HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 660
2 S A MU EL 1 9
chased him out of the country. 10 Now Absalom,
whom we anointed to rule over us, is dead.
Why not ask David to come back and be our
king again?”
11 Then King David sent Zadok and Abiathar,
the priests, to say to the elders of Judah, “Why
are you the last ones to welcome back the king
into his palace? For I have heard that all Israel
is ready. 12 You are my relatives, my own tribe,
my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last
ones to welcome back the king?” 13 And David
told them to tell Amasa, “Since you are my own
flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me
and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place.”
14 Then Amasa* convinced all the men of Judah, and they responded unanimously. They
sent word to the king, “Return to us, and bring
back all who are with you.”
David’s Return to Jerusalem
15 So the king started back to Jerusalem. And
when he arrived at the Jordan River, the people
of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort
him across the river. 16 Shimei son of Gera, the
man from Bahurim in Benjamin, hurried across
with the men of Judah to welcome King David. 17 A thousand other men from the tribe of
• Bitterness
2 SAMU E L 1 9 :1 -8
King David was paralyzed by grief after
learning of the death of his son Absalom.
A radical loss can cause a radical grief,
a bitterness of spirit that, left unchecked,
can eat its way into the core of a peaceful
soul. Soldiers had placed their lives on
the line in order to save David from his
son’s rebellion, and now he could only
weep bitterly without acknowledging
those who had saved him and his
kingdom. David was in danger of being
swallowed up by his own bitterness
and losing perspective on the situation
as a whole. Undoubtedly, he felt that
nothing mattered now. But Joab, often an
impulsive and violent man, offered good
counsel in this situation. If David didn’t
get up and thank his soldiers for saving
him, he would be in danger of losing
his entire kingdom once again. There
is a time to be alone and work through
our grief, but we must be careful not to
become obsessed and embittered by
it. There is also a time to acknowledge
and appreciate those who are reaching
out to help us—and those who need
our encouragement.
page 290
Benjamin were with him, including Ziba, the
chief servant of the house of Saul, and Ziba’s
fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed
down to the Jordan to meet the king. 18 They
crossed the shallows of the Jordan to bring the
king’s household across the river, helping him
in every way they could.
David’s Mercy to Shimei
As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei
fell down before him. 19 “My lord the king,
please forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind.
20 I know how much I sinned. That is why I have
come here today, the very first person in all Israel* to greet my lord the king.”
21 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shimei
should die, for he cursed the Lord’s anointed
king!”
22 “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!” David exclaimed. “Why have you become
my adversary* today? This is not a day for execution, for today I am once again the king of Israel!” 23 Then, turning to Shimei, David vowed,
“Your life will be spared.”
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
24 Now Mephibosheth,* Saul’s grandson, came
down from Jerusalem to meet the king. He had
not cared for his feet, trimmed his beard, or
washed his clothes since the day the king left
Jerusalem. 25 “Why didn’t you come with me,
Mephibosheth?” the king asked him.
26 Mephibosheth replied, “My lord the king,
my servant Ziba deceived me. I told him, ‘Saddle
my donkey* so I can go with the king.’ For as
you know I am crippled. 27 Ziba has slandered
me by saying that I refused to come. But I know
that my lord the king is like an angel of God, so
do what you think is best. 28 All my relatives and
I could expect only death from you, my lord, but
instead you have honored me by allowing me to
eat at your own table! What more can I ask?”
29 “You’ve said enough,” David replied. “I’ve
decided that you and Ziba will divide your land
equally between you.”
30 “Give him all of it,” Mephibosheth said.
“I am content just to have you safely back again,
my lord the king!”
David’s Kindness to Barzillai
31 Barzillai of Gilead had come down from Rogelim to escort the king across the Jordan. 32 He
was very old—eighty years of age—and very
wealthy. He was the one who had provided
food for the king during his stay in Mahanaim.
33 “Come across with me and live in Jerusalem,”
19:14 Or David; Hebrew reads he. 19:20 Hebrew in the house
of Joseph. 19:22 Or my prosecutor. 19:24 Mephibosheth is
another name for Merib-baal. 19:26 As in Greek, Syriac, and
Latin versions; Hebrew reads I will saddle a donkey for myself.