2 Samuel 24:1-25 David Counts Israel Against God’s Will

 

David Counts Israel Against God’s Will

2 Samuel 24:1-25       The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

Again, the anger of the Lord [grew] against Israel. [He stirred up] David to say, Go [count] Israel & Judah. King [David] said to Joab, captain of the [army] with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba & [count] the people, so I may know the number of [Israelites].

Joab said to king [David,] Now, [however many there are,] the Lord your God [adds] to the amount of people 100 [times as many,] so the eyes of my lord, the king may see it. But why does the lord, my king, [desire] this thing?

[Still] the king’s word prevailed against Joab & the captains of the [army who] went out in the presence of the king to [count] the people of Israel. They passed over [the] Jordan [River] & [camped] in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lies [near] the [middle] of the River of Gad [facing] Jazer.

Then, they came to Gilead & to the land of Tahtim Hodshi & they came to Dan Jaan & [around] to Zidon [a.k.a. Sidon]. [They] came to the stronghold of Tyre & to all the cities of the Hivites & the Canaanites & went south of Judah, even to Beersheba.

When they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem [after] 9 months & 20 days. Joab gave the [total] number of the people to king [David]. In Israel, there were 800,000 valiant men [who] drew the sword.

In Judah, there were 500,000 men. David’s heart [struck] him after he had the people [counted]. David said to the Lord, I have greatly sinned in what I’ve done & I now [beg] you, O Lord, take away [my sin] of Your servant, for I have done foolishly.

When David [got] up in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet, Gad, David’s seer, saying, God says to David, The Lord says [this;] I offer you 3 things. Choose 1 of them, so I may do it to you.

So, Gad [went] to David & said to him, Shall 7 years of famine come into your land? Will you flee 3 months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or that there [are] 3 days [of] pestilence in your land?

Now, [consider these] & tell me [which] answer I shall return to [God] who sent me. David said to Gad, I am in great [distress]. Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord; for His mercies are great. Don’t let me fall into the hand of man.

So, the Lord sent a [plague] upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time. 70,000 men of the [Israelites] died from Dan to Beersheba.

When the Angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord [regretted] the [calamity] & said to the Angel [who] destroyed the people, It is enough. [Put down] your hand.

The Angel of the Lord was by the place [of] threshing of Araunah, the Jebusite. David spoke to the Lord when he saw the Angel [strike] the people & said, Lo, I have sinned & I have done wickedly: but what have these sheep [people] done?

I pray that You let Your hand be against me & my father’s house. Gad came that day to David & said, Go up & [put] up an altar to the Lord [God] in the threshing floor of Araunah, the Jebusite.

David did according to what Gad [said,] as the Lord [God] commanded. Araunah looked & saw the king & his servants coming toward him & [he] went out & bowed before the king [facing] the ground.

Araunah said, [Why has] my lord, the king, come to [me,] his servant? David said, To buy the threshing floor [from] you, to build an altar to the Lord, [so] the plague [will stop] from the people.

Arauah said to David, Let my lord, the king, offer up what seems good to him. Look, here [are] oxen for [a] burnt sacrifice & threshing instruments & other [tools for] the oxen & for [the] wood.

Araunah [gave] all these things to the king & said, [Let] the Lord, your God, accept you. King [David] said to Araunah, No, I will surely buy it [from] you [for] a price.

Neither will I [make] burnt offerings to the Lord, my God, [if it costs] me nothing. So, David bought the threshing floor & the oxen for 50 pieces of silver.

David built an altar there to the Lord & offered burnt offerings & peace offerings. So, the Lord [answered David’s prayer] for the land & the plague [stopped] from Israel.

2 Samuel 23:1-39 2 Samuel 23:1-39

 

2 Samuel 23:1-39

2 Samuel 23:1-39       The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

These are the last words of [king] David, the son of Jesse, [who] was raised up on high & [is] the anointed of the God of Jacob [a.k.a. Israel] & the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the Lord [spoke] by me & His word was [on] my tongue.

The God of Israel, the Rock of Israel, [spoke] to me, He [who] rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear [respect] of the Lord God. He shall be [like] the light of the morning, when the sun rises, [like] a morning without clouds, [like] the tender grass springing [up] out of the earth [in the sunshine] after the rain.

Although my house [may] not be with God, [still] He has made an [orderly, secure, &] everlasting covenant with me, for all this is for my salvation & it’s all my desire, although He may not make it grow.

