And all the people that are with him shall flee, and I will smite the king only.
Now therefore send quickly and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over, lest the king be swallowed up and all the people that are with him.
Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel, for they might not be seen to come into the city; and a woman servant went and told them, and they went and told king David.
And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water, for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.
And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. ... And the king said unto them, What seems best to you, I will do. ... And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. ... And the king commanded Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. ... And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king charged you, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. ... Otherwise, I should have wrought falsehood against my own life, for there is no matter hidden from the king; and you yourself would have set yourself against me.
Now Absalom, in his lifetime, had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale.
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run and bear the king tidings, how the Lord has avenged him of his enemies. ... But this day you shall bear no tidings because the king’s son is dead. ... Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what you have seen.
And the watchman cried and told the king. ... And the king said, If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth. ... And the king said, He also brings tidings. ... And the king said, He is a good man, and comes with good tidings.
And Ahimaaz called and said unto the king, All is well. ... And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. ... And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? ... And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. ... And the king said unto him, Turn aside and stand here.
And Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king, for the Lord has avenged you this day of all them that rose up against you. ... And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? ... And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against you to do you hurt, be as that young man is. ... And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept.
And it was told to Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom. ... And 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. ... But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
And Joab came into the house, to the king, and said, You have shamed this day the faces of all your servants, who this day have saved your life, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, in that you love your enemies and hate your friends; for you have declared this day that you regard neither princes nor servants.
Then the king arose and sat in the gate. ... And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king does sit in the gate. ... And all the people came before the king, for Israel had fled every man to his tent. ... 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. ... Now therefore why do you not speak a word of bringing the king back?
And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar, the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? ... Seeing the speech of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house. ... Why then are you the last to bring back the king? ... And 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, and all your servants. ... So the king returned and came to Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite who was of Bahurim, hastened and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. ... And 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.
And there went over a ferryboat 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 had come over Jordan, and said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do remember that which your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart; for your servant does know that I have sinned. ... Therefore, behold, I have come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
For do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? ... Therefore the king said unto Shimei, You shall not die. ... And the king swore unto him.
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. ... And it came to pass, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth? ... And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. ... And he has slandered your servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God. ... What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?
And the king said unto him, Why do you speak any more of your matters? ... And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king has come again in peace unto his own house.
And the king said unto Barzillai, Come over with me and I will feed you with me in Jerusalem. ... And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? ... Why then should your servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? ... Your servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king. ... And why should the king recompense it unto me with such a reward?
And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto you. ... And when the king had come over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned unto his own place. ... Then 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.
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 you away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him over Jordan? ... And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us. ... Have we eaten at all of the king’s cost? ... And 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 you. ... Why then did you despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king?
But the men of Judah cleaved unto their king from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
And David came to his house at Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women, his concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them under guard and fed them, but went not in unto them.