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The Second
Book of Samuel 19
And it was told Joab, that the king wept and mourned
for his son:
And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto
all the people: for the people heard say that day: The
king grieveth for his son.
And the people shunned the going into the city that
day as a people would do that hath turned their backs,
and fled away from the battle.
And the king covered his head, and cried with a loud
voice: O my son Absalom, O Absalom my son, O my son.
Then Joab going into the house to the king, said: Thou
hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants,
that 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.
Thou lovest them that hate thee, and thou hatest them
that love thee: and thou hast shewn this day that thou
carest not for thy nobles, nor for thy servants: and
I now plainly perceive that if Absalom had lived, and
all we had been slain, then it would have pleased thee.
Now therefore arise, and go out, and speak to the satisfaction
of thy servants: for I swear to thee by the Lord, that
if thou wilt not go forth, there will not tarry with
thee so much as one this night: and that will be worse
to thee, than all the evils that have befallen thee
from thy youth until now.
Then the king arose and sat in the gate: and it was
told to all the people that the king sat in the gate:
and all the people came before the king, but Israel
fled to their own dwellings.
And all the people were at strife in all the tribes
of Israel, saying: The king delivered us out of the
hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand
of the Philistines: and now he is fled out of the land
for Absalom.
But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in the
battle: how long are you silent, and bring not back
the king?
And king David sent to Sadoc, and Abiathar the priests,
saying: Speak to the ancients of Juda, saying: Why are
you the last to bring the king back to his house? (For
the talk of all Israel was come to the king in his house.)
You are my brethren, you are my bone, and my flesh,
why are you the last to bring back the king?
And say ye to Amasa: Art not thou my bone, and my flesh?
So do God to me and add more, if thou be not the chief
captain of the army before me always in the place of
Joab.
And be inclined the heart of all the men of Juda, as
it were of one man: and they sent to the king, saying:
Return thou, and all thy servants.
And the king returned and came as far as the Jordan,
and all Juda came as far as Galgal to meet the king,
and to bring him over the Jordan.
And Semei the son of Gera the son of Jemini of Bahurim,
made haste and went down with the men of Juda to meet
king David,
With a thousand men of Benjamin, and Siba the servant
of the house of Saul: and his fifteen sons, and twenty
servants were with him: and going over the Jordan,
They passed the fords before the king, that they might
help over the king's household, and do according to
his commandment. And Semei the son of Gera falling down
before the king, when he was come over the Jordan,
Said to him: Impute not to me, my lord, the iniquity,
nor remember the injuries of thy servant on the day
that thou, my lord, the king, wentest out of Jerusalem,
nor lay it up in thy heart, O king.
For I thy servant acknowledge my sin: and therefore
I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph,
and am come down to meet my lord the king.
But Abisai the son of Sarvia answering, said: Shall
Semei for these words not be put to death, because he
cursed the Lord's anointed?
And David said: What have I to do with you, ye sons
of Sarvia? why are you a satan this day to me? shall
there any man be killed this day in Israel? do not I
know that this day I am made king over Israel?
And the king said to Semei: Thou shalt not die. And
he swore unto him.
And Miphiboseth the son of Saul came down to meet the
king, and he had neither washed his feet, nor trimmed
his beard: nor washed his garments from the day that
the king went out, until the day of his return in peace.
And when he met the king at Jerusalem, the king said
to him: Why camest thou not with me, Miphiboseth?
And he answering, said: My lord, O king, my servant
despised me: for I thy servant spoke to him to saddle
me an ass, that I might get on and go with the king:
for I thy servant am lame.
Moreover he hath also accused me thy servant to thee,
my lord the king: but thou my lord the king art as an
angel of God, do what pleaseth thee.
For all of my father's house were no better than worthy
of death before my lord the king; and thou hast set
me thy servant among the guests of thy table: what just
complaint therefore have I? or what right to cry any
more to the king?
Then the king said to him: Why speakest thou any more?
what I have said is determined: thou and Siba divide
the possessions.
And Miphiboseth answered the king: Yea, let him take
all, for as much as my lord the king is returned peaceably
into his house.
Berzellai also the Galaadite coming down from Rogelim,
brought the king over the Jordan, being ready also to
wait on him beyond the river.
Now Berzellai the Galaadite was of a great age, that
is to say, fourscore years old, and he provided the
king with sustenance when he abode in the camp: for
he was a man exceeding rich.
And the king said to Berzellai: Come with me that thou
mayest rest secure with me in Jerusalem.
And Berzellai said to the king: How many are the days
of the years of my life, that I should go up with the
king to Jerusalem?
I am this day fourscore years old, are my senses quick
to discern sweet and bitter? or can meat or drink delight
thy servant? or can I hear any more the voice of singing
men and singing women? why should thy servant be a burden
to my lord, the king?
I thy servant will go on a little way from the Jordan
with thee: I need not this recompense.
But I beseech thee let thy servant return, and die in
my own city, and be buried by the sepulchre of my father,
and of my mother. But there is thy servant Chamaam,
let him go with thee, my lord, the king, and do to him
whatsoever seemeth good to thee.
Then the king said to him: Let Chamaam go over with
me, and I will do for him whatsoever shall please thee,
and all that thou shalt ask of me, thou shalt obtain.
And when all the people and the king had passed over
the Jordan, the king kissed Berzellai, and blessed him:
and he returned to his own place.
So the king went on to Galgal, and Chamaam with him.
Now all the people of Juda had brought the king over,
and only half of the people of Israel were there.
Therefore all the men of Israel running together to
the king, said to him: Why have our brethren the men
of Juda stolen thee away, and have brought the king
and his household over the Jordan, and all the men of
David with him?
And all the men of Juda answered the men of Israel:
Because the king is nearer to me: why art thou angry
for this matter? have we eaten any thing of the king's,
or have any gifts been given us?
And the men of Israel answered the men of Juda, and
said: I have ten parts in the king more than thou, and
David belongeth to me more than to thee: why hast thou
done me a wrong, and why was it not told me first, that
I might bring back my king? And the men of Juda answered
more harshly than the men of Israel.
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