But the [rebellious, wicked men] shall be [like thorns thrown] away, because they can’t be held with hands. But the men [who] shall touch them must be [armed] with iron & the spear [shaft] & they shall be completely burned with fire in the same place.

These are the names of [David’s] mighty men he had: The Tachmonite [who] sat in the seat [as] chief among [the] captains was Adino the Eznite. He [lifted] his spear against 800 [men] whom he [struck down] at 1 time.

After him was Eleazar, [Dodo’s] son, [a.k.a. Dodai,] the Ahohite. [He was] 1 of 3 mighty men with David when they [challenged] the Philistines [who] gathered together to battle [when] the men of Israel [had] gone away.

He arose & [attacked] the Philistines until his hand was [tired & it stuck] to the sword. The Lord [brought about] a great victory that day & the people returned, [but] only to [plunder]. After him, was Shammah, [Agee’s] son, the Hararite.

The Philistines were gathered together in a troop [at a field] full of lentils & the people fled from the Philistines, but he stood in the [middle of the field] & defended it & [struck down] the Philistines & the Lord [brought about] a great victory.

At harvest time, 3 of 33 chief [men] went down & came to David [into] a cave in Adullam & the [Philistine troops] camped in the Valley of Rephaim. Then, David was in [the strong safe place] & [Philistine troops] were in Bethlehem.

David longed [for water] & said, Oh, that [someone] would give me a drink of water [from] the well of Bethlehem, by the gate! 3 mighty men broke through the Philistine [army] & drew water out of the well of Bethlehem & took it to David.

[Still] he wouldn’t drink [it,] but poured it out to the Lord & said, Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should [drink] this, [when these men risked] their lives & he wouldn’t drink it.

These 3 mighty men did these [heroic] things: Abishai, [Joab’s] brother, [who was Zeruiah’s] son & was [the] chief of the 3. He lifted his spear against 300 & [struck them down] & [gained fame] among [the] 3.

Wasn’t he the most honorable of [the] 3? Therefore, he was their captain, [although he didn’t achieve the level of fame of] the 1st 3. Benaiah, [Jehoiada’s] son, [was] the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many [acts of bravery].

He [struck down] 2 lion-like men of Moab & he also went down in the snow & [killed] a lion in the midst of a pit. He [killed] a [large] Egyptian [with] a spear in his hand, but [Benaiah took] the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand & [killed] him with his own spear.

[Although Benaiah] was more honorable than the 30, he didn’t attain the [level of fame] of the 1st 3 & David [put] him over his [guards.] 1 of the 30 was Asahel, [Joab’s other] brother, [who was Dodo’s] son of Bethlehem.

[The others were:] Shammah, the Harodite; Elika, the Harodite; Helez, the Paltite; Ira, [Ikkesh’s] son, the Tekoite; Abiezer, the Anethothite, Mebunnai, the Hushathite; Zalmon, the Ahohite; Maharai, the Netophathite;

Ittai, [Ribai’s] son [from] Gibeah of the children [people] of Benjamin; Benaiah, the Pirathonite; Hiddai of the Brooks of Gaash; Abialbon, the Arbathite; Azmaveth, the Barhumite;

Eliahba, the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan; Shammah, the Hararite [a.k.a. Ararite;] Ahiam, [Sharar’s] son, the Hararite [a.k.a. Ararite;] Eliphelet, [Ahasbai’s] son, [who was] the son of the Maachathite;

Eliam, [Ahithophel’s] son, the Gilonite; Hezrai, the Carmelite; Paarai, the Arbite; Igal, [Nathan’s] son of Zobah; Bani, the Gadite; Zelek, the Ammonite; Nahari, the Beerothite, [who was] armor bearer to Joab, [Zeruiah’s] son; Ira, an Ithrite; Gareb, an Ithrite; Uriah, the Hittite: 37 [men] in all.

2 Samuel 22:1-51 David’s Son to the Lord God, When He saved David from His Enemies

 

David’s Son to the Lord God, When He saved David from His Enemies

2 Samuel 22:1-51      The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

David spoke the words of this song to the Lord [God, on] the day the Lord delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies & out of the hand of Saul. [David] said, The Lord is my rock, my fortress & my deliverer.

