Joab Reprimands David
1 Joab was told that King David was weeping and mourning for Absalom. 2 And so the joy of victory was turned into sadness for all of David's troops that day, because they heard that the king was mourning for his son. 3 They went back into the city quietly, like soldiers who are ashamed because they are running away from battle. 4 The king covered his face and cried loudly, “O my son! My son Absalom! Absalom, my son!”
5 Joab went to the king's house and said to him, “Today you have humiliated your men—the men who saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and of your wives and concubines. 6 You oppose those who love you and support those who hate you! You have made it clear that your officers and men mean nothing to you. I can see that you would be quite happy if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. 7 Now go and reassure your men. I swear by the Lord's name that if you don't, not one of them will be with you by tomorrow morning. That would be the worst disaster you have suffered in all your life.” 8 Then the king got up, and went and sat near the city gate. His men heard that he was there, and they all gathered around him.
David Starts Back to Jerusalem
Meanwhile all the Israelites had fled to their own hometowns. 9 All over the country they started quarreling among themselves. “King David saved us from our enemies,” they said to one another. “He rescued us from the Philistines, but now he has fled from Absalom and left the country. 10 We anointed Absalom as our king, but he has been killed in battle. So why doesn't somebody try to bring King David back?”
11 The news of what the Israelites were saying reached King David. So he sent the priests Zadok and Abiathar to ask the leaders of Judah, “Why should you be the last to help bring the king back to his palace? 12 You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood; why should you be the last to bring me back?” 13 David also told them to say to Amasa, “You are my relative. From now on I am putting you in charge of the army in place of Joab. May God strike me dead if I don't!” 14 David's words won the complete loyalty of all the men of Judah, and they sent him word to return with all his officials.
15 On his way back the king was met at the Jordan River by the men of Judah, who had come to Gilgal to escort him across the river. 16 At the same time the Benjaminite Shimei son of Gera from Bahurim hurried to the Jordan to meet King David. 17 He had with him a thousand men from the tribe of Benjamin. And Ziba, the servant of Saul's family, also came with his fifteen sons and twenty servants, and they arrived at the Jordan before the king. 18 They crossed the river to escort the royal party across and to do whatever the king wanted.
David Shows Kindness to Shimei
As the king was getting ready to cross, Shimei threw himself down in front of him 19 and said, “Your Majesty, please forget the wrong I did that day you left Jerusalem. Don't hold it against me or think about it any more. 20 I know, sir, that I have sinned, and this is why I am the first one from the northern tribes to come and meet Your Majesty today.”
21 Abishai son of Zeruiah spoke up: “Shimei should be put to death because he cursed the one whom the Lord chose as king.”
22 But David said to Abishai and his brother Joab, “Who asked your opinion? Are you going to give me trouble? I am the one who is king of Israel now, and no Israelite will be put to death today.” 23 And he said to Shimei, “I give you my word that you will not be put to death.”
David Shows Kindness to Mephibosheth
24 Then Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, came down to meet the king. He had not washed his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes from the time the king left Jerusalem until he returned victorious. 25 When Mephibosheth arrived from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Mephibosheth, you didn't go with me. Why not?”
26 He answered, “As you know, Your Majesty, I am crippled. I told my servant to saddle my donkey so that I could ride along with you, but he betrayed me. 27 He lied about me to Your Majesty, but you are like God's angel, so do what seems right to you. 28 All of my father's family deserved to be put to death by Your Majesty, but you gave me the right to eat at your table. I have no right to ask for any more favors from Your Majesty.”
29 The king answered, “You don't have to say anything more. I have decided that you and Ziba will share Saul's property.”
30 “Let Ziba have it all,” Mephibosheth answered. “It's enough for me that Your Majesty has come home safely.”
David Shows Kindness to Barzillai
31 Barzillai, from Gilead, had also come down from Rogelim to escort the king across the Jordan. 32 Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old. He was very rich and had supplied the king with food while he was staying at Mahanaim. 33 The king said to him, “Come with me to Jerusalem, and I will take care of you.”
