1 فأخبر يوآب هوذا الملك يبكي وينوح على ابشالوم.2 فصارت الغلبة في ذلك اليوم مناحة عند جميع الشعب لان الشعب سمعوا في ذلك اليوم من يقول ان الملك قد تأسف على ابنه.3 وتسلّل الشعب في ذلك اليوم للدخول الى المدينة كما يتسلّل القوم الخجلون عندما يهربون في القتال.4 وستر الملك وجهه وصرخ الملك بصوت عظيم يا ابني ابشالوم يا ابشالوم ابني يا ابني.5 فدخل يوآب الى الملك الى البيت وقال قد اخزيت اليوم وجوه جميع عبيدك منقذي نفسك اليوم وانفس بنيك وبناتك وانفس نسائك وانفس سراريك6 بمحبتك لمبغضيك وبغضك لمحبيك. لانك اظهرت اليوم انه ليس لك رؤساء ولا عبيد لاني علمت اليوم انه لو كان ابشالوم حيّا وكلنا اليوم موتى لحسن حينئذ الامر في عينيك.7 فالآن قم واخرج وطيب قلوب عبيدك. لاني قد اقسمت بالرب انه ان لم تخرج لا يبيت احد معك هذه الليلة ويكون ذلك اشرّ عليك من كل شر اصابك منذ صباك الى الآن.8 فقام الملك وجلس في الباب. فاخبروا جميع الشعب قائلين هوذا الملك جالس في الباب. فأتى جميع الشعب امام الملك. واما اسرائيل فهربوا كل واحد الى خيمته9 وكان جميع الشعب في خصام في جميع اسباط اسرائيل قائلين ان الملك قد انقذنا من يد اعدائنا وهو نجّانا من يد الفلسطينيين. والآن قد هرب من الارض لاجل ابشالوم10 وابشالوم الذي مسحناه علينا قد مات في الحرب. فالآن لماذا انتم ساكتون عن ارجاع الملك.11 وارسل الملك داود الى صادوق وابياثار الكاهنين قائلا كلما شيوخ يهوذا قائلين لماذا تكونون آخرين في ارجاع الملك الى بيته وقد أتى كلام جميع اسرائيل الى الملك في بيته.12 انتم اخوتي انتم عظمي ولحمي. فلماذا تكونون آخرين في ارجاع الملك.13 وتقولان لعماسا. أما انت عظمي ولحمي. هكذا يفعل بي الله وهكذا يزيد ان كنت لا تصير رئيس جيش عندي كل الايام بدل يوآب.14 فاستمال بقلوب جميع رجال يهوذا كرجل واحد فارسلوا الى الملك قائلين ارجع انت وجميع عبيدك.15 فرجع الملك وأتى الى الاردن وأتى يهوذا الى الجلجال سائرا لملاقاة الملك ليعبّر الملك الاردن.16 فبادر شمعي بن جيرا البنياميني الذي من بحوريم ونزل مع رجال يهوذا للقاء الملك داود17 ومعه الف رجل من بنيامين وصيبا غلام بيت شاول وبنوه الخمسة عشر وعبيده العشرون معه فخاضوا الاردن امام الملك.18 وعبر القارب لتعبير بيت الملك ولعمل ما يحسن في عينيه. وسقط شمعي بن جيرا امام الملك عندما عبر الاردن19 وقال للملك. لا يحسب لي سيدي اثما ولا تذكر ما افترى به عبدك يوم خروج سيدي الملك من اورشليم حتى يضع الملك ذلك في قلبه.20 لان عبدك يعلم اني قد اخطأت وهانذا قد جئت اليوم اوّل كل بيت يوسف ونزلت للقاء سيدي الملك.21 فاجاب ابيشاي ابن صروية وقال ألا يقتل شمعي لاجل هذا لانه سبّ مسيح الرب.22 فقال داود ما لي ولكم يا بني صروية حتى تكونوا لي اليوم مقاومين. آليوم يقتل احد في اسرائيل. أفما علمت اني اليوم ملك على اسرائيل.23 ثم قال الملك لشمعي لا تموت. وحلف له الملك.24 ونزل مفيبوشث ابن شاول للقاء الملك ولم يعتن برجليه ولا اعتنى بلحيته ولا غسل ثيابه من اليوم الذي ذهب فيه الملك الى اليوم الذي اتى فيه بسلام.25 فلما جاء الى اورشليم للقاء الملك قال له الملك لماذا لم تذهب معي يا مفيبوشث.26 فقال يا سيدي الملك ان عبدي قد خدعني لان عبدك قال اشد لنفسي الحمار فاركب عليه واذهب مع الملك لان عبدك اعرج.27 ووشى بعبدك الى سيدي الملك وسيدي الملك كملاك الله فافعل ما يحسن في عينيك.28 لان كل بيت ابي لم يكن الا اناسا موتى لسيدي الملك وقد جعلت عبدك بين الآكلين على مائدتك فاي حق لي بعد حتى اصرخ ايضا الى الملك.29 فقال له الملك لماذا تتكلم بعد بامورك. قد قلت انك انت وصيبا تقسمان الحقل.30 فقال مفيبوشث للملك فليأخذ الكل ايضا بعد ان جاء سيدي الملك بسلام الى بيته31 ونزل برزلاي الجلعادي من روجليم وعبر الاردن مع الملك ليشيعه عند الاردن32 وكان برزلاي قد شاخ جدا. كان ابن ثمانين سنة. وهو عال الملك عند اقامته في محنايم لانه كان رجلا عظيما جدا.33 فقال الملك لبرزلاي اعبر انت معي وانا اعولك معي في اورشليم.34 فقال برزلاي للملك كم ايام سني حياتي حتى اصعد مع الملك الى اورشليم.35 انا اليوم ابن ثمانين سنة. هل اميّز بين الطيب والردي وهل يستطعم عبدك بما آكل وما اشرب وهل اسمع ايضا اصوات المغنين والمغنيات. فلماذا يكون عبدك ايضا ثقلا على سيدي الملك.36 يعبر عبدك قليلا الاردن مع الملك ولماذا يكافئني الملك بهذه المكافاة.37 دع عبدك يرجع فاموت في مدينتي عند قبر ابي وامي وهوذا عبدك كمهام يعبر مع سيدي الملك فافعل له ما يحسن في عينيك.38 فاجاب الملك ان كمهام يعبر معي فأفعل له ما يحسن في عينيك وكل ما تتمناه مني افعله لك.39 فعبر جميع الشعب الاردن والملك عبر. وقبّل الملك برزلاي وباركه فرجع الى مكانه40 وعبر الملك الى الجلجال وعبر كمهام معه وكل شعب يهوذا عبّروا الملك وكذلك نصف شعب اسرائيل.41 واذا بجميع رجال اسرائيل جاءون الى الملك وقالوا للملك لماذا سرقك اخوتنا رجال يهوذا وعبروا الاردن بالملك وبيته وكل رجال داود معه.42 فاجاب كل رجال يهوذا رجال اسرائيل لان الملك قريب اليّ ولماذا تغتاظ من هذا الأمر. هل اكلنا شيئا من الملك او وهبنا هبة.43 فاجاب رجال اسرائيل رجال يهوذا وقالوا. لي عشرة اسهم في الملك وانا احق منك بداود. فلماذا استخففت بي ولم يكن كلامي اولا في ارجاع ملكي. وكان كلام رجال يهوذا اقسى من كلام رجال اسرائيل

