2 Samuel 19:11-20:13

Contemporary English Version

¹¹ When David found out what they were saying, he sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. It said:

Say to the leaders of Judah, “Why are you the last tribe to think about bringing King David back home? ¹² He is your brother, your own relative! Why haven't you done anything to bring him back?”

¹³ And tell Amasa, “You're my nephew, and with God as a witness, I swear I'll make you commander of my army instead of Joab.”

¹⁴ Soon the tribe of Judah again became followers of David, and they sent him this message: “Come back, and bring your soldiers with you.”

David Starts Back for Jerusalem

¹⁵ David started back and had gone as far as the Jordan River when he met the people of Judah. They had gathered at Gilgal and had come to help him cross the river.

^16 (A) Shimei^[a] the son of Gera was there with them. He had hurried from Bahurim to meet David. Shimei was from the tribe of Benjamin, and ¹⁷ 1,000 others from Benjamin had come with him.

Ziba, the chief servant of Saul's family, also came to the Jordan River. He and his 15 sons and 20 servants waded across^[b] to meet David. ¹⁸ Then they brought David's family and servants back across the river, and they did everything he wanted them to do.

Shimei Meets with David

Shimei crossed the Jordan River and bowed down in front of David. ¹⁹ He said, “Your Majesty, I beg you not to punish me! Please, forget what I did when you were leaving Jerusalem. Don't even think about it. ²⁰ I know I was wrong. That's why I wanted to be the first one from the northern tribes to meet you.”

²¹ But Abishai shouted, “You should be killed for cursing the Lord's chosen king!”

²² David said, “Abishai, what will I ever do with you and your brother Joab? Is it your job to tell me who has done wrong? I've been made king of all Israel today, and no one will be put to death!” ²³ Then David promised Shimei that he would not be killed.

Mephibosheth Meets with David

^24-25 (B) Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul, also came to meet David. He had missed David so much that he had not taken a bath or trimmed his beard or washed his clothes the whole time David was gone. David asked him, “Why didn't you go with me?”

²⁶ He answered, “Your Majesty, you know I can't walk. I told my servant to saddle a donkey for me^[c] so I could go with you. But my servant left without me, and ²⁷ then he lied about me. You're as wise as an angel of God, so do what you think is right. ²⁸ After all, you could have killed my whole family and me. But instead, you let me eat at your own table. Your Majesty, what more could I ask?”

²⁹ David answered, “You've said enough! I've decided to divide the property^[d] between you and Ziba.”

³⁰ Mephibosheth replied, “He can have it all! I'm just glad you've come home safely.”

Barzillai Returns Home

^31 (C) Barzillai came from Rogelim in Gilead to meet David at the Jordan River and go across with him. ³² Barzillai was 80 years old. He was very rich and had sent food to David in Mahanaim.

³³ David said to him, “Cross the river and go to Jerusalem with me. I will take care of you.”

³⁴ Barzillai answered:

Your Majesty, why should I go to Jerusalem? I don't have much longer to live. ³⁵ I'm already 80 years old, and my body is almost numb. I can't taste my food or hear the sound of singing, and I would be nothing but a burden. ³⁶ I'll cross the river with you, but I'll only go a little way on the other side. You don't have to be so kind to me. ³⁷ Just let me return to my hometown, where I can someday be buried near my father and mother. My servant Chimham^[e] can go with you, and you can treat him as your own.

³⁸ David said, “I'll take Chimham with me, and whatever you ask me to do for him, I'll do. And if there's anything else you want, I'll also do that.”

³⁹ David's soldiers went on across the river, while he stayed behind to tell Barzillai goodbye and to wish him well. Barzillai returned home, but ⁴⁰ Chimham crossed the river with David.

Israel and Judah Argue

All of Judah's army and half of Israel's army were there to help David cross the river. ⁴¹ The soldiers from Israel came to him and said, “Why did our relatives from Judah secretly take you and your family and your soldiers across the Jordan?”

⁴² The people of Judah answered, “Why are you so angry? We are the king's relatives. He didn't give us any food, and we didn't take anything for ourselves!”

⁴³ Those from Israel said, “King David belongs to us ten times more than he belongs to you.^[f] Why didn't you think we were good enough to help you? After all, we were the first ones to think of bringing him back!”

The people of Judah argued more strongly than the people of Israel.

Sheba Rebels against David

20 ^(D) A troublemaker from the tribe of Benjamin was there. His name was Sheba the son of Bichri, and he blew a trumpet to get everyone's attention. Then he said, “People of Israel, David the son of Jesse doesn't belong to us! Let's go home.”

² So they stopped following David and went off with Sheba. But the people of Judah stayed close to David all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

David's Ten Wives

^3 (E) David had left ten of his wives in Jerusalem to take care of his palace. But when he came back, he had them taken to another house, and he placed soldiers there to guard them. He gave them whatever they needed, but he never slept with any of them again.^[g] They had to live there for the rest of their lives as if they were widows.

The Army Goes after Sheba

⁴ David said to Amasa, “Three days from now I want you and all of Judah's army to be here!”

⁵ Amasa started bringing the army together, but it was taking him more than three days. ⁶ So David said to Abishai, “Sheba will hurt us more than Absalom ever did. Take my best soldiers and go after him. We don't want him to take over any walled cities and get away from us.”^[h]

Joab Kills Amasa

⁷ Abishai left Jerusalem to try and capture Sheba. He took along Joab and his soldiers, as well as David's bodyguard^[i] and best troops. ⁸ They had gone as far as the big rock at Gibeon when Amasa caught up with them. Joab had a dagger strapped around his waist over his military uniform, but it fell out as he started toward Amasa.

⁹ Joab said, “Amasa, my cousin, how are you?” Then Joab took hold of Amasa's beard with his right hand, so that he could greet him with a kiss. ¹⁰ Amasa did not see the dagger in Joab's other hand. Joab stuck it in Amasa's stomach, and his insides spilled out on the ground. Joab only struck him once, but Amasa was dying.

Joab and his brother Abishai went off to chase Sheba. ¹¹ One of Joab's soldiers stood by Amasa and shouted, “If any of you are for Joab and David, then follow Joab!”

¹² Amasa was still rolling in his own blood in the middle of the road. The soldier who had shouted noticed that everyone who passed by would stop, so he dragged Amasa off the road and covered him with a blanket. ¹³ After this, no one else stopped. They all walked straight past him on their way to help Joab capture Sheba.