34 But Barzillai answered, “I don't have long to live; why should I go with Your Majesty to Jerusalem? 35 I am already eighty years old, and nothing gives me pleasure any more. I can't taste what I eat and drink, and I can't hear the voices of singers. I would only be a burden to Your Majesty. 36 I don't deserve such a great reward. So I will go just a little way with you beyond the Jordan. 37 Then let me go back home and die near my parents' grave. Here is my son Chimham, who will serve you; take him with you, Your Majesty, and do for him as you think best.”
38 The king answered, “I will take him with me and do for him whatever you want. And I will do for you anything you ask.” 39 Then David and all of his men crossed the Jordan. He kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing, and Barzillai went back home.
Judah and Israel Argue over the King
40 When the king had crossed, escorted by all the people of Judah and half the people of Israel, he went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. 41 Then all the Israelites went to the king and said to him, “Your Majesty, why did our brothers, the men of Judah, think they had the right to take you away and escort you, your family, and your men across the Jordan?”
42 The men of Judah answered, “We did it because the king is one of us. So why should this make you angry? He hasn't paid for our food nor has he given us anything.”
43 The Israelites replied, “We have ten times as many claims on King David as you have, even if he is one of you. Why do you look down on us? Don't forget that we were the first to talk about bringing the king back!”
But the men of Judah were more violent in making their claims than the men of Israel.
Joabu unokayikanya Dafite
1 Kukabudziwa Joabu kuyi, “Bona Mambo Dafite unolila umu buyendasi ngekwa Abusalomu.” 2 Ngono kukunda kukashanduligwa mu tjililo tje babhayani bose, ngobe babhayani bahwa zhuba ilelo kuti mambo umu buyendasi ngekwe nkololo uwe. 3 Ngono babhayani bakangina mu nzi balinyelele zhuba ilelo, se babhayani banongina benyanga bakabhakhwa nge shoni batizha ku ngwa. 4 Mambo Dafite kazwizwimba buso kalila nge hwi lipezhugwi eti, “Eke nkololo wangu Abusalomu, eke Abusalomu nkololo wangu, nkololo wangu!”
5 Ndizo Joabu kazha kangina mu ng'umba ya mambo kandwa kati, “Nasi wabhatisa shoni babhayani babo, bati nasi bakatjidza butjilo gugo, ne butjilo gwe bakololo babo ne bakololokadzi babo ne gwe bakadzi babo ne balongwana babo. 6 Ngobe unoda ibabo banokubenga, ubenga banokuda, nasi wakupundumadza kuti balauli be babhayani ne babhayani abate bali tjimwe mukuli, ngobe kondilakidza nasi kuti akwabe Abusalomu etjila iswi tose tafa, nasi unobe wakashatha. 7 Ngono ngwenu ndokudwa, bhudila kuzhe unosimisa babhayani babo, ndolebesa ndotuna nge zina la Yahwe, ha usabhuda ukanolebeleka nabo, busiku gwa nasi gowoti gunoyedza, ukabe usitjina ne nng'ompela unowobe atjimile nawe, ngono kowokubipila kupinda mbipo dzose dzakatongo kuwila kudwa mu butjetjana gugo kowoti nasi.” 8 Ndizo mambo kamilika, kanogala ku bugalo gugwe ku nkoba. Ngono bathu bose bakabudziwa kuyi, “Bonani, mambo ugele ku nkoba.” Bathu bose bakakubunganila panli.
Dafite unobgwilila ku Jerusalema
Ipapo Baiziraela bakabe batizha mmwe ne mmwe ayenda ku nzi uwe. 9 Ngono bathu bose bakabe bokangazhana mu njudzi dzose dze Iziraela, beti, “Mambo wakatiangula kudwa mu zwita zwedu, kakale katitjidza mu luboko gwe Bafilisitiya, ngono ngwenu watjitizha mu shango etizha Abusalomu. 10 Takabe tazhodza Abusalomu kube mambo wedu, ngono watjifila mu ngwa. Ngono ngwenu, apa ini tisingalebesane tikanobuza Mambo Dafite?”