1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.3 And the people got them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.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!5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, You have shamed this day the faces of all your servants, which 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;6 In that you love your enemies, and hate your friends. For you have declared this day, that you regard 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 you well.7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably to your servants: for I swear by the LORD, if you go not forth, there will not tarry one with you this night: and that will be worse to you than all the evil that befell you from your youth until now.8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told to 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.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.10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak you not a word of bringing the king back?11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you 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.12 You are my brothers, you are my bones and my flesh: why then are you the last to bring back the king?13 And say you to Amasa, Are you not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.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 to the king, Return you, and all your servants.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.16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet 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.18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king' 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;19 And said to the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity to me, neither do you 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.20 For your servant does 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.21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD' anointed?22 And David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries to 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?23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, You shall not die. And the king swore 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.25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why went not you with me, Mephibosheth?26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for your servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because your servant is lame.27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in your eyes.28 For all of my father' house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet did you set your servant among them that did eat at your own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more to the king?29 And the king said to him, Why speak you any more of your matters? I have said, You and Ziba divide the land.30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, Yes, let him take all, for as much as my lord the king is come again in peace to his own house.31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.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.33 And the king said to Barzillai, Come you over with me, and I will feed you with me in Jerusalem.34 And Barzillai said to the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?35 I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? why then should your servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?36 Your servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?37 Let your servant, I pray you, turn back again, that I may die in my own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you: and whatever you shall require of me, that will I do for you.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 to his own place.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.41 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David' men with him, over Jordan?42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: why then be you angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king' cost? or has he given us any gift?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 you: why then did you 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.