* My God is my Rock & I trust in Him. He is my shield, my high tower, my refuge & my Savior. [Foretelling of Jesus, our Savior]. You saved me from violence. I will call on the Lord, [who] is worthy to be praised: I shall be saved from my enemies.

When the waves & sorrow of death & hell [surrounded] me & the floods of ungodly men & death made me afraid & confronted me, I called to the Lord, my God, in my distress & He heard my voice. My cry entered His ears in His temple.

Then, the earth shook & trembled & the foundations of heaven moved & shook, because He was [angry]. Smoke came [from] His nostrils & fire [from] His mouth devoured & coals were kindled by it.

He also [parted] the heavens & came down [with] darkness under his feet. He rode upon a cherub [angelic creature & flew] & was seen upon the wings of the wind.

[The Lord God] made [the] dark waters & thick clouds [in] the skies, [dark pavilions covering around] Him. Through the brightness before Him were coals of fire [that grew].

The Lord thundered from heaven & the Most High uttered His voice. He sent out arrows & scattered [the enemy with] lightning & [overwhelmed] them. At the breath of His nostrils, the channels of the sea & the foundations of the world were discovered.

He sent from above & took me & drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong [enemies & those who] hated me & were too strong for me. They [confronted] me [on] the day of my calamity; but the Lord was my [strong support].

He also brought me [out] into a large place & delivered me, because He delighted in me. He rewarded me according to my righteousness & has [repaid] me for the cleanness of my hands.

For I have kept the [Lord’s] ways & I haven’t departed [wickedly] from my God. For all His judgments & His [rules] were before me & I didn’t depart from them. Therefore, the Lord has [rewarded] me according to my righteousness & my cleanness in His sight.

With [those who are] merciful, You [Lord God] show Yourself  merciful.  With [those who are blameless,] You [Lord God] show Yourself [blameless].  With [those who are purified,] You [Lord God] show Yourself as pure.

With [those who are devious,] You [Lord God] show Yourself as [shrewd]. You will save the afflicted, but Your eyes are on the [arrogant & proud, so] You may bring them down [& make them humble].

For You are my Lamp, O Lord & the Lord will [turn my darkness into light]. For by You, my God, You have [allowed] me to run through a troop & to leap over a wall. God’s way is perfect & the word of the Lord is [reliable].

[The Lord God is a shield] to all [those who] trust in Him. For who is God [except for] the Lord? Who is a Rock, [except for] our God? God is my strength & power & He makes my ways perfect.

He makes my feet like [the hind feet of deer] & [puts] me upon high places. [God] teaches my hands to war, so a bow of steel is broken [with] my arms. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation & Your gentleness has made me great.

You have enlarged [the path] under me, so that my feet don’t slip. I have pursued & destroyed my enemies & I didn’t [turn back] until I had consumed them & [struck them down, so] they couldn’t arise.

They [have] fallen under my feet. For You have [strapped] me with strength [for] battle. [Those who] rose up against me, You have [crushed] under me. Also, you have given me the necks of my enemies, so I might destroy [those who[ hate me. They looked, but there was [no one] to save [them].

[They even looked to] the Lord, but He didn’t answer them. Then, I beat them as [fine] as the dust of the earth. I [stomped on] them, [like] the mud of the street & spread them [around].

You have also delivered me from [the disputes] of my people. You have kept me [in charge over] the heathen [nations that worship false gods:] a people I didn’t know, shall serve me.

[Foreigners] shall [bow] themselves to me; as soon as they hear [of me,] they shall [obey] me. [Foreigners] shall [hide] away & shall be afraid & [come] out of their [hiding] places.

The Lord lives & blessed be my Rock & exalted be the God, the Rock of my Salvation. It is God [who avenges] me & brings down the people under me. [God] brings down [the nations] under me.

[He] brings me [out] from my enemies & You have also lifted me high above [those who] rose up against me. You have delivered me from violent [men]. Therefore, I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the heathen [nations that worship false gods] & I will sing praises to Your name.

* [The Lord God] is the tower of Salvation for [me] His king & shows mercy to David, His anointed & his [descendants] forever more. [2 Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the [descendants] of David was raised from the dead according to My gospel.]

2 Samuel 21:1-22 The 3 Years of Famine During David’s Reign

 

The 3 Years of Famine During David’s Reign

2 Samuel 21:1-22       The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

In the days of David, there was a famine [for] 3 years [in a row]. David inquired of the Lord [God] & the Lord answered, [The famine is for] Saul & his bloody house, because he [killed] the Gibeonites.

