1May nagsabi kay Joab na umiiyak ang hari at nagluluksa dahil kay Absalom. 2Nang marinig ito ng mga sundalo, natigil ang kasayahan ng kanilang tagumpay at napalitan ito ng pagluluksa. 3Tahimik silang bumalik sa lungsod ng Mahanaim, gaya ng mga sundalong nahihiya dahil tumakas mula sa labanan. 4Tinakpan ni David ang mukha niya at umiyak nang labis, “O Absalom, anak ko, anak ko!”
5Pumunta si Joab sa bahay ng hari at sinabi, “Ipinahiya nʼyo ngayon ang mga tauhan ninyong nagligtas sa buhay nʼyo at sa buhay ng mga anak at asawa ninyo. 6Minamahal nʼyo ang mga napopoot sa inyo, at kinapopootan ang mga nagmamahal sa inyo. Malinaw po na hindi nʼyo pinapahalagahan ang mga opisyal at tauhan ninyo. Sa tingin ko, mas masisiyahan pa kayo kung namatay kaming lahat at nabuhay si Absalom. 7Lumabas po kayo ngayon at pasalamatan ang mga tauhan ninyo. Dahil kung hindi, isinusumpa ko sa Panginoon na wala ni isa sa kanilang maiiwan na kasama nʼyo ngayong gabi. Ito ang pinakamasamang mangyayari sa inyo mula noon hanggang ngayon.” 8Kaya tumayo si David at umupo sa may pintuan ng lungsod. Nang malaman ito ng mga tao, nagtipon silang lahat sa kanya.
Bumalik si David sa Jerusalem
Samantala, tumakas pauwi ang mga sundalo ng Israel na mga tauhan ni Absalom. 9Nagtalo-talo ang mga tao sa buong Israel. Sinabi nila, “Iniligtas tayo ni Haring David sa kamay ng mga Filisteo, pero tumakas siya sa bayan natin dahil kay Absalom. 10Pinili nating maging hari si Absalom, pero napatay naman siya sa labanan. Bakit hindi tayo humanap ng paraan para mapabalik natin si David bilang hari?”
11-12Nang mabalitaan ni Haring David ang pinag-usapan nila, nagpadala siya ng mensahe sa mga paring sina Zadok at Abiatar, na sinasabi, “Sabihin nʼyo ito sa mga tagapamahala ng Juda: ‘Nabalitaan kong gusto ng inyong mga mamamayan na ibalik ako bilang hari, at kayo pa ang huling nagpasya na pabalikin ako sa aking trono? Hindi baʼt mga kamag-anak at kalahi ko kayo?’ 13At sabihin nʼyo rin ito kay Amasa, ‘Dahil kalahi kita, gagawin kitang kumander ng mga sundalo ko kapalit ni Joab. Kung hindi ko ito gagawin, parusahan sana ako nang matindi ng Dios.’ ”
14Napapayag ni David ang mga taga-Juda at nagkaisa sila sa kanilang desisyon. At ipinasabi nila kay David, “Bumalik po kayo rito at ang lahat ng tauhan ninyo.”
15Habang pabalik si David, sinalubong siya ng mga mamamayan ng Juda roon sa Ilog ng Jordan. Ang mga taong itoʼy nagtipon sa Gilgal para samahan siya sa pagtawid sa ilog. 16Nagmamadaling sumama sa pagsalubong kay David si Shimei na anak ni Gera, isang Benjaminita galing Bahurim. 17May kasama siyang 1,000 Benjaminita, kasama na rito si Ziba na katiwala ng sambahayan ni Saul, at ang 15 nitong anak na lalaki at 20 utusan. Nagmamadali nilang sinalubong si David sa Ilog ng Jordan. 18Tinulungan nilang lahat si David at ang sambahayan niya sa pagtawid ng ilog, at sinunod nila ang anumang gustuhin ni David.
Pinatawad ni David si Shimei
Nang patawid pa lang ng Ilog ng Jordan si David, nagpatirapa si Shimei sa harapan niya bilang paggalang, 19at sinabi, “Mahal na Hari, patawarin nʼyo po ako. Kalimutan nʼyo na po sana ang masamang ginawa ko sa inyo noong umalis kayo sa Jerusalem. 20Inaamin ko po na nagkasala ako, Mahal na Hari. Kaya nga nauna akong dumating dito kaysa sa ibang mga lahi sa hilaga19:20 ibang mga lahi sa hilaga: sa literal, ang buong lahi ni Jose. para salubungin kayo.”
21Pagkatapos, sinabi ni Abishai na anak ni Zeruya, “Hindi baʼt dapat patayin si Shimei dahil isinumpa niya ang piniling hari ng Panginoon?” 22Pero sinabi ni David, “Kayong mga anak ni Zeruya, ano ang pakialam nʼyo? Huwag na ninyong salungatin ang desisyon ko. Ako na ngayon ang hari ng Israel, at walang taong papatayin sa Israel sa araw na ito.” 23Kaya sinabi ni David kay Shimei, “Isinusumpa ko na hindi ka papatayin.”
