Joab ge Davida ra ǀau
1 Joab ge gao-aob Davidi ra Absalommi ǂama ā tsî ǃoa ǃkhaisa ge mîbahe. 2 Nētis ge dans tsēsa Davidi toroǃkhamaogu hoaga ǃoab tsēse ge ība, gao-aob ǀgôab ǂama ra ǃoa ǃkhaisa gu ge ǁnâu xui-ao. 3 ǁNātsē gu ge toroǃkhamaoga ǃkhamma xu gu ra ǁhâ, o gu tao rase ra ǀkhuriǂgâxa khami ǃnōsase ǃās ǃnâ ge ǀkhuriǂgâxa. 4 Gao-aob ge ǃomkha ais âb ai ǁgui tsî ǃgarise “Ti ôa Absalomtse! Absalomtse, ti ôatse, ti ôatse!” ti ge ǂgaiǂui.
5 Ob ge Joaba gao-aob tawa ommi âb ǃnâ ǂgâ tsî ge mî: “Sats ge nētsē sa toroǃkhamaogu hoaga go tao kai; ǁîgu, sa ûiba go sâuga tsî ǁkhāti sa ôagu, sa ôadi, sa taradi tsî sa xōǀkhātaradi di ûib ona go sâuga. 6 Sats ge ǁkhan tsi hâna a ǀnam tsî satsa a ǀnamna ǁkhan hâ. Sats ge sa ǂamkhoegu tsî toroǃkhamaogu tsîn xū-e harebeba tsi tama ǃkhaisa go ǃgāsa kai. Mû ǁkhā ta ge a, Absalommi ga ûitsama hâ tsî ge ga sige hoage ǁō hâ, o i ga ǃgâiba tsi hâsa. 7 ǂOaxa ǁnâi nēsi, îts sa aoga sī ǂkhîǂkhîǂgao. ǃKhūb ǀons ǃnâ ta ra nūba tsi ǂoaxa tamats ka i, ob nē tsuxuba ǀguib tsîna sats tawa ǃgau tide ǃkhaisa. Ob ge nē tsūǃgâba, sa ûiǁaeb ǃnâts ge ǂgâǃnâ tsūǃgâgu hoagu xa nî kai.” 8 Tsî gao-aob ge ǂoa tsî ǃās dao-ams ǃnâ sī ge ǂnû tsî gu ge aogu hoaga ge mîbahe: “Kō, gao-aob ge ǃās dao-ams ǃnâ ǂnôa.” O gu ge gao-aob di toroǃkhamaogu hoaga ǁîb tawa ge ǀhao.
ǁAes ge Davida ra ǂhâba-oa
Israelǁîgu ge mâb hoaba oms âb ǁga ge ǃkhoeni. 9 ǁNās khaoǃgân ge Israeli ǃhaodi din hoana ǁîǃnābe ǂnoagutsoatsoa tsî ge mî: “Gao-aob Davidi ge sada khākhoen hoan di ǀgaiba xu ge huiǂui da; ǁîb ge Filisteǁîn ǁgâiǀāba xu ge huiǂui da, xaweb ge nēsi Absalommi ǃaroma ǃhūba xu ǁhâ hâ. 10 ǁKhātib ge Absalommi gao-aose da ge ǀnauba torob ǃnâ go ǁō. Tare xū-i ǃaroma i ǀgui khoe-i tsîna gao-aoba oaǀkhī kaisa dītsâ tama?”
11 Nē ǃhoas Israelǁîn ge ūhâ is di ǂhôasab ge Davida ge ǁnâu. Tsîb ge pristerkha, Sadoki tsî Abiatari tsîkha ge haisiba, î kha Judab ǂgaeǂgui-aoga sī dî: “Tare xū-i ǃaroma go kha sago nî ǀuniga khoe, gao-aoba ǁîb omma ǃoa nî oahā kai go? 12 Sago ge a ti khoe, sago ge ti ǀaokhoego. Tare xū-i ǃaroma go sago nî ǀuniga khoe tita nî oahā kai go? 13 Amasaba mîba: ‘Sats ge ti ǀaokhoetsa, satsa ta ga Joab soas ǃnâ ǀamose ti toroǂnubis danase mâi tama io, ab Eloba ǃgam te.’ ” 14 Nētib ge Judab aogu hoagu di ǂgaoga ǁîba ǃoa ge unu tsî gu ge ǁîga gao-aoba ge ǂanǂan: “Oaǀkhī go re, sats tsî sa ǂamkhoegu tsîgo hoago.”
