In Hebrew texts 19:1-43 is numbered 19:2-44. 1Joab was told, ‘The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.’ 2And 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.’ 3The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. 4The king covered his face and cried aloud, ‘O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!’
5Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, ‘Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. 6You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. 7Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now.’
8So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, ‘The king is sitting in the gateway,’ they all came before him.
Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes.
David returns to Jerusalem
9Throughout the tribes of Israel, all the people were arguing among themselves, saying, ‘The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country to escape from Absalom; 10and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?’
11King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: ‘Ask the elders of Judah, “Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? 12You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be 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 the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.” ’
14He won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind. They sent word to the king, ‘Return, you and all your men.’ 15Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan.
Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. 16Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17With him were a thousand Benjaminites, along with Ziba, the steward of Saul’s household, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan, where the king was. 18They crossed at the ford to take the king’s household over and to do whatever he wished.
When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king 19and said to him, ‘May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. 20For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.’
21Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, ‘Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord’s anointed.’
22David replied, ‘What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? What right do you have to interfere? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don’t I know that today I am king over Israel?’ 23So the king said to Shimei, ‘You shall not die.’ And the king promised him on oath.
24Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his moustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 25When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, ‘Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?’
26He said, ‘My lord the king, since I your servant am lame, I said, “I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so that I can go with the king.” But Ziba my servant betrayed me. 27And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever you wish. 28All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?’
29The king said to him, ‘Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the land.’
30Mephibosheth said to the king, ‘Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.’
31Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. 32Now Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. 33The king said to Barzillai, ‘Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you.’
34But Barzillai answered the king, ‘How many more years shall I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? 35I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? 37Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you wish.’
38The king said, ‘Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever you wish. And anything you desire from me I will do for you.’
39So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and bade him farewell, and Barzillai returned to his home.
40When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.
41Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, ‘Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?’
42All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, ‘We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?’
43Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, ‘We have ten shares in the king; so we have a greater claim on David than you have. Why then do you treat us with contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing back our king?’
But the men of Judah pressed their claims even more forcefully than the men of Israel.
1Yowabu anawuzidwa kuti, “Mfumu ikulira maliro a Abisalomu.” 2Ndipo kwa asilikali onse chipambano cha tsiku limenelo chinasandulika maliro, chifukwa tsiku limenelo anthu anamva kuti mfumu ili pa chisoni chachikulu chifukwa cha mwana wake. 3Ankhondo analowa mu mzinda mwakachetechete tsiku limenelo ngati momwe amalowera anthu mwamanyazi chifukwa athawa ku nkhondo. 4Mfumu inaphimba nkhope yake ndipo inalira mofuwula, “Iwe mwana wanga Abisalomu! Iwe Abisalomu, mwana wanga, mwana wanga!”
5Kenaka Yowabu analowa mʼnyumba ya mfumu nafika kwa mfumuyo ndipo anati, “Lero mwachititsa manyazi asilikali anu onse, amene apulumutsa moyo wanu ndiponso moyo wa ana anu aamuna ndi aakazi, kudzanso moyo wa akazi anu ndi wa azikazi anu. 6Inu mumakonda amene amadana nanu ndipo mumadana ndi amene amakukondani. Inuyo mwaonetsa lero poyera kuti simusamala za atsogoleri anu a nkhondo ndi asilikali awo. Ine ndikuona kuti inu mukanakondwera ngati Abisalomu akanakhala ndi moyo lero, tonsefe titafa. 7Tsopano pitani mukawalimbikitse asilikali anu. Ine ndikulumbira mwa Yehova kuti ngati inu simupita palibe munthu amene adzatsale ali ndi inu polowa dzuwa. Ichi chidzakhala choyipa kwambiri kuposa zovuta zonse zimene zinakugwerani kuyambira muli mnyamata mpaka lero.”
8Kotero mfumu inanyamuka ndipo inakhala pa mpando wake pa chipata. Pamene asilikali anawuzidwa kuti, “Mfumu yakhala pa chipata,” onse anabwera kwa iye.
Davide Abwerera ku Yerusalemu
Nthawi imeneyi nʼkuti Aisraeli atathawira ku nyumba zawo. 9Pakati pa mafuko onse a Israeli, anthu amakangana ndipo amati, “Mfumu inatipulumutsa mʼmanja mwa adani anthu. Iye ndi amene anatilanditsa mʼdzanja la Afilisti. Koma tsopano wathawa mʼdziko muno chifukwa cha Abisalomu. 10Ndipo Abisalomu amene ife tinamudzoza kuti atilamulire wafa pa nkhondo. Tsono nʼchifukwa chiyani simukunena kanthu za kubweretsanso mfumu?”