24-25Pumunta rin doon si Mefiboset na apo ni Saul para salubungin si David. Galing siya sa Jerusalem. Hindi pa siya nakakapaghugas ng paa, nakakapag-ahit ng balbas, at nakakapagpalit ng damit niya mula nang umalis si David sa Jerusalem hanggang sa matagumpay na nakabalik ito. Nang makarating siya roon, tinanong siya ni David, “Mefiboset, bakit hindi ka sumama sa akin?” 26Sumagot siya, “Mahal na Hari, alam ninyong lumpo ako. Sinabihan ko ang utusan kong si Ziba na ihanda ang asno para makasakay ako at makasama sa inyo pero nagtraydor siya sa akin. 27At siniraan niya po ako sa inyo na hindi ako sasama. Pero nalalaman nʼyo ang totoo dahil katulad kayo ng anghel ng Dios, kaya gawin nʼyo kung ano sa tingin nʼyo ang mabuti. 28Dapat ay papatayin nʼyo na ang buong angkan ng lolo ko pero binigyan nʼyo ako ng karapatang kumain kasama ninyo. Kaya wala na po akong karapatan pang humingi sa inyo ng pabor.” 29Sinabi ni David sa kanya, “Huwag na nating pag-usapan ito. Nakapagdesisyon na akong paghatian nʼyo ni Ziba ang lupain ni Saul.” 30Sinabi ni Mefiboset sa hari, “Ibigay nʼyo na lang po sa kanya lahat. Kontento na akong nakauwi kayo nang ligtas.”
Ang Kabaitan ni David kay Barzilai
31Pumunta rin kay David si Barzilai na taga-Gilead galing sa Rogelim. Gusto rin niyang tumulong kina Haring David sa pagtawid sa Ilog ng Jordan. 32Matanda na si Barzilai; 80 taong gulang na siya. Mayaman siya at siya ang nagbibigay ng mga kailangan ni David noong doon pa ito nakatira sa Mahanaim. 33Sinabi sa kanya ni David, “Sumama kang tumawid sa akin at manirahan ka na rin sa Jerusalem. Ako ang bahala sa iyo roon.” 34Pero sumagot si Barzilai, “Hindi na po magtatagal ang buhay ko, bakit pa ako sasama sa inyo sa Jerusalem? 35Ako po ay 80 taong gulang na, at hindi ko na malaman ang ipinagkaiba ng masarap at hindi masarap. Hindi ko na malasahan ang kinakain at iniinom ko. Hindi ko na marinig ang mga umaawit. Magiging pabigat lang ako sa inyo, Mahal na Hari. 36Maliit na bagay lang po ang paghahatid ko sa inyo sa Jordan, bakit kailangan nʼyo pa akong gantihan ng ganitong gantimpala? 37Uuwi na lang ako, para kapag namatay ako, doon ako mamamatay sa sarili kong bayan, kung saan inilibing ang mga magulang ko. Narito ang anak kong si Kimham na magsisilbi sa inyo. Isama nʼyo siya, Mahal na Hari at gawin nʼyo kung ano sa tingin ninyo ang makakabuti sa kanya.” 38Sumagot ang hari, “Isasama ko siya at gagawin sa kanya ang anumang kabutihang gagawin ko sana sa iyo, at gagawin ko ang anumang hilingin mo sa akin.” 39Niyakap ni David si Barzilai at binasbasan. Pagkatapos, tumawid si David at ang mga tauhan niya sa Ilog ng Jordan, at umuwi si Barzilai sa bahay niya.
40Nang makatawid na si David, pumunta siya sa Gilgal kasama si Kimham at ang buong hukbo ng Juda at kalahati ng hukbo ng Israel.
41Nagpunta ang buong hukbo ng Israel sa hari at nagreklamo kung bakit ang mga kadugo nilang taga-Juda ang nanguna sa pagpapatawid sa kanya at sa sambahayan niya, at sa lahat ng tauhan niya. 42Sumagot ang mga taga-Juda sa mga sundalo ng Israel, “Ginawa namin ito dahil ang hari ay malapit naming kamag-anak. Bakit kayo nagagalit? Nakatanggap ba kami ng pagkain o anumang regalo galing sa kanya? Hindi!” 43Sumagot ang mga taga-Israel, “Sampu kaming lahi ng Israel kaya sampung beses ang karapatan namin sa hari kaysa sa inyo. Bakit ang baba ng tingin nʼyo sa amin? Hindi baʼt kami ang unang nagsabi na pabalikin natin ang ating hari?” Pero ayaw magpaawat ng mga taga-Juda, at masasakit na salita ang isinasagot nila sa mga taga-Israel.
1And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. 2And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.19.2 victory: Heb. salvation, or, deliverance 3And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! 5And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; 6In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.19.6 In…: Heb. By loving, etc19.6 that thou regardest…: Heb. that princes or servants are not to thee 7Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.19.7 comfortably…: Heb. to the heart of thy servants 8Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
9¶ And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom. 10And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?19.10 speak…: Heb. are ye silent?
11¶ And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house. 12Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king? 13And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab. 14And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants. 15So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
16¶ And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king. 18And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;19.18 what…: Heb. the good in his eyes 19And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 20For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. 21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed? 22And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? 23Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
24¶ And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. 25And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth? 26And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. 27And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. 28For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?19.28 dead…: Heb. men of death 29And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. 30And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.
31¶ And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. 32Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. 33And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. 34And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?19.34 How…: Heb. How many days are the years of my life 35I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? 36Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? 37Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. 38And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.19.38 require: Heb. choose 39And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.
40Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.19.40 Chimham: Heb. Chimhan
41¶ And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan? 42And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s cost? or hath he given us any gift? 43And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.19.43 despise…: Heb. set us at light
