# 2 Samuel 19

> Lumin Translation

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/read/2-samuel/19

Translated from Hebrew and Greek with AI, then checked for clarity and fidelity.

1. Joab was told, “See, the king is weeping and lamenting over Absalom.”
2. That day the victory turned to mourning for all the people, for they heard it said that the king grieved over his son.
3. The people sneaked into the city that day, as the ashamed people sneak away when they flee battle.
4. The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, "My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!"
5. Joab came to the king in the house and said, "Today you have made the faces of all your servants ashamed, those who today saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines."
6. You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have declared today that princes and servants are nothing to you. For today I know that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have been right in your eyes.
7. Now arise, go out, and speak to the hearts of your servants, for I have sworn by Yahweh: if you do not go out, no man will remain with you this night, and that will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.
8. The king arose and sat in the gate. They declared to all the people, saying, "See, the king sits in the gate." All the people came before the king, while Israel had fled, every man to his tents.
9. All the people were contending throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king rescued us from our enemies' grasp, and he saved us from the Philistines' power; now he has fled the land because of Absalom."
10. Absalom, whom we anointed over us, died in battle. Now why are you silent about bringing the king back?
11. King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you last to bring the king back to his house, when the report of all Israel has come to the king, to his house?’”
12. My brothers, you are my bone and my flesh; why are you last to bring the king back?
13. Say to Amasa, "Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God deal with me this way and more, if you do not become commander of the army before me all the days in place of Joab."
14. He inclined the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they sent to the king, "Return, you and all your servants."
15. The king returned and came to the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal to go meet the king, to bring the king across the Jordan.
16. Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried and came down with men of Judah to meet King David.
17. A thousand men of Benjamin were with him, along with Ziba the servant of Saul's house, his fifteen sons, and his twenty servants; and they crossed the Jordan before the king.
18. A ferry crossed over to bring the king's household across and to do what was good in his own eyes. Shimei son of Gera fell prostrate before the king as he crossed the Jordan.
19. He said to the king, "Let not my lord reckon iniquity to me, nor remember what your servant did amiss the day my lord the king went out from Jerusalem, that the king should set it in his heart."
20. For your servant knows that I have sinned. See, I have come today first among all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
21. Abishai, Zeruiah's son, answered and said, "Shouldn't Shimei die for this, because he cursed Yahweh's anointed?"
22. David said, "Sons of Zeruiah, what is there between you and me that you would become my adversary today? Shall any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?"
23. The king said to Shimei, "You will not die," and the king swore to him.
24. Mephibosheth son of Saul came down to meet the king, and he had neither tended his feet nor his beard nor washed his garments from the day the king went away until the day he came in peace.
25. When he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, "Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?"
26. He answered, "My lord the king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said, 'I will saddle a donkey for myself, ride on it, and go to the king,' because your servant is lame."
27. He slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like an angel of God; do what is good in your eyes.
28. For all my father's house were but dead men to my lord the king, yet you seated your servant among those who eat at your table. What right do I still have to cry out any longer to the king?
29. The king said to him, “Why do you still speak of your matters? I said, you and Ziba divide the land.”
30. Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take everything, since my lord the king has come in peace to his house."
31. Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and crossed the Jordan with the king to escort him across the Jordan.
32. Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age, and he had sustained the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.
33. The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem."
34. Barzillai said to the king, "How many are the days in the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?"
35. I am eighty years old today. Can I tell good from evil? Can your servant taste what I eat or drink? Can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?
36. Your servant will cross just a little over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me this reward?
37. Please let your servant return, so I may die in my city beside my father and mother's grave. But see, your servant Chimham—let him cross with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your eyes.
38. The king said, "Chimham will cross with me, and I will do for him whatever is good in your eyes; everything you choose about me, I will do for you."
39. All the people crossed the Jordan, and the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.
40. The king crossed over to Gilgal, and Chimham crossed over with him; all the people of Judah crossed over and brought the king across, and half the people of Israel as well.
41. Look, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, "Why have our brothers, Judah's men, stolen you away and brought the king with his household across the Jordan, along with all David's men?"
42. All Judah's men answered Israel's men, "Because the king is near to us. Why are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all from the king, or has he given us any gift?"
43. The men of Israel answered Judah's men: "We have ten shares in the king, and we have more stake in David than you. Why did you belittle us, so that our counsel was not given first place in restoring our king?" Judah's men spoke more fiercely than Israel's men.

## Nearby chapters

[2 Samuel 18](https://www.lumin.faith/read/2-samuel/18.md)
[2 Samuel 20](https://www.lumin.faith/read/2-samuel/20.md)

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