11Mfumu Davide inatumiza uthenga uwu kwa ansembe Zadoki ndi Abiatara, “Funsani akuluakulu a Yuda, ‘Nʼchifukwa chiyani inu mukukhala otsiriza kuyitana mfumu ku nyumba yake yaufumu, pakuti zimene zikunenedwa mu Israeli yense zamveka kwa mfumu ndi onse amene akukhala nayo. 12Inu ndinu abale anga enieni, mafupa anga ndi mnofu wanga. Nʼchifukwa chiyani inuyo mukukhala otsiriza kubweretsa mfumu?’ 13Ndipo munene kwa Amasa, ‘Kodi iwe si mʼbale wanga weniweni? Mulungu andilange, andilange kwambiri ngati kuyambira tsopano sukhala mtsogoleri wa ankhondo anga kulowa mʼmalo mwa Yowabu.’ ”
14Davide anakopa mitima ya anthu onse a Yuda ndipo anthuwo anakhala ngati munthu mmodzi. Iwo anatumiza mawu kwa mfumu, “Bwererani inu ndi anthu anu onse.” 15Kotero mfumu inabwerera ndipo inakafika mpaka ku Yorodani.
Tsono anthu a ku Yuda anabwera ku Giligala kuti akakumane ndi mfumu ndi kumuwolotsa Yorodani. 16Simei mwana wa Gera, wa fuko la Benjamini wa ku Bahurimu, anabwera mofulumira pamodzi ndi Ayuda kudzakumana ndi mfumu Davide. 17Iyeyo anali ndi anthu 1,000 a fuko la Benjamini pamodzi ndi Ziba, wantchito wa banja la Sauli ndi ana ake aamuna khumi ndi asanu ndi antchito ake makumi awiri. Iwo anathamangira ku Yorodani kumene kunali mfumu. 18Iwo anawoloka mtsinje kukatenga banja lonse la mfumu ndi kuchita zonse zimene mfumuyo imafuna.
Pamene Simei mwana wa Gera anawoloka Yorodani, anagwa pansi chafufumimba pamaso pa mfumu, 19ndipo anati, “Mbuye wanga musaganizire za kulakwa kwanga. Musakumbukire zolakwa zimene mtumiki wanu anakuchitirani tsiku limene mbuye wanga mfumu mumachoka mu Yerusalemu. Mfumu musazikumbukirenso zimenezi. 20Pakuti ine mtumiki wanu ndazindikira kuti ndachimwa. Koma lero ndabwera ngati woyamba wa nyumba ya Yosefe yonse kudzakumana nanu mbuye wanga mfumu.”
21Ndipo Abisai mwana wa Zeruya anati, “Kodi Simei saphedwa chifukwa cha ichi? Iye anatukwana wodzozedwa wa Yehova.”
22Davide anayankha kuti, “Kodi inu ana a Zeruya, ndikuchitireni chiyani? Lero lino iwe wakhala mdani wanga! Kodi wina aphedwe lero mu Israeli? Kodi ine sindikudziwa kuti lero ndine mfumu mu Israeli?” 23Ndipo mfumu inati kwa Simei, “Iwe Simei suphedwa.” Ndipo mfumuyo inalonjeza ndi lumbiro.
24Mefiboseti, mdzukulu wa Sauli, nayenso anabwera kudzakumana ndi mfumu. Kuyambira tsiku limene mfumu inachoka mpaka tsiku limene inabwerera mu mtendere, iye sanasambe mapazi kaya kumeta ndevu kapena kuchapa zovala zake. 25Pamene anafika kuchokera ku Yerusalemu kudzakumana ndi mfumu, mfumu inamufunsa kuti, “Nʼchifukwa chiyani sunapite nane Mefiboseti?”