15 Ob ge gao-aoba ge oa; tsî Jordanǃāb tawab ra sī hîa gu ge Judab aoga ǁîba gu ǃgûǃoa tsî Jordanna nî ǃgâu-ūse Gilgals tawa ge ǀhao. 16 Ob ge Gerab ôab, Benjaminǁîb Bahurims dib Simeiba ǃnoesase Judab aogu ǀkha ge ǁgôa, gao-aob Davidab nî ǀhao-ūga. 17 ǀGuiǀoadisi aogu Benjaminni ǃhaos digu ge ǁîb ǀkha ge hâ i. Sibab, Sauli di danaǃgāb tsî ǁîb disikoroǀa ǀgôagu tsî ǀgamdisi ǃgāgu on ge ǁkhāti ge sī. ǁÎgu hoagu ge gao-aob aiǃâ Jordanǃāb tawa ge sī. 18 Tsî gu ge ǃāba ge ǃgâu, gao-aob tsî ǁîb ǀkha hâna gu nî ǃgâuxa-ūse tsî gao-aob ga ǂgao xū-i hoa-e gu nî dīse.
Davidi ge Simeiba ra ǀkhomxa
Jordannab nî ǃgâuseb gao-aoba ra ǂhomisen hîab ge Gerab ôab Simeiba gao-aob aiǃâ ǃgamǃgâ 19 tsî ge mî: “Gao-aotse tā toxopa ti dīsasa ǃgôaba te re, î tā ti tsūdīb Jerusalemsa xuts gere ǂoa tsēs diba ǂâis ǃnâ ūhâba te re. 20 ǂAn ta ge a tsūse ta ge dī ǃkhaisa. Tsî kō, nētsē ta ge tita, Josefi ǃhaos din ǃnâ a ǂguro, gao-aotsa ǃoa ra hāta.”
21 Nēs aib ge Serujas ôab Abisaiba ge dî: “Simeiba kha ǃgamheb tide, ǃKhūb di ǀnausabebab ge ǃhasara ǃkhais ǃaroma?”
22 Xaweb ge Davida ge ǃeream: “Mâ dīxū-e ta sakho ǀkha ūhâ Serujas ôakho, o kho nētsē tita ra khākhoe kaiba? Nētsēs tsîna i kha khoe-e Israeli ǃnâ nî ǃgamhe? Tita kom nētsē ta go Israeli gao-ao kai ǃkhaisa a ǂano.” 23 ǃAruǀîb ge gao-aoba Simeib ǃoa “Nūba tsi ta ra, ǃgamhets tidesa” ti ge mî.
Davidi ge Mefiboseta ra ǃgâidī
24 Sauli ǁnurib, Mefiboseti ge gao-aob ǀkhab nî ǀhaose ge hā. ǁÎb ge gao-aob ge Jerusalemsa xu ǃgû tsēsa xu, danaoseb ge oahā tsēs kōse, ǁanǂai tama i, ǀhō-ammi âba ǂkhomai tama i tsî saran âb tsîna ge ǁā tama hâ i. 25 Tsî Jerusalems ǃnâb ge gao-aob tawa a hā, ob ge gao-aoba “Tare-i ǃaromats ge tita ǀkha ǃgû tama hâ i, Mefiboset?” ti ge dî bi.
26 Ob ge ge ǃeream: “ǃGôahesa gao-aotse, ti ǃgāb ge ge gāxaǃnâ te. Tita ge ǁîba ge mîba, îb dâukiba ǃgaeǃgâba te, î ta gao-aotsa ǃgapisao, ǃhora khoeta a xui-ao. 27 ǁÎb ge tita xa satsa ge ǂhumiba, xawe ǃgôahesatse, sats ge Elob ǀhomǃgā-i khami ī; satsa a ǃgâiba khami ǁnâi dī re. 28 Ti îb surib dida hoada ge sats xa ǃgamhesa a anu, xawets ge sa tāb tawa ǂûsa ge mā-am te. ǃAruǀî ta gao-aots ai nî ǂgan xū-i xare-e ta ge ūhâ tama hâ.” 29 Ob ge gao-aoba ge ǃeream bi: “ǂHâbasa tama aiǃâts nî ǃhoa ǃkhaisa. Tita ge ra mîmā, î kho sats tsî Sibab tsîkho ǃhūǃâsa ǀgoragu.”
