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.
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.