King [David] called the Gibeonites, (now the Gibeonites weren’t of the children [people] of Israel, but were [remaining from] the Amorites. The [people] of Israel had sworn [to protect them,] but Saul [tried to kill] them in his zeal for the [people] of Israel & Judah.)

[Therefore] David said to the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? [How] shall I make atonement, [so] you may bless the inheritance of the Lord? The Gibeonites said to him, We don’t [want any] silver or gold of Saul’s [or his family,] neither do we [want to] kill any man of Israel.

King [David] said, What you say, I will do for you. They answered the king, Let 7 of [Saul’s male descendants] be delivered to us, [since] he is the man [who] consumed us & [plotted] against us, [to destroy us] in the coasts of Israel.

We will [take the descendants] of Saul, and hang them [before] the Lord [in] Gibeah of Saul, whom the Lord [chose]. King [David] said, I will give them [to you]. But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, [Saul’s] son, because of the oath David & Jonathan made between them & the Lord.

David took 2 of the sons of Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni & Mephibosheth & 5 sons of Michal [a.k.a. Merab,] [Saul’s] daughter, [the wife of] Adriel, [Barzillai] son, the Meholathite.

[King David] delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites & they [hung] them [on] the hill before the Lord. All 7 [died] together & were put to death in the 1st days of the barley harvest.

Rizpah [Aiah’s] daughter, took sackcloth [used for mourning] & spread it for [herself] upon the rock. [She] didn’t [allow] the birds of the air to rest on them [during the] day, [nor the wild animals] of the field by night, from the beginning of the harvest until [rain] dropped on them from heaven.

David was told what Rizpath, [Saul’s mistress] had done. David went & took Saul’s & Jonathan’s bones from the men of Jabesh Gilead, [who] had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had [hung] them, [after they] had [killed] Saul in Gilboa.

[David] brought up the bones of Saul, Jonathan & those [who] were [hung]. [David] buried the bones of Saul & Jonathan, his son, in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the [tomb] of Kish, [Saul’s] father.

They [did] all king [David] commanded. After that, [those of] the land [could make inquiries of] God. [Also,] the Philistines [warred] again against Israel. David & his servants went down & fought the Philistines & David [became] faint.

Ishbi Benob, the son of the giant, [with] a spear [that] weighed 300 shekels of brass [mathtools.com says that’s about 7 1/2 pounds] & [was belted] with a new sword, [planned to kill] David.

Abishai, [Zeruiah’s] son, came to [David’s] aid & [struck] the Philistine & killed him. Then [David’s] men swore to him, You shall [no longer] go out with us to battle, [so, you] the light of Israel won’t [be extinguished].

After this, there was [another] battle with the Philistines in Gob. Then, Sibbechai, the Hushathite, [killed] Saph, [one] of the sons of the giant. Again, there was a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan, [Jaare Oregim’s] son, a Bethlemite, [killed] the brother of Goliath, the Gittite.

The [stick portion of the spear] was like a beam [weavers use]. There was [still] a battle in Gath, where [an extremely tall] man [with] 6 fingers on [both hands] & 6 toes on [both feet], 24 [total, who] was also born to Rapha,] the giant.

When he [attacked] Israel, Jonathan, [Shimeah’s] son, the brother of David, [killed] him. These 4 were born to [Rapha,] the giant in Gath & all fell by the hand of David & his servants.

2 Samuel 20:1-26 Pursuing Sheba, Bichri’s Son

 

Pursuing Sheba, Bichri’s Son

2 Samuel 20:1-26       The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

There [was] a [wicked] man named Sheba, [Bichri’s] son, a Benjamite. He blew a trumpet & said, We have no part in David, neither do we have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, O Israel.

So, every man of Israel [stopped following king] David & [instead] followed Sheba, [Bichri’s] son, but the men of Judah from [the] Jordan to Jerusalem [stuck with] their king.

David came to his house [in] Jerusalem & took his 10 [mistresses] he had left to [take care of] his house & put them into [seclusion] & fed them, but wasn’t [intimate] with them.

They were [secluded,] living in widowhood until the day of their death, [because of Absalom & others who had been intimate with some of them in king David’s absence].

Then, king [David] said to Amasa, Assemble the men of Judah within 3 days for me & [show up] here. Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah, but he [stayed] longer than the appointed time.