30 Ob ge Mefiboseta ge ǃeream: “Sats gao-aots go ǃnorasase oaǀkhī ǃkhais ǂâuba te hâ xuige ab Sibaba hoaraga ǃhūǃâsa ū.”
Davidi ge Barsilaiba ra ǃgâidī
31 Gileadǁîb, Barsilaib ge Rogelimsa xu, gao-aobab Jordanna nî ǁnūǃgâuse ge hā. 32 Barsilaib ge ǁkhaisadisi kurixa ge i tsî kaise ge kaira hâ i. ǁÎb ge ge ǃkhū hâ i tsîb ge gao-aob ge Mahanaims tawa hâ i, o ǁîba gere ǂûmā. 33 Ob ge gao-aoba Barsilaib ǃoa ge mî: “Tita ǀkha Jerusalems ǃoa ǃgû, o ta ge ǁnāpa nî ǃkhōǂhomi tsi.”
34 Xaweb ge ǁîba gao-aoba ge ǃeream: “Mâtikōse ta kha noxopa nî ûi, o ta gao-aots ǀkha Jerusalems ǁga nî ǃgû? 35 Tita ge ǀnai a ǁkhaisadisi kurixa tsî ta ge xū-i xare-i ǃnâ a ǃgâiǃgâisen ǁoa. ǂÛ tsî ta ra ā xūn ǁkhoaba ta ge hō tama hâ. ǁNae-aon di domga ta ge ǁnâu ǁkhā tama hâ. Tarexa ta ǁnâi gao-aotsa nî ǃgomǃgomba? 36 Tare xū-i ǃaromats kha gao-aotsa ra mādawa-am te ǂgao? Tita ge ǂkhari ǃgûdaoro-i ǀgui-e Jordanna xu gao-aots ǀkha ra ǃgû ǂgao. 37 Mā-am te, î ta oa tsî ti ǃās ǃnâ sī ǁō, ti îb tsî ti îs tsîra ǀhobas tawa. Kō, nēb ge sa ǃgāb Kimhamma. Ab ǁîba gao-aots ǀkha ǃgû, îts ǁîba sats ra ǂgao khami dība.”
38 Ob ge gao-aoba ge mî: “Kimhammi ge tita ǀkha a ǃgû ǁkhā tsî ta ge ǁîba sats ra ǂgao khami nî dība. Tita ge satsa ǂgants ka xū-i hoa-e nî dība.” 39 ǁNās khaoǃgâs ge hoaraga ǂnubis tsî gao-aob ona Jordanna ge ǃgâu. Ob ge gao-aoba Barsilaiba ǁoa tsî ge ǀkhae tsîb ge Barsilaiba ǁîb ǃāsa ǃoa ge ǁaru.
Judab tsî Israeli tsîkha ge gao-aob ǂama ra ǂnoagu
40 Gao-aob ge aiǃâb ǃoa Gilgals kōse ge ǃgû tsî Kimhammi ge ǁîb ǀkha ge ǃgû. Judab hoab tsî ǃkhare ǃâb Israelǁîn dib tsîn ge gao-aob ǀkha ge ǃgû. 41 On ge Israelǁîn hoana gao-aob tawa sī tsî ǁîb ǃoa ge mî: “Tare xū-i ǃaroma gu kha sige ǃgâsagu, Judab diga satsa ǃnari tsî gao-aots tsî omaris âts tsî sa aogu tsîna Jordanna go doeǃgâu-ū?”
42 On ge Judab khoen hoana ge ǃeream: “Gao-aob ge a sida ǀaokhoe. Tare-i ǃaroma du nē ǃkhais xa ra ǁaixa? Sida gao-aob ǂû-i xa ǂû da ge, tamas ka io ǀkhaexū-e ǁîb xa māhe da ge?”
43 On ge Israelǁîna Judab dina ge ǃeream: “Sida ge disi ǃnāde ǃnāