1 Someone told Joab, “The king is crying because Absalom is dead.”
2 David's army found out he was crying because his son had died, and their day of victory suddenly turned into a day of sadness. 3 The troops were sneaking into Mahanaim, just as if they had run away from a battle and were ashamed.
4 David covered his face with his hands and kept on crying loudly, “My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
5 Joab went to the house where David was staying and told him:
You've made your soldiers ashamed! Not only did they save your life, they saved your sons and daughters and wives as well. 6 You're more loyal to your enemies than to your friends. What you've done today has shown your officers and soldiers that they don't mean a thing to you. You would be happy if Absalom was still alive, even if the rest of us were dead.
7 Now get up! Go out there and thank them for what they did. If you don't, I swear by the Lord that you won't even have one man left on your side tomorrow morning. You may have had a lot of troubles in the past, but this will be the worst thing that has ever happened to you!
8 David got up and went to the town gate and sat down. When the people heard that he was sitting there, they came to see him.
Israel and Judah Want David Back
After Israel's soldiers had all returned home, 9-10 everyone in Israel started arguing. They were saying to each other, “King David rescued us from the Philistines and from our other enemies. But then we chose Absalom to be our new leader, and David had to leave the country to get away. Absalom died in battle, so why hasn't something been done to bring David back?”
11 When David found out what they were saying, he sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. It said:
Say to the leaders of Judah, “Why are you the last tribe to think about bringing King David back home? 12 He is your brother, your own relative! Why haven't you done anything to bring him back?”
13 And tell Amasa, “You're my nephew, and with God as a witness, I swear I'll make you commander of my army instead of Joab.”
14 Soon the tribe of Judah again became followers of David, and they sent him this message: “Come back, and bring your soldiers with you.”
David Starts Back for Jerusalem
15 David started back and had gone as far as the Jordan River when he met the people of Judah. They had gathered at Gilgal and had come to help him cross the river.
16 Shimei the son of Gera was there with them. He had hurried from Bahurim to meet David. Shimei was from the tribe of Benjamin, and 17 1,000 others from Benjamin had come with him.
Ziba, the chief servant of Saul's family, also came to the Jordan River. He and his 15 sons and 20 servants waded across to meet David. 18 Then they brought David's family and servants back across the river, and they did everything he wanted them to do.
Shimei Meets with David
Shimei crossed the Jordan River and bowed down in front of David. 19 He said, “Your Majesty, I beg you not to punish me! Please, forget what I did when you were leaving Jerusalem. Don't even think about it. 20 I know I was wrong. That's why I wanted to be the first one from the northern tribes to meet you.”
21 But Abishai shouted, “You should be killed for cursing the Lord's chosen king!”
22 David said, “Abishai, what will I ever do with you and your brother Joab? Is it your job to tell me who has done wrong? I've been made king of all Israel today, and no one will be put to death!” 23 Then David promised Shimei that he would not be killed.
Mephibosheth Meets with David
24-25 Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul, also came to meet David. He had missed David so much that he had not taken a bath or trimmed his beard or washed his clothes the whole time David was gone. David asked him, “Why didn't you go with me?”
26 He answered, “Your Majesty, you know I can't walk. I told my servant to saddle a donkey for me so I could go with you. But my servant left without me, and 27 then he lied about me. You're as wise as an angel of God, so do what you think is right. 28 After all, you could have killed my whole family and me. But instead, you let me eat at your own table. Your Majesty, what more could I ask?”
29 David answered, “You've said enough! I've decided to divide the property between you and Ziba.”
30 Mephibosheth replied, “He can have it all! I'm just glad you've come home safely.”
Barzillai Returns Home
31 Barzillai came from Rogelim in Gilead to meet David at the Jordan River and go across with him. 32 Barzillai was 80 years old. He was very rich and had sent food to David in Mahanaim.