11 Ngono Mambo Dafite kayisa thumwa ku bapirisiti Zadoki na Abiathari eti, “Idwani Sholotjena dze Juda muti, ‘Apa ini mungabe be bupelo kubgwiliza mambo ku ng'umba iye ye bushe, ipapa ndebo ye Baiziraela bose ye kundibuzila ku ng'umba yangu yakaswika mu zebe dzangu. 12 Imwi mube nsha wa tate bangu, tilopa ling'ompela, ngono ini mungabe be bupelo kubgwiliza mambo kene?’ 13 Kakale mudwe Amasa muti, ‘Apa atiteli be lopa ling'ompela imi nawe kene? Ndzimu ngaundilobe shamu kudzina ndifa ausabe nlauli we babhayani bangu mu bumo gwa Joabu.’ ” 14 Matama a Dafite akabhaya moyo ye bathu bose be Juda bakabumbana bakabe ne moyo nng'ompela, ndizo bakayisa dama kunli beti, “Buyani mose, imwi mambo ne hadzasha dzenyu.”
15 Ndizo mambo bakazha ku Jorodani, Bajuda bakazha mu Giligala kushanganidza mambo ne kuntjuludza gwizi gwe Jorodani. 16 Ngono Shimeyi nkololo wa Gera we Nbhenjamini we ntuthu we Bhahurimu kalibilidza kuzha ku Bajuda kuwoshanganidza Mambo Dafite. 17 Wakabe ana balume banodwa ku Bhenjamini bali tjiwulu (1 000) na Ziba nlanda we ng'umba ya Saulo ne bakololo babe bali gumi lina bashanu (15) ne balanda babe bali makumi mabili (20) ngono bakanoswika ku Jorodani kutangila mambo.
Dafite unothamila Shimeyi lubu
18 Bakatjuluka gwizi pagunotjulukwa kunotjuludza be nsha wa mambo ne kuthama zose zwinganshathisa. Ngono Shimeyi nkololo wa Gera kathigama mbeli kwa mambo abe pejo ngotjuluka Jorodani, 19 kadwa mambo kati, “Atshene mukasindibalile milandu She wangu, kene kuli kukumbula nlanda wenyu sekwa akatjinya tetshi wangu, mu zhuba lamakabhuda mu Jerusalema, dzene mambo bangakudusa mu moyo. 20 Ngobe imi nlanda wenyu ndoziba kuti ndakatjinya, ngono ngwenu, bonani, ndazha nasi, ndili we kutanga we ng'umba ya Josefa, ndazha kuwoshanganidza tetshi wangu mambo.” 21 Abishayi nkololo wa Zeruya kabe eti, “Apa Shimeyi aangabulawe ngekwa ikoku kene, ngobe akalonga bhiso mu Nzhodziwa wa Yahwe kene?” 22 Koga Dafite kabe eti, “Apa ndoshingani ndimwi, bakololo ba Zeruya, kwa mungati nasi mukabe muli banyanyayidzi bangu? Apa kuna ungati nasi kabulawa mu Iziraela kene? Apa anditozwiziba ndili mambo nasi mu Iziraela kene?” 23 Mambo kati kuna Shimeyi, “Ndotuna tjose, aungabulawe?”
24 Ipapo Mefibosheti mwana we mwana wa Saulo kazha kuwoshanganidza mambo, kuli kwetjinga kwaakagala asingangule makumbo, asingathubule ndedu, kene kuli kusuka zwiambalo zwizwe, kudwa mu zhuba mambo labakabhuda kudzina bebuya bali mpumbulu. 25 Kwakati Mefibosheti eswika edwa ku Jerusalema kuwoshanganidza mambo, mambo kambhuzwa kati, “Apa ini usakayenda nami Mefibosheti?”
