2 Samuel

Focuses on King David's reign, his troubles, successes, and the promise of his dynasty.

Chapter 19

1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

*Joab was informed that the king is crying and grieving for Absalom.

2 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.

*On that day, victory became sadness for everyone. They learned that the king was very upset because of his son.

3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

*That day, people secretly entered the city like scared people hiding during a fight.

4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

*But the king hid his face, and the king shouted loudly, "Oh my son Absalom, oh Absalom, my son, my son!"

5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day 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;

*Joab entered the king's house and said, "Today, you have embarrassed your servants who risked their lives to save yours, as well as the lives of your children and wives, and those of your other wives too."

6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

*When you love your enemies and hate your friends, you don't care about princes or servants. Today I see that if Absalom was alive and we all died, you would be happy about it.

7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.

*So get up, leave, and comfort your servants because I promise by God that if you don't go, no one will stay with you tonight. This would be worse for you than all the bad things that happened to you since your youth.

8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

*Then the king stood up and sat at the entrance. He told everyone, "Look, the king is sitting at the entrance." So, everyone came to see the king because all the people from Israel had gone back to their homes.

9 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.

*All the people argued in all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king saved us from our enemies, and he also rescued us from the Philistines. But now, he has run away from the land because of Absalom."

10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

*And Absalom, the one we chose as leader, died in a fight. So, why aren't you saying anything about bringing our king back?

11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.

*King David asked priests Zadok and Abiathar to talk to the older people of Judah. He wanted to know why they were the last ones to return him to his home, when everyone in Israel had already shared their thoughts with him at his house.

12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

*You are my family; you are like my body parts. So why are you the last ones to return the king?

13 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

*Tell Amasa, "Are you not part of my family? I swear, if you're not always leading our army instead of Joab, may something worse happen to me."

14 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 thou, and all thy servants.

*He made all the people of Judah's hearts united, like one person's heart. So, they told the king, "Come back with all your helpers."

15 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.

*So the king went back and reached the Jordan River. Then, the people of Judah went to Gilgal to welcome the king and help him cross the Jordan River.

16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

*Shimei, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, who lived in Bahurim, quickly joined the people of Judah to welcome King David.

17 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.

*There were 1,000 men from Benjamin with them, along with Ziba, who was Saul's servant, and he had 15 sons and 20 servants with him. They all crossed the river Jordan ahead of the king.

18 And there went over a ferry boat 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 was come over Jordan;

*A ferry boat took the king's family across the river and did whatever he thought was right. Shimei, son of Gera, also bowed before the king when he reached the other side of the river.

19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

*The person told the king, "Don't blame me for wrongdoing, your majesty. Please don't remember what my servant did wrong when you left Jerusalem. I don't want you to be upset about it."

20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

*Your servant knows they have done wrong. That's why they are here, as the first one from the family of Joseph, to meet and serve their lord, the king.

21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?

*But Abishai, Zeruiah's son, replied, "Shouldn't Shimei be killed for this since he cursed God's chosen one?"

22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

*David asked the sons of Zeruiah, "Why are you trying to oppose me today?" and "Is anyone supposed to die in Israel today?" He also reminded them that he is the king of Israel.

23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

*So the king told Shimei, "You won't die." And the king made a promise to him.

24 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.

*Mephibosheth, Saul's son, met the king without preparing his feet, cutting his beard, or washing his clothes since the king left until he returned in peace.

25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

*When he arrived in Jerusalem to see the king, the king asked Mephibosheth, "Why didn't you come with me?"

26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.

*He replied, "My lord, king, my helper tricked me. I said I would get a donkey to ride so I could visit the king, because I have bad legs."

27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

*He lied about your servant to my lord the king, but my lord is like a divine messenger from God. So, do what seems best to you.

28 For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?

*All of my dad's family seemed like they had passed away in front of the king. But you still let me sit and eat with you, king. Why would I have a reason to ask for anything more from you now?

29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

*The king asked him, "Why are you talking more about your situation? I already told you to split the land between you and Ziba."

30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.

*Mephibosheth told the king, "Yes, let him have everything because your majesty has returned safely to your home."

31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

*Barzillai from Gilead area arrived from Rogelim and crossed the river Jordan together with the king to guide him across the river.

32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

*Barzillai was an old man, over eighty years old. He helped the king with food when he stayed in Mahanaim, because he was a very important person.

33 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

*The king told Barzillai, "Come live with me in Jerusalem, and I'll provide for you there."

34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

*Barzillai asked the king, "How much time do I have left to live, so I can travel with you to Jerusalem?"

35 I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

*Today, I am 80 years old. Can I tell the difference between good and bad? Can I taste my food or drink? Can I hear people singing? Why should I continue to be a burden to my king then?

36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

*Your servant will travel a short distance beyond the Jordan River with the king. Why should the king pay me such a great reward for this?

37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

*Please let me return so I can die and be buried in my hometown, near my dad and mom's graves. However, Chimham should accompany my lord the king and do whatever you think is best for him.

38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.

*The king said, "Chimham will come with me, and I'll decide what to do with him based on what you think is best. I'll also do whatever you ask or require from me."

39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.

*Everyone crossed the Jordan River. When the king arrived, the king hugged Barzillai and wished him well; then Barzillai went back to his home.

40 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.

*Then the king traveled to Gilgal, and Chimham joined him. The people of Judah guided the king, along with half the people from Israel.

41 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 thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan?

*And suddenly, all the people of Israel went to the king and asked, "Why did the people of Judah take you away secretly, along with your family and all of David's followers, and bring you across the river Jordan?"

42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s cost? or hath he given us any gift?

*The men of Judah asked the men of Israel, "Why are you upset? The king is related to us. Did he give you anything or did we eat his food?"

43 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 ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

*The men of Israel told the men of Judah, "We have equal share in the king and have more right to David. Why did you treat us badly so that we couldn't give our advice first to bring back our king?" The men of Judah spoke even harsher words than the men of Israel.

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