David Returns to Jerusalem

¹Joab was informed, 'The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.' ²The victory that day turned into mourning for all the people, because they heard that the king was grieving for his son. ³The people quietly entered the city that day, like those who sneak away in shame after fleeing from battle. ⁴The king covered his face and cried out loudly, 'O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!' ⁵Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Today you have shamed all your servants who saved your life, and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives, and concubines." ⁶You love your enemies and hate your friends. Today, you've shown that you don't care about your commanders or soldiers. I see that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, you would be pleased. ⁷Now get up, go out, and encourage your men. I swear by the LORD, if you don't go out, not a single one will stay with you tonight, and that will be worse for you than all the troubles you've faced since your youth. ⁸So the king got up and sat at the city gate. When it was announced to all the people that the king was sitting in the gate, everyone came before him, for the Israelites had fled, each man to his tent. ⁹Throughout all the tribes of Israel, the people were in conflict, saying, 'The king saved us from our enemies and delivered us from the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom.' ¹⁰And Absalom, whom we anointed as our king, is dead in battle. So why isn't anyone talking about bringing the king back? ¹¹King David sent a message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar, saying, 'Speak to the elders of Judah and ask them, "Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? The message from all Israel has already reached the king, even to his house."' ¹²You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why are you the last to bring back the king? ¹³And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you are not made commander of the army before me continually, in place of Joab.' ¹⁴He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah, as if they were one person, and they sent this message to the king: 'Return, you and all your servants.' ¹⁵So the king returned and came to the Jordan River. The men of Judah went to Gilgal to meet the king and escort him across the Jordan.