26 Kadabila eti, “Tetshi wangu, mambo wangu, nlanda wangu wakanditjebela, ngobe ndakandwa ati, ‘Undibelesele donki, kuti ndiitathe ndiyende na mambo, ngobe nlanda wenyu tjilema.’ 27 Wakandinyepela kumuli tetshi wangu, mambo, koga tetshi wangu mambo, monga ntumwa we Ndzimu, ndizo thamani sekwa mungabona kwakamululwamila. 28 Ngobe be nsha wa tate bangu bakabe bakalingisana ngobulawa ndimwi tetshi wangu, mambo, koga madumila nlanda wenyu kube mmwe we banoja pa tafuli yenyu. Ndowobe nditjashaka bubuya gungapani, gwandingakumbila muna mambo kene?”
29 Mambo bakandwa bakati, “Apa ini utjaleba ngekwe zwithu zwizo? Ndapedza nkumbulo kuti iwe na Ziba mowokobana minda.” 30 Mefibosheti kadwa mambo kati, “Ngaaitole yose, se tetshi wangu mambo bazha kanyi basakakubala.”
Dafite unothamila Bharizilai lubu
31 Bharizilai we N'giliyadi kaswikabo edwa ku Rogelimu kowopeleka mambo kuntjuludza Jorodani. 32 Bharizilai wakabe abe nthu nkulukulu ana makole ali makumi ali zhanakadzi (80) wakabe epa mambo zojiwa paakabe atjagala ku Mahanayimi, ngobe akabe ali nthu wakafuma. 33 Mambo kandwa kati, “Atiyende tose ku Jerusalema, ndowokutjengeta.”
34 Koga Bharizilai kadabila mambo eti, “Apa nditjina butjilo bulefu, kwandingayenda namwi mambo ku Jerusalema kene? 35 Ndabe ne makole ali makumi ali zhanakadzi (80), apa ndingatjathubukanya tjibuya ne tjisi tjibuya kene? Apa nlanda wenyu aatjaziba zipa kwe tjinojiwa ne tjinong'wiwa kene? Apa ndingatjahwilila mba kwe balume ne bakadzi kene? Ini ndingapaphila tetshi wangu mambo ntolo? 36 Nlanda wenyu unowotjulukila seli ye gwizi gwe Jorodani na mambo, ini mambo bangandipa mbuzilo yakajali kene? 37 Ndizo mundiletje ndishandukile kanyi kwedu kuti ndinofilako, kuti ndibiganyiwe pejo ne palele mme na tate bangu. Ngono nlanda wenyu woyu Khimuhamu, yendani naye anomushingila, tetshi wangu mambo, munthamile sekwa munowobe muyemula ndiko.”
38 Ngono mambo kadabila eti, “Khimuhamu unoyenda nami, ngono ndowonthamila sekwa wayemula ne tjaunowobe uyemula mundili ndowonthamila itjo.” 39 Ndizo babhayani bose bakatjuluka Jorodani na mambo bakatjulukabo, mambo bakaputa Bharizilai bakankombolela, kabe eshandukila ku nzi uwe. 40 Mambo katjulukila ku Giligala na Khimuhamu kayenda naye, babhayani bose be Juda bakatjuludza mambo, bakabe bana gwamu le babhayani be Iziraela.
41 Shule kwa ipapo Baiziraela bose bakazha kuna mambo bakambuzwa beti, “Ini hama dzedu dze Juda dzamutola tisingazibe, dzitola mambo ne be nsha uwe dzibatjuludza Jorodani, ne babhayani bose ba Dafite kene?”
42 Babhayani bose be Juda bakashandula be Baiziraela beti, “Takakuthama ngobe mambo bali be nsha wedu. Ngono ini mungagwadzika ngekwako? Apa takatongoja nge tjinyikilo dza mambo kene? Kene mambo kuna tjimwe tjipo tjabakatipa?”
43 Baiziraela bakashandula Bajuta beti, “Iswi tina gobe kagumi muna mambo, kakale kuzhe kwa ikoku, muna Dafite tomukulila. Ngono ngwenu ini mutilingila pasi? Apa ate iswi takatanga ngoleba ngekwe kubuza mambo wedu kene?”
Koga Bajuda bakashandula bali bushongola kupinda Baiziraela.