David said to Abishai, Shall Sheba, [Bichri’s] son, now do more harm [to] us than Absalom did? You take your lord’s servants & pursue after him, lest he escapes [into] the fenced cities.

Joab’s men, the Cherethites, Pelethites & all the mighty men of Jerusalem went to pursue after Sheba. When they were at the [large] rock in Gibeon, Amasa went [in front of] them.

Joab was clothed in a garment with a [belt strapped to his waist, with a dagger in its] sheath. When Joab went forward, [Joab slipped the dagger from its sheath]. Joab said to Amasa, Are you [feeling well,] my brother? Joab took Amasa by [his] beard with his right hand to kiss him.

But Amasa didn’t [pay any attention] to the sword in Joab’s hand. [So, Joab struck Amasa with the dagger] in the 5th rib & his [intestines spilled out on] the ground & [Joab didn’t need to strike Amasa] again, [because] he died.

So, Joab & Abishai, his brother, pursued after Sheba, [Bichri’s] son. One of Joab’s men stood by [the stabbed Amasa] said, Let all [who] favor Joab & David, go [& follow] Joab.

Amasa [lay] in his blood in the [middle] of the highway. When [a] man saw that all the people stood still, he removed [Amasa’s body] from the highway, into the field & threw a cloth upon him.

Then, the people [followed] Joab to pursue Sheba, [Bichri’s] son. [Sheba] went through all the tribes of Israel, [all the way] to Abel & to Beth Maachah, all the Bethrites. They gathered together & also went after [Sheba].

They came & attacked [Sheba] in Abel of Beth Maachah & they [put] up a bank [of dirt] against the city & stood in the trench. All the people with Joab, battered the wall, to [knock] it down.

Then, a wise woman cried out of the city, I pray [that] you, Joab, Come [close, so] I may speak with you. When [Joab came close,] she asked, Are you Joab? & he said he was. Then, she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid.

He answered, [I'm listening]. She said, In old [times,] they used to say, They shall surely ask for [advice] at Abel, so they ended the matter. I am one of [those who] are peaceful & faithful in Israel, [but you are trying] to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel.

Why [would] you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord? Joab answered, Far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy & [it isn’t] so. But Sheba, [Bichri’s] son of Mount Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against king [David].

Deliver only [Sheba] & I will [leave] from the city. The woman said, [Look, Sheba’s] head will be thrown over the wall to you. In her wisdom, the woman went to all the people & they cut off [Sheba’s] head & [threw] it to Joab.

[Joab] blew a trumpet & they [withdrew] from the city & every man [went] to his tent. Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. Now, Joab was over all the [army] of Israel & Benaiah, [Jehoiada’s] son, was over the Cherethites & Pelethites.

Adoram was over the [forced labor] & Jehoshaphat, [Ahilud’s] son was [the] recorder. Sheva was the scribe [who recorded everything] & Zadok & Abiathar were the priests & also Ira, the Jairite, was [David’s personal priest].

2 Samuel 19:1-43 Bringing Back King David to Rule Again

Bringing Back King David to Rule Again

2 Samuel 19:1-43       The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

Joab was told, [Look,] the king weeps & mourns for Absalom. That [day’s] victory has turned into mourning for all the people, for [they] heard how king [David] grieved for his son.

The people [quietly snuck] into the city that day, [like] people [who are] ashamed for fleeing [from the] battle & sneak away. King [David] covered his face & cried [loudly,] O Absalom, my son, my son!

Joab came into the [king’s] house & said, [Today] you have shamed all your servants [who] saved your life & the lives of your sons, daughters, wives & [mistresses].  It [seems] you love your enemies & [hate] your friends.

For this day you declared that you regard neither princes, nor servants. I [think] this day, if Absalom had lived & we had all died, you would’ve been [more] pleased.

Now, therefore, arise & go [out] & speak [pleasantly] to your servants: for I swear by the Lord, if you don’t go [out,] not 1 of these will [stay] with you [tonight].

That will be worse for you than all the [harm done to] you from your [childhood] until now. Then, king [David] arose & sat in the gate. All [those who] had fled to their tent, came [in front of] the king.

All the tribes of Israel were [upset] saying, King [David] saved us out of the hands of our enemies & the Philistines & now he [has] fled out of the land, [because of] Absalom. Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle.