33 David said to him, “Cross the river and go to Jerusalem with me. I will take care of you.”
34 Barzillai answered:
Your Majesty, why should I go to Jerusalem? I don't have much longer to live. 35 I'm already 80 years old, and my body is almost numb. I can't taste my food or hear the sound of singing, and I would be nothing but a burden. 36 I'll cross the river with you, but I'll only go a little way on the other side. You don't have to be so kind to me. 37 Just let me return to my hometown, where I can someday be buried near my father and mother. My servant Chimham can go with you, and you can treat him as your own.
38 David said, “I'll take Chimham with me, and whatever you ask me to do for him, I'll do. And if there's anything else you want, I'll also do that.”
39 David's soldiers went on across the river, while he stayed behind to tell Barzillai goodbye and to wish him well. Barzillai returned home, but 40 Chimham crossed the river with David.
Israel and Judah Argue
All of Judah's army and half of Israel's army were there to help David cross the river. 41 The soldiers from Israel came to him and said, “Why did our relatives from Judah secretly take you and your family and your soldiers across the Jordan?”
42 The people of Judah answered, “Why are you so angry? We are the king's relatives. He didn't give us any food, and we didn't take anything for ourselves!”
43 Those from Israel said, “King David belongs to us ten times more than he belongs to you. Why didn't you think we were good enough to help you? After all, we were the first ones to think of bringing him back!”
The people of Judah argued more strongly than the people of Israel.
David ta velwa eembedi kuJoab
1 Ndele Joab a shiivifilwa: “Tala, ohamba tai nyika oluhodi nokulila omolwaAbsalom.” 2 Nefiku tuu olo efindano la ninga oluhodi koshiwana ashishe, osheshi efiku olo ovanhu va uda nokutya, ohamba tai nyika oluhodi molwomona wayo. 3 Nefiku olo ovanhu ve uya moshilongo va mwena, ngaashi ovanhu va fifwa ohoni eshi va ya onhapo koita. 4 Ndelenee ohamba ya uvika oshipala shayo ndele tai ingida pombada tai ti: “Omumwange Absalom! Absalom, omumwange, omumwange!” 5 Opo nee Joab e uya kohamba mongulu yayo ndele ta ti: “Nena eli ove wa fifa oipala yovapiya voye aveshe ohoni, nande vo ova xupifa nena eli omwenyo woye neemwenyo dovana voye ovamati noukadona neemwenyo dovalikadi voye nodovalikadi voye vopomunghulo. 6 Ove u hole ovo tave ku tondo, ndele ho tondo ovo ve ku hole. Osheshi nena eli we shi holola, nokutya iho yavala ovakulunhu novafyoona, shaashi ndi shi shii nena eli oshe ku wapalela ngeenge Absalom e nomwenyo, ndelenee fye atushe twa fya. 7 Penduka hano paife u pite mo u popife nombili ovapika voye, osheshi handi ku anene kOmwene, ngeenge ito piti mo, oshili nena eli itapa ka fyaala nande omulumenhu umwe pwoove. Ndele oshinima osho tashi ke ku etela omupya munene u dule oiponga aishe ye ku hanga okudja kounyasha woye fiyo opaife.” 8 Nohamba ya penduka ndele tai kala omutumba poshivelo. Ovanhu aveshe va shiivifilwa nokutya: Taleni, ohamba oi li omutumba poshivelo. Opo nee ovanhu aveshe ve uya moipafi yohamba. Ndele Israel sha ya onhapo, keshe umwe, ketwali lavo.
Ohamba David ta shuna kuJerusalem
9 Ndele ovanhu aveshe mokati komapata aeshe aIsrael va hovela okulitwifa eemhata ndele tava ti: “Ohamba ye tu xupifa momake ovatondadi vetu, ndele yo ye tu xupifa momake Ovafilisti, ndele paife yo ihe mo moshilongo ya ya onhapo Absalom. 10 Ndele Absalom ou twe mu vaeka, e tu pangele, okwa fila moita. Omolwashike hano tamu ongaonga okwaalula ohamba?”
11 Opo nee ohamba David ya tuma ondaka kovapristeli Sadok naAbjatar nokutya: “Kundafaneni novakulunhu vomuJuda mu pule: ‘Omolwashike mwa ninga vaxuuninwa okwaalulila ohamba kouhamba wayo? Osheshi odo da popiwa kOvaisraeli aveshe, ode uya momatwi ohamba ponhele oyo, ya li po. 12 Onye ovamwatate, ekipa lomomakipa ange, nonhumba yomonhumba yange. Omolwashike mwa ninga vaxuuninwa okwaalula ohamba?’ 13 Ndele lombweleni Amasa mu tye: ‘Ove ndishi ekipa lomomakipa ange nonhumba yomonhumba yange? Kalunga na handukile nge nena nokomesho ove ngeenge ito ka ninga ondjai momafiku aeshe ponhele yaJoab!’ ” 14 Osho ngaha ye a dula omitima dovalumenhu aveshe vaJuda, opo vo ve uya ngaashi omulumenhu umwe, va tuma kohamba ondaka: “Aluka ove pamwe novapiya voye aveshe.”
15 Opo nee ohamba ya aluka ndele ye uya kuJordan. Ndele Ovajuda ve uya kuGilgal va shakeneke ohamba ndele ve i taulukife Jordan. 16 Ndele Simei yaGera, Omukwabenjamin, womuBahurim okwa endelela pamwe novalumenhu Ovajuda a ka shakeneke ohamba David, 17 novalumenhu eyovi limwe Ovakwabenjamin va li pamwe naye. Nosho vali Siba, omupiya wepata laSaul pamwe novana vaye ovamati omulongo navatano novapika vaye omilongo mbali. Vo ova endelela va ya kuJordan fimbo ohamba inai fika ko, 18 ndele va tauluka poshau va ka tale ko eumbo lohamba nokuninga osho sha wapalela ohamba. Ndele Simei yaGera okwa wila eombe koshipala shohamba, yo eshi ya li pokutauluka Jordan, 19 ndele ta ti kohamba: “Omwene wange, ino valulila nge etimba lange ndele ino dimbulukwa oshilonga shange shii, omupiya woye e shi ninga efiku linya omwene wange ohamba a dja mo muJerusalem. Ohamba inai kala i nonghone. 20 Osheshi omupiya woye e shi shii nokutya, ame nda nyona. Ndelenee ngaashi u shi wete, aame wotete womepata laJosef, nde uya ndi shakeneke omwene wange ohamba.” 21 Opo nee Abisai yaSeruja a nyamukula ndele ta ti: “Simei ita ka dipawa ngeno, ye eshi a tuka omuvaekwa wOmwene?” 22 Ndelenee David ta ti: “Ame ndi na shike nanye, ovana ovamati vaSeruja, nye eshi tamu ningi ovashindadi vange nena eli? Oku na tuu omunhu umwe e nokufya nena muIsrael? Osheshi ndi shi shii, nokutya nena eli nda ninga ohamba yaIsrael.” 23 Opo nee ohamba tai ti kuSimei: “Ove ito ka fya. Nohamba ye shi mu anena.”
24 Mefiboset omutekulu waSaul, e uya yo okushakeneka ohamba, ndele ina wapeka eemhadi daye ndele ina kosha oikutu yaye okudja efiku linya ohamba ya dja ko fiyo yo ya aluka nombili. 25 Ndele ye eshi a dja kuJerusalem, a shakeneke ohamba, ohamba ye mu lombwela, tai ti: “Omolwashike ino ya pamwe naame, Mefiboset?” 26 Ndele ye okwa nyamukula ta ti: “Omwene wange ohamba, omupiya wange a kengelela nge, osheshi omupya woye a diladila: ‘Ame nda li nda hala okumangelwa ondongi, opo ndi shiive okulonda nokuya pamwe nohamba,’ osheshi omupiya woye oshingudu. 27 Ye okwa lundila nge yo, omupiya woye koshipala shomwene wange, ohamba, ndelenee omwene wange ohamba i li ngaashi omweengeli waKalunga; ninga hano eshi tashi ku wapalele. 28 Osheshi eumbo lange alishe la kala pomwene wange ohamba ngaashi ovalumenhu va yandjwa mefyo. Nande ngaha, omupiya woye ove we mu tula mongudu yaava hava li koshililo shoye. Hano ame ondi noufemba washike vali, opo ndi pule sha kohamba?” 29 Opo nee ohamba tai ti kuye: “Omolwashike to popi vali oshinima osho? Handi ti: Nye naSiba litaulileni omapya.” 30 Ndele Mefiboset okwa nyamukula ohamba: “Ye ota dulu okukufa aeshe, shaashi omwene wange ohamba ye uya nombili kouhamba wayo.”
