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.
1Nake Joabu akĩĩrwo atĩrĩ, “Mũthamaki nĩararĩra agĩcakayagĩra Abisalomu.” 2Naguo ũhootani wa mũthenya ũcio wa mbũtũ cia ita ciothe ũkĩgarũrũka, ũgĩtuĩka macakaya, tondũ mũthenya ũcio mbũtũ cia ita nĩciaiguire gũkĩĩrwo atĩrĩ, “Mũthamaki arĩ na kĩeha nĩ ũndũ wa mũriũ.” 3Mũthenya ũcio andũ magĩcooka itũũra-inĩ inene na hitho, o ta ũrĩa andũ macookaga na hitho maconokete rĩrĩa moorĩte kuuma mbaara-inĩ. 4Nake mũthamaki akĩhumbĩra ũthiũ, akĩrĩra na mũgambo mũnene akiugaga atĩrĩ, “Ũũi Abisalomu, mũrũ wakwa! Ũũi Abisalomu, mũrũ wakwa, mũrũ wakwa!”
5Hĩndĩ ĩyo Joabu agĩtoonya nyũmba kũrĩ mũthamaki, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ũmũthĩ nĩũconorithĩtie andũ aku othe, arĩa marĩkĩtie kũhonokia muoyo waku, na mĩoyo ya ariũ aku na ya airĩtu aku, na mĩoyo ya atumia aku o na ya thuriya ciaku. 6Wee wendete arĩa magũthũire, na ũkamena arĩa makwendete. Ũmũthĩ nĩwonanĩtie biũ atĩ ndũrĩ bata na anene a mbũtũ cia ita o na andũ ao. Niĩ nguona atĩ wee gĩkeno gĩaku kĩngĩrĩ rĩrĩa Abisalomu angĩrĩ muoyo ũmũthĩ na ithuothe tũkorwo tũkuĩte. 719:7 Thim 14:28Rĩu ũkĩra ũthiĩ ũkoomĩrĩrie andũ aku ũmekĩre hinya. Niĩ ngwĩhĩta na rĩĩtwa rĩa Jehova atĩ aakorwo ndũkuuma ũthiĩ gũtanatuka, gũtirĩ mũndũ o na ũmwe ũgũkorwo mwena waku. Ũndũ ũyũ ũgũtuĩka mũũru kũrĩ we gũkĩra maũndũ mothe mooru marĩa managũkora kuuma ũrĩ mũnini nginya rĩu.”
819:8 2Sam 15:2Nĩ ũndũ ũcio mũthamaki agĩũkĩra, agĩikarĩra gĩtĩ gĩake kĩhingo-inĩ. Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa andũ meerirwo atĩrĩ, “Mũthamaki aikarĩte kĩhingo-inĩ,” othe magĩũka mbere yake.
Daudi Gũcooka Jerusalemu
Na rĩrĩ, andũ a Isiraeli nĩmoorĩte magacooka kwao mĩciĩ. 919:9 2Sam 8:1-14; 2Sam 15:14Mĩhĩrĩga-inĩ yothe ya Isiraeli, andũ othe maakararanagia makoiga atĩrĩ, “Mũthamaki nĩwe watũkũũrire kuuma guoko-inĩ gwa thũ ciitũ; nĩwe watũhonokirie kuuma guoko-inĩ kwa Afilisti. No rĩu nĩorĩte akoima bũrũri-inĩ akĩũrĩra Abisalomu; 10nake Abisalomu ũrĩa twaitĩrĩirie maguta atũthamakĩre-rĩ, nĩakuĩrĩire mbaara-inĩ. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio mwagĩte kwaria ũhoro wa gũcookia mũthamaki nĩkĩ?”
11Mũthamaki Daudi nĩatũmanire kũrĩ Zadoku na Abiatharu, athĩnjĩri-Ngai, makeerwo atĩrĩ, “Ũriai athuuri a Juda atĩrĩ, ‘Nĩ kĩĩ gĩgũtũma mũrigie thuutha harĩ gũcookia mũthamaki nyũmba-inĩ yake ya ũthamaki, kuona atĩ ũrĩa kũraario Isiraeli guothe nĩgũkinyĩire mũthamaki kũrĩa aikaraga? 12Inyuĩ mũrĩ ariũ a baba, tũrĩ a mũthiimo ũmwe, na thakame ĩmwe. Nĩ kĩĩ kĩngĩtũma mũtuĩke a kũrigia thuutha kũinũkia mũthamaki?’ 1319:13 2Sam 17:25; Kĩam 29:14; Ruth 1:17Ningĩ mwĩre Amasa atĩrĩ, ‘Githĩ wee ndũrĩ wa mũthiimo wakwa, na thakame yakwa? Ngai arothũũra o na anjĩke ũũru makĩria, angĩkorwo kuuma rĩu gũthiĩ na mbere wee tiwe ũgũtuĩka mũnene wa mbũtũ ciakwa cia ita ithenya rĩa Joabu.’ ”
14Nake mũthamaki akĩguucĩrĩria ngoro cia andũ othe a Juda ta ciarĩ ngoro ya mũndũ ũmwe. Nao magĩtũmana kũrĩ mũthamaki, makiuga atĩrĩ, “Cooka, wee hamwe na andũ aku othe.” 15Hĩndĩ ĩyo mũthamaki agĩcooka agĩthiĩ agĩkinya Jorodani.
