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 moved Davidagainst them to say, Go [count] Israel & Judah. King [David] said to Joab, captain of the [arm that were] 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.]

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

[Still] the king’s word prevailed against Joab & the captains of the [army who] went out from the presence of the king to [count] the people of Israel. They passed over [the] Jordan [River] & pitched [their tents] 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. And 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. And 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 very foolishly.

When David [got] up in the morning, the Word of the Lord came to the prophet, Gad, David’s seer, saying, Go & say 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 & told him & said to him, Shall 7 years of famine come to you in your land? Or 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.

And 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 now.

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, [Look,] I have sinned & I have done wickedly: but what have these sheep [people] done?

I pray You let Your hand be against me & my father’s house. And 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. And Araunah looked & saw the king & his servants coming toward him. And Araunah went out & bowed himself before the king [facing] the ground.

And 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.

And 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. And 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 shekels of silver.

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

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

 

The Last Words of King David

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 & said, 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, even 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 [this way] with God, [still] He has made with me an everlasting covenant, [orderly & without doubt;] this is all 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 [gathered] with hands. But the man [who] shall touch them must be [clothed in armor of] iron & the [shaft] of a spear & [the thorns] shall be [completely] burned with fire in the same place.

These [are] the names of the mighty men, whom David had: The Tachmonite [who] sat in the seat [as] chief among [the] captains; was Adino the Eznite. Was [the] same. He [lifted] up 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 there 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.] And 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 the 30 chief [men] went down at harvest time & came to David [into] the Cave of Adullam & the [Philistine troops] pitched [their tents] 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! And the 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. Isn’t this [at the expense of] the blood of the men [who risked] their lives? Therefore, he wouldn’t drink it.

These 3 mighty men did these [heroic] things: Abishai, [Joab’s] brother, [who was Zeruiah’s] son & was [the leader] among the 3. He lifted up 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] went down to him with a staff & [snatched] the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand & [killed] him with his own spear.

[Although] Benaiah, [Jehoiada’s] son, did these things & had [fame] among the 3 mighty men & was more honorable than the 30, he [didn’t attain the level of fame] of the 1st 3. And David [put] him over his [guards.] 1 of the 30 was Asahel, [Joab’s other] brother; [The others were:] Elhanan, [Dodo’s] son of Bethlehem;

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; Heleb, [Baanah’s] son, a Netophathite;

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

Eliahba, the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen [were:] 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, the horn of my Salvation, my high tower, my refuge & my Savior. You saved me from violence. [*Luke 1:68-70 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He has visited & redeemed His people & has raised up a horn of Salvation for us in the house of His servant, David; [like] He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began.]

I will call on the Lord, [Who] is worthy to be praised: so I shall be saved from my enemies. When the waves of death [encircled] me & the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; the sorrows of hell [surrounded around] me; the [traps] of death [confronted] me. I called to the Lord & cried [out] to my God, in my distress & He [heard] out of His temple & my [out] cry [entered] His ears.

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

[Hebrews 12:28-29 [For this reason,] we [receive] a kingdom [that] can’t be [removed.] Let us have grace, [by which] we may serve God acceptably with reverence & Godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.]

He also [bent] the heavens [down] & also came down [with] darkness under His feet. He rode upon a cherub [& flew] & was seen upon the wings of the wind. [Exodus 20:21-23 And the people stood [far away] & Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

And the Lord said to Moses, You shall say [this] to the children [people] of Israel, You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. You shall not make [for] Me gods of silver & neither shall you make [yourselves] gods of gold.]

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

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

[Exodus 15:8-10 And with the blast of Your nostrils, the waters were gathered together. The [flood waters] stood upright [like a] heap & the depths were [stuck together like solid] in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, I will pursue & I will overtake [them.] I will divide the [plunder.] My lusts shall be satisfied upon them. I will draw my sword & my hand shall destroy them. You [blew] with your wind & the sea covered them. They sank [like] lead in the mighty waters.]

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 & He delivered me, because He delighted in me. He rewarded me according to my righteousness & has [repaid] me according to 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 were before me & I didn’t depart from His [mandates.] I was also upright before Him & have kept myself from [my] iniquity. Therefore, the Lord has [rewarded] me according to my righteousness & my cleanness in His sight.

With [those who are] merciful, You, show Yourself, merciful.  With the upright man, You will show Yourself [to be] upright.  With [those who are purified,] You, show Yourself, pure.

With [those who are devious,] You, show Yourself as [shrewd.] You will save the afflicted people, 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. For [God’s] way is perfect & the Word of the Lord is [tested.]

[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 my high places. [God] teaches my hands to war, so a bow of steel is broken by [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] again until I had consumed them. And I have [struck] & wounded them, [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 [put] under [my control.] 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.]