31 Barsillai Omugilead, e uya yo a dja kuRogelim nokwa taulula Jordan pamwe nohamba, opo a findikile ohamba kombada yaJordan. 32 Ndele Barsillai okwa li a kulupa, omulumenhu e nomido Omilongo hetatu, ndele okwa palula ohamba fimbo ya li muMahanaim, osheshi ye okwa li oshipuna shinene. 33 Opo nee ohamba tai ti kuBarsillai: “Tauluka pamwe naame, opo nee ame ohandi ke ku palula pwaame muJerusalem.” 34 Ndelenee Barsillai okwa nyamukula ohamba: “Omido dange da xupa ko domokukala kwange, kadi fi vali dihapu ndishi, ndi ye ngeno pamwe nohamba kuJerusalem? 35 Paife nda wanifa omido omilongo hetatu. Ame ohandi dulu tuu ngeno okutongola ouwa nowii? Ile aame omupiya woye, ohandi dulu mbela okumakela osho handi shi li ile handi shi nu? Ile ndi ude ko vali ondaka yovaimbi ovalumenhu novakainhu? Omolwashike aame, omupiya woye, handi ka pa omwene wange ohamba oupyakadi? 36 Ame omupiya woye ohandi findikile ohamba okandjila kaxupi kombada yaJordan. Omolwashike ohamba i na okupa nge ondjabi i fike opo? 37 Efa, omupiya woye a shune, opo ndi ka file moshilando shange pombila yatate noyameme. Ndelenee Kimham, omupiya woye, ou. Ye na ye pamwe nomwene wange ohamba, ndele mu ningila eshi tashi ku wapalele.” 38 Nohamba tai ti: “Kimham na ye pamwe naame, opo ndi mu ningile osho tashi ku wapalele. Naashishe we shi hala ame ohandi ke shi ku ningila.”
39 Opo nee ovanhu aveshe va taulula Jordan. Nohamba eshi ya taulula, oya fipa Barsillai komilungu ndee te mu lekele. Ndele ye okwa ya keumbo laye. 40 Opo nee ohamba ya ya kuGilgal, ndele Kimham okwa enda pamwe nayo novanhu aveshe vaJuda netata lovanhu vaIsrael va twala ohamba kouhamba.
Eemhata pokati kaJuda naIsrael
41 Ndelenee divadiva ovalumenhu aveshe vamwe vaIsrael ve uya kohamba ndele tava ti kohamba: “Omolwashike ovamwatate vetu, ovalumenhu vaJuda ve ku vaka po ndele va taulukifa Jordan ohamba neumbo layo novalumenhu aveshe vaDavid?” 42 Opo nee ovalumenhu aveshe vaJuda va nyamukula ovalumenhu vaIsrael: “Osheshi yo oyomepata letu. Ndelenee omolwashike mwa handuka omolwoshinima eshi? Twa lya ngeno ohamba ile twa mona ondjabi imwe.” 43 Novalumenhu vaIsrael va nyamukula ovalumenhu vaJuda ndele tava ti: “Fye otu noitukulwa omulongo mohamba, nosho yo muDavid otu mu dule. Omolwashike mwe tu dina? Nafye tu shii twa tonga tete ohamba i alulwe?” Ndelenee eendjovo dovalumenhu vaJuda da li didjuuelela di dule eendjovo dovalumenhu vaIsrael.