Na rĩrĩ, andũ a Juda nĩmookĩte Giligali nĩguo matũnge mũthamaki mamũringie Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani. 1619:16 2Sam 16:5-13Nake Shimei mũrũ wa Gera, Mũbenjamini kuuma Bahurimu, agĩikũrũka na ihenya marĩ na andũ a Juda nĩguo magatũnge Mũthamaki Daudi. 1719:17 2Sam 9:2; Kĩam 43:16Nake aarĩ na andũ a Benjamini ngiri ĩmwe, o hamwe na Ziba ndungata ya mũciĩ wa Saũlũ, na ariũ ake ikũmi na atano, na ndungata mĩrongo ĩĩrĩ. Nao makĩhanyũka nginya Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani harĩa mũthamaki aarĩ. 18Makĩringĩra iriũko-inĩ nĩguo maringie andũ a nyũmba ya mũthamaki na meeke o ũrĩa angĩenda.
Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa Shimei mũrũ wa Gera aaringire Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani akĩĩgũithia thĩ mbere ya mũthamaki, 1919:19 2Sam 16:6-8na akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Mwathi wakwa nĩ atige kũndua mwĩhia. Tiga kũririkana ũrĩa ndungata yaku yekire mahĩtia mũthenya ũrĩa mũthamaki mwathi wakwa oimire Jerusalemu. Mũthamaki nĩatige kũiga ũhoro ũcio meciiria-inĩ make. 20Nĩgũkorwo niĩ ndungata yaku nĩnjũũĩ atĩ nĩnjĩhĩtie, no ũmũthĩ nĩndoka haha ndĩ mũndũ wa mbere wa nyũmba yothe ya andũ a Jusufu; ndaikũrũka njũke ndũnge mũthamaki mwathi wakwa.”
2119:21 Thaam 22:28Ningĩ Abishai mũrũ wa Zeruia akiuga atĩrĩ, “Githĩ Shimei ndagĩrĩire nĩ kũũragwo nĩ ũndũ wa ũrĩa ekĩte? Nĩarumire mũitĩrĩrie maguta wa Jehova.”
2219:22 2Sam 2:18; 1Sam 11:13Nake Daudi agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Tũnyiitanĩire ũndũ ũrĩkũ na inyuĩ, inyuĩ ariũ a Zeruia? Ũmũthĩ nĩguo mũgũtuĩka thũ ciakwa! No kũhoteke mũndũ o na ũrĩkũ ooragwo thĩinĩ wa Isiraeli ũmũthĩ? Githĩ niĩ ndikĩũĩ atĩ ũmũthĩ nĩ niĩ mũthamaki wa Isiraeli?” 2319:23 1Ath 2:8, 42Nĩ ũndũ ũcio mũthamaki akĩĩra Shimei atĩrĩ, “Wee ndũgũkua.” Nake mũthamaki akĩmũhe ũhoro ũcio na mwĩhĩtwa.
2419:24 2Sam 4:4Na rĩrĩ, Mefiboshethu, mwana wa mũriũ wa Saũlũ, o nake nĩaikũrũkire agĩthiĩ gũtũnga mũthamaki. Nake ndethambĩte magũrũ kana akenja nderu, o na kana akahũũra nguo ciake kuuma mũthenya ũrĩa mũthamaki aathiire nginya mũthenya ũrĩa aacookire arĩ na thayũ. 2519:25 2Sam 16:17Rĩrĩa ooimire Jerusalemu agatũnge mũthamaki, mũthamaki akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Mefiboshethu, nĩ kĩĩ kĩagiririe ũthiĩ na niĩ?”
2619:26 Alaw 21:18Nake akiuga atĩrĩ, “Mũthamaki mwathi wakwa, nĩgũkorwo niĩ ndungata yaku ndĩ mwonju, ‘Ndoigire atĩrĩ, nĩngũigĩrĩra ndigiri yakwa matandĩko na ndĩmĩhaice, nĩguo hote gũthiĩ na mũthamaki’. No Ziba ndungata yakwa akĩngunyanĩra. 27Na nĩacambĩtie ndungata yaku kũrĩ mũthamaki mwathi wakwa. Mwathi wakwa mũthamaki ahaana ta mũraika wa Ngai; nĩ ũndũ ũcio ĩka ũrĩa ũkuona kwagĩrĩire. 2819:28 2Sam 9:7, 13Njiaro ciothe cia guka ciagĩrĩirwo nĩ kũũragwo nĩ mũthamaki mwathi wakwa. No wee nĩwaheire ndungata yaku handũ na arĩa marĩĩagĩra metha-inĩ yaku. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ndĩ na kĩhooto kĩrĩkũ gĩa gũgũkaĩra rĩngĩ mũthamaki wakwa?”