26Iye anayankha kuti, “Mbuye wanga mfumu, pakuti ine wantchito wanu ndine wolumala. Ndinati, ‘Andikonzere chishalo cha bulu wanga ndipo ndidzakwera kuti ndipite ndi mfumu.’ Koma Ziba wantchito wanga anandilakwitsa. 27Ndipo wayankhula zosinjirira za ine mtumiki wanu kwa inu mbuye wanga mfumu. Mbuye wanga mfumu ali ngati mngelo wa Mulungu ndipo chitani chimene chikukomerani. 28Zidzukulu zonse za agogo anga sizinayenera chilichonse koma imfa kuchokera kwa inu mbuye wanga mfumu, koma inu munapereka malo kwa mtumiki wanu pakati pa amene amadya pa tebulo lanu. Tsono ine ndili ndi chiyaninso kuti ndipitirize kudandaula kwa mfumu?”
29Mfumu inayankha kuti, “Uneneranji zambiri? Ine ndikulamula kuti iwe ndi Ziba mugawane minda.”
30Mefiboseti anati kwa mfumu, “Muloleni atenge zonse, pakuti tsopano mbuye wanga mwafika kwanu mu mtendere.”
31Barizilai Mgiliyadi anabweranso kuchokera ku Rogelimu kudzawoloka Yorodani ndi mfumu ndi kumuperekeza kuchokera kumeneko. 32Tsono Barizilai anali wokalamba kwambiri, wa zaka makumi asanu ndi atatu. Iye ndi amene anapereka zinthu kwa mfumu pamene anali ku Mahanaimu pakuti anali wolemera kwambiri. 33Mfumu inati kwa Barizilai, “Woloka nane ndipo ukakhale ndi ine mu Yerusalemu ndipo ineyo ndidzakusamalira.”
34Barizilai anayankha mfumu kuti, “Kodi zakhala zaka zingati zoti ndikhale ndi moyo, kuti ndipite ku Yerusalemu ndi mfumu? 35Ine tsopano ndili ndi zaka 80. Kodi ndingathe kusiyanitsa pakati pa chabwino ndi choyipa? Kodi mtumiki wanu angathe kuzindikira kukoma kwa zimene akudya ndi kumwa? Kodi ndingathe kumva kuyimba kwa amuna ndi akazi? Nʼchifukwa chiyani wantchito wanu akakhale ngati katundu kwa mbuye wanga mfumu? 36Koma ine mtumiki wanu ndingoyenda pangʼono kuti ndiwoloke Yorodani pamodzi ndi mfumu. Amfumu mungandipatsirenji mphotho yotere? 37Muloleni, mtumiki wanu abwerere, kuti ndikafere kwathu pafupi ndi manda a abambo ndi amayi anga. Koma nayu mtumiki wanu Kimuhamu. Muloleni iye awoloke nanu mbuye wanga mfumu. Mumuchitire chilichonse chimene chikukomereni!”
38Mfumu inati, “Kimuhamu adzawoloka ndi ine, ndipo ndidzamuchitira iye chilichonse chimene chidzakondweretsa iwe. Ndipo chilichonse chimene udzandipempha ine ndidzakuchitira.”
39Kotero anthu onse anawoloka Yorodani ndipo kenaka mfumu inawoloka. Mfumu inapsompsona Barizilai ndi kumupatsa madalitso ndipo Barizilaiyo anabwerera kwawo.
40Pamene mfumu inawolokera ku Giligala, Kimuhamu anawoloka naye. Ankhondo onse a Yuda ndi theka la ankhondo a Israeli onse anaperekeza mfumu.
41Kenaka Aisraeli onse amabwera kwa mfumu nʼkumati kwa iye, “Nʼchifukwa chiyani abale athu, anthu a ku Ayuda, anakubani mfumu, nawoloka nanu Yorodani inu ndi banja lanu, pamodzi ndi anthu ake onse?”
42Ayuda onse anayankha Aisraeli kuti, “Ife timachita zimenezi chifukwa mfumu ndi mʼbale wathu. Nʼchifukwa chiyani inu mwapsa mtima ndi zimenezi? Kodi ife tinadya chakudya chilichonse cha mfumu? Kodi chilipo chimene ife tatenga kukhala chathu?”
43Aisraeli anayankha Ayuda kuti, “Ife ndi magawo khumi mwa mfumu imeneyi, ndipo kuwonjezera apo, ife tili ndi zinthu zambiri mwa Davide kuposa inu. Tsono nʼchifukwa chiyani mukutichita chipongwe? Kodi ife si amene tinayamba kunena za kubweretsa mfumu yathu?”
Koma anthu a Yuda anayankha mwaukali kwambiri kupambana anthu a ku Israeli.
