2 Samuel 19:15 The Heb. lacks River; and so throughout the chapter
  9. 2 Samuel 19:16 Cf. 2Sam 16:5-12
  10. 2 Samuel 19:19 Lit. addressed the king
  11. 2 Samuel 19:22 Cf. 2Sam 16:10
  12. 2 Samuel 19:27 Cf. 2Sam 16:1-4
  13. 2 Samuel 19:32 Lit. he
  14. 2 Samuel 19:32 Cf. 2Sam 17:27
  15. 2 Samuel 19:33 The Heb. lacks the Jordan River
  16. 2 Samuel 19:33 The Heb. lacks there
  17. 2 Samuel 19:35 The Heb. lacks what tastes
  18. 2 Samuel 19:36 The Heb. lacks River
  19. 2 Samuel 19:37 I.e., a son of Barzillai to whom David later gave a land grant near Bethlehem and on which Chimham built an inn that remained at least until the exile; cf. Jer 41:17
  20. 2 Samuel 19:39 The Heb. lacks River
  21. 2 Samuel 19:39 Or kissed
  22. 2 Samuel 19:39 Lit. he
  23. 2 Samuel 19:39 Lit. place
  24. 2 Samuel 19:40 The Heb. lacks the Jordan River
  25. 2 Samuel 19:41 Lit. to the king
  26. 2 Samuel 19:41 The Heb. lacks River
  27. 2 Samuel 19:42 Lit. we eaten from
  28. 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. I
  29. 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. ten hands; i.e. ten fractional portions
  30. 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. I
  31. 2 Samuel 19:43 MT you is sing.
  32. 2 Samuel 19:43 MT you is sing.
  33. 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. me
  34. 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. Wasn’t I
  35. 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. my

You Might Also Like:

2 Samuel 19 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

19 And it is declared to Joab, `Lo, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom;' 2 and the salvation on that day becometh mourning to all the people, for the people hath heard on that day, saying, `The king hath been grieved for his son.' 3 And the people stealeth away, on that day, to go in to th...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

19 Forsooth it was told to Joab, that the king wept, and bewailed his son; 2 and the victory in that day was turned into mourning to all the people; for the people heard, that it was said in that day, The king maketh sorrow on his son. (and so the victory that day was turned into mourning for all th...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - World English Bible (WEB)

19 Joab was told, “Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.” 2 The victory that day was turned into mourning among all the people; for the people heard it said that day, “The king grieves for his son.” 3 The people sneaked into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - The Voice (VOICE)

David should never be counted out. Hours before, Absalom has everything going his way, and David is run out of his kingdom. Smart and fierce, he doesn’t spend all those years hiding from Saul and fighting with little or no resources for nothing. Although he orders his generals to be merciful to his ...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

David Weeps Over Absalom19 The king was shaken. So he went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. As he walked he cried, “My son Absalom! O my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Then Joab was told, “Look, the king is weeping and mourning over Absal...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

19 It was told Jo′ab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Ab′salom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people; for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed ...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

19 It was told Jo′ab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Ab′salom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people; for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed ...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

19 It was told Joab, ‘The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.’ 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops; for the troops heard that day, ‘The king is grieving for his son.’ 3 The troops stole into the city that day as soldiers steal in who are ashamed when they fl...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

19 It was told Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”(A)2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops, for the troops heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 The troops stole into the city that day as soldiers steal in who are ashamed when they fl...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Joab Rebukes the King19 [a]Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. 2 As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. 3 They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and h...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New Life Version (NLV)

19 Then Joab was told, “See, the king is crying. He is filled with sorrow for Absalom.” 2 So the happiness of winning the battle that day was changed to sorrow for all the people. For they heard that day, “The king is filled with sorrow for his son.” 3 So the people were quiet as they went in secr...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New King James Version (NKJV)

David Returns to Jerusalem19 And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and (A)mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into (B)mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 And the people [a]stole back (C)into the ...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

19 [a]Joab was told, ‘The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.’ 2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, ‘The king is grieving for his son.’ 3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New International Version (NIV)

19 [a]Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when t...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

19 Someone told Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom. He’s filled with sadness because his son has died.” 2 The army had won a great battle that day. But their joy turned into sadness. That’s because someone had told the troops, “The king is filled with sorrow because his son is dead...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New English Translation (NET)

19 (19:2) Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.” 2 So the victory of that day was turned to mourning as far as all the people were concerned. For the people heard on that day, “The king is grieved over his son.” 3 That day the people stole away to go to the city the way pe...
Read More

61 Bible Translations

Popular Articles

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Bible History Online

Bible Study Tools

Top Tags