[Psalm 44:5-7 Through You, we will push down our enemies. THrough Your Name, we will [trample those] under [who] rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow & neither shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies & have put them to shame [who] hated us.]

They looked, but there. Was [no one] to save [them;] even 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: a people which I [didn’t] know, shall serve Me. [Romans 10:9-13 That if you shall confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus & shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.

For with the heart, man believes [leading to] righteousness & with the mouth, confession is made [leading to] Salvation. for the scripture says, [Whoever] believes [in] Him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew & the Greek [a.k.a. Gentile;] for the same Lord over all is rich to all [who] call upon Him. For [whoever] shall call upon the Name of the. Lord, shall be saved.]

[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 up 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 & 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. [Revelation 22:16-17 I, Jesus, have sent [My] Angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I Am the root & the offspring of David & the Bright & Morning Star. And the Spirit & the bride say, Come. And let him [who] hears say, Come. And let him [who is thirsty,] come. And [whoever] will, let him take the Water of Life freely.]

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.)

[For this reason,] 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.

And [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 hang them up [before] the Lord [in] Gibeah of Saul, whom the Lord [chose.] And 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.]

But king [David] took 2 of the sons of Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, whom she [bore] to Saul, Armoni & Mephibosheth & 5 sons, whom Michal [a.k.a. Merab,] [Saul’s] daughter, brought up for Adriel, [her previous husband, who was] [Barzillai’s] 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.

And Rizpah, [Aiah’s] daughter, took sackcloth & 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, the daughter of Aiah, [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, [inquiries of] God [could be made] for the land. [Additionally,] the Philistines [warred] again with Israel. David & his servants went down & fought the Philistines & David [grew] faint.

And Ishbi Benob, [who] was of the sons of the giant, [with] a spear [that] weighed 300 shekels of brass & [was belted] with a new sword & [planned to kill] David.

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

It [happened] 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 there was [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 defiled 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 & followed Sheba, [Bichri’s] son, but the men of Judah from [the] Jordan to Jerusalem [stuck with] their king.

And David came to his house [in] Jerusalem & took his 10 [mistresses,] whom 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.               [2 Samuel 16:21-22 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father’s [mistresses, that] he has left to keep the house. And all Israel shall hear that you are [loathed by] your father.

Then the hands of all [who] are with you, shall be strong. So, they spread a tent [for] Absalom upon the top of the house & Absalom [was intimate] with his father’s [mistresses] in the sight of all Israel.]

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

And 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 sword in its] sheath. As [Joab] went [forward,] it fell out. And Joab said to Amasa, Are you in [good] health, my brother? And 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 sword] 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] after Joab.

And 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] out of the highway, into the field & [threw] a cloth upon him.

When [Amasa] was removed out of the highway, all 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. And 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 & [that] 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? And he said, I am he. Then, she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid.

He answered, [I'm listening.] Then, 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 & 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 out 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.

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

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 my on, Absalom. 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.;] in that 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 this day, 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. And they told all the people, saying, [Look,] the king [sits] in the gate. For every man [of] Israel had fled to his tent, [so] all the people came before the king.

All the people throughout the tribes of Israel were [upset,] saying, King [David] saved us out of the [hands] of our enemies & he delivered us [from] the Philistines & now he [has] fled out of the land, [because of] Absalom. And 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 & even to 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 so to me & more also, if you [aren’t] the captain of the [army] before me continually, in [place] of Joab. And [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] the king 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.]

And 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.] And [don’t] remember [the evil that I,] your servant, did the day that my lord, the king, [left] out of Jerusalem & [take it personally.] For [I,] your servant know I have sinned.

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

And David said, You sons of Zeruiah, what do I have to do with you, that you should be adversaries to me this day? Shall any man in Israel be put to death this day? Don’t I know  this day, I am king over Israel?

Therefore, the king said & [swore] to Shimei, You shall not die. Mephibosheth,  [Saul’s grandson, who was 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] again 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 [only] dead men before my lord, the king, yet you [put me,] your servant among [those who] eat at your own table. What right [do] I have to cry [out] anymore to the king?

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

And Barzillai, the Gileadite, came down from Regelim & went over Jordan with the king, to [escort] him. Now, Barzillai was [an elderly] man, even 80 years old & he had provided [food & supplies] while he lay [in] Mahanaim; for he was a very [honorable] man.

And the king said to Barzillai, Come over with me & I will feed you with me in Jerusalem. And 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?

Can I [tell the difference] between good & evil, or [even] taste what I eat or drink? Can I 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. And 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.

Then, King [David] went on to Gilgal & Chimham went with him. All the people of Judah & 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? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.