29Mũthamaki akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Nĩ kĩĩ kĩngĩtũma warie makĩria ma ũguo? Ndaathana atĩ wee na Ziba mũgayane mũgũnda.”
30Mefiboshethu akĩĩra mũthamaki atĩrĩ, “Reke oe mĩgũnda yothe, kuona atĩ wee mwathi wakwa nĩũcookete mũciĩ na thayũ.”
3119:31 1Ath 2:7Ningĩ Barizilai, ũrĩa Mũgileadi agĩikũrũka kuuma Rogelimu akaringe Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani me hamwe na mũthamaki, na amumagarie njĩra-inĩ ya kuuma kũu. 32Na rĩrĩ, Barizilai aarĩ mũthuuri mũkũrũ mũno wa mĩaka mĩrongo ĩnana. Nĩwe waheaga mũthamaki irio hĩndĩ ĩrĩa aikarĩte Mahanaimu, tondũ aarĩ mũndũ mũtongu mũno. 33Nake mũthamaki akĩĩra Barizilai atĩrĩ, “Nĩtũringe mũrĩmo nawe, tũthiĩ ũikare hamwe na niĩ Jerusalemu, na nĩndĩrĩkũheaga irio.”
34Nowe Barizilai agĩcookeria mũthamaki atĩrĩ, “Nĩ mĩaka ĩngĩ ĩigana atĩa niĩ ngũtũũra muoyo nĩguo nyambate thiĩ Jerusalemu hamwe na mũthamaki? 3519:35 Thab 90:10; Koh 2:8Rĩu ndĩ na ũkũrũ wa mĩaka mĩrongo ĩnana. No menye ũtiganu wa ũndũ mwega na mũũru? Ndungata yaku yahota gũcama kĩrĩa ĩrarĩa na kĩrĩa ĩranyua? No hote kũigua mĩgambo ya arũme na ya andũ-a-nja makĩina? Nĩ kĩĩ kĩngĩtũma ndungata yaku ĩtuĩke mũrigo ũngĩ kũrĩ mũthamaki mwathi wakwa? 36Ndungata yaku nĩĩkũringa Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani hamwe na mũthamaki handũ ha itĩĩna inini, no nĩ kĩĩ kĩngĩtũma mũthamaki andĩhe niĩ na njĩra ĩyo? 3719:37 Kĩam 49:29; Jer 41:17Reke ndungata yaku ĩcooke, nĩgeetha ngaakuĩra itũũra-inĩ rĩakwa hakuhĩ na mbĩrĩra ya baba na maitũ. No rĩrĩ, ndungata yaku Kimuhamu nĩĩringe hamwe na mũthamaki mwathi wakwa. Mĩĩke o ũrĩa ũkuona kwagĩrĩire.”
38Mũthamaki akiuga atĩrĩ, “Kimuhamu nĩekũringa hamwe na niĩ, na nĩngũmwĩka o ũrĩa ũngĩona kwagĩrĩire. Na ũrĩa wothe ũngĩenda kuuma kũrĩ niĩ nĩ ngũgwĩkĩra.”
39Nĩ ũndũ ũcio andũ othe makĩringa Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani, nake mũthamaki agĩcooka akĩringa. Mũthamaki akĩmumunya Barizilai na akĩmũrathima, nake Barizilai agĩcooka gwake mũciĩ.
40Rĩrĩa mũthamaki aaringire mũrĩmo agĩkinya Giligali, Kimuhamu akĩringa hamwe nake. Nacio mbũtũ ciothe cia ita cia Juda na nuthu ya mbũtũ cia ita cia Isiraeli ikĩringia mũthamaki.
41Thuutha wa kahinda kanini andũ othe a Isiraeli nĩmookaga kũrĩ mũthamaki makamwĩra atĩrĩ, “Nĩ kĩĩ gĩatũmire ariũ a baba, andũ a Juda, matũtunye mũthamaki na wara, na mamũcookie nyũmba yake kuuma mũrĩmo wa Jorodani, hamwe na andũ ake othe?”
42Andũ othe a Juda magĩcookeria andũ a Isiraeli atĩrĩ, “Twekire ũguo tondũ mũthamaki nĩ wa nyũmba iitũ. Nĩ kĩĩ gĩgũtũma mũrakario nĩ ũhoro ũcio? Nĩ irio tũrĩĩte cia mũthamaki? Nĩ harĩ kĩndũ twĩyoeire ithuĩ ene?”
43Ningĩ andũ a Isiraeli magĩcookeria andũ a Juda atĩrĩ, “Ithuĩ tũrĩ na icunjĩ ikũmi kũrĩ mũthamaki, na hamwe na ũguo-rĩ, tũrĩ na kĩhooto gĩa gũtuĩka a Daudi gũkĩra inyuĩ. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio nĩ kĩĩ gĩgũtũma mũtũmene? Githĩ ti ithuĩ twarĩ a mbere kwaria ũhoro wa gũcookia mũthamaki witũ?”
No andũ a Juda magĩcookia marĩ na ũũru mũingĩ mũno o na gũkĩra andũ a Isiraeli.