Now, [why] aren’t you [talking] of bringing the king back? King David sent to Zadok & Abiathar, the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you the last to bring back the king to his house?

[Especially since] the [conversation of] all of Israel has come to the king & his house. You’re my brethren, my flesh & bones. [Why] are you the last to bring the king back? And you say to Amasa, Aren’t you of my flesh & bones?

God [should] do to me & more also if you aren’t the captain of the [army] before me continually, [instead] of Joab. [David] touched the [hearts] of all the men of Judah [who became united as if they had] the heart of one man.

So, they sent word to king [David,] You & all your servants [should] return. So, king [David] returned & came to [the] Jordan [River]. Judah came to Gilgal, to meet the king & [escort] him over [the] Jordan [River].

Shimei, [Gera’s] son, a Benjamite, of Bahurim, [hurried] & came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. There were 1,000 men of Benjamin with him & Ziba, [Saul’s former] servant & his 15 sons & 20 servants with him.

They all went over [the] Jordan [River] before the king. A ferry boat [carried] over the [king & his] household to do what he thought [was best].

Shimei, [Gera’s] son, fell & [bowed] down before the king [when] he [came] over [the] Jordan & said to king [David,] Let my lord, the king, not [consider me guilty] & don’t remember all [my actions against you when] you [left] Jerusalem & [take it personally]. For [I,] your servant knows I have sinned.

That’s [why] I came 1st of all the house of Joseph to meet [you,] my lord, the king. Abishai, [Zeruiah’s] son, answered & said, Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?

David said, You sons of Zeruiah, what do I have to do with you, that you should be my adversary this day? Shall any man in Israel be put to death this day? Don’t I know I’m king [today] over Israel?

Therefore, the king said & swore to Shimei, You shall not die. Mephibosheth, [Saul’s grandson, Jonathan’s son] came down to meet king [David] & hadn’t bandaged his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes from the day king [David] departed until he [returned] in peace.

It [happened] when he [had] come to Jerusalem to meet king [David,] the king said, [Why] didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth? He answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me & said, I will saddle a [mule] for [me] to ride on & go to the king, because [I,] your servant [am] lame.

He [has] slandered me, your servant, to my lord, the king [who] is an angel of God. Do [whatever] seems good in your eyes, for all my father’s house were dead men before my lord, the king, yet you [put me,] your servant among [those who] eat at your table. What right do I have to cry [out] to the king?

King [David] said to him, Why speak anymore of [this] matter? You & Ziba divide the land. Mephibosheth said to king [David,] Let him take all [of it, since] the lord, [my] king [has] come again in peace to his own house.

Barzillai, the Gileadite, came down from Regelim & went over Jordan with the king, to [escort] him. Now, Barzillai was [an elderly] man & had provided [food & supplies] while he lay in Mahanaim; for he was a very [honorable] man.

The king said to Barzillai, Come over with me & I will feed you with me in Jerusalem. Barzillai said to king [David,] I am 80 years old & how much longer do I have to live that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

I can’t [tell the difference] between good & evil, or [even] taste what I eat or drink. I can’t hear the [voices] of singing men & women. Why should [I,] your servant be a burden to [you,] my lord, the king?

[I,] your servant, will go a little way over Jordan with [you,] king. Why should [you,] king, [repay] me with such a reward? I pray that you let [me,] your servant, turn back again, [so] I may die in [my] own city & be buried by the grave of my father & mother.

[Look,] your servant, Chimham; let him go over with [you,] my lord, the king & do to him what shall seem good to you. King [David] answered, Chimham shall go over with me & I will do to him [what] seems good to you.

[Whatever] you shall [request] of me, I will do for you. All the people went over [the] Jordan [River]. When the king [crossed] over, the king kissed Barzillai & blessed him & [Barzillai] returned to his own place.

King [David] went on to Gilgal & Chimham went with him. All the people & 1/2 of Israel [escorted] the king. [Look,] all the men of Israel came to the king & said, Why have our [brothers,] the men or Judah, [taken you away secretly] & have brought the king & his household & David’s men with him over [the] Jordan?

All the men of Judah answered them, Because the king is our [close relative, why] are you angry [over] this matter? Have we eaten at the king’s expense or has he given us any gift?

The men of Israel answered the men of Judah & said We have 10 [times as much right to] king [David,] as you do. Why did you despise us, [so] our advice isn’t [the] first [about] bringing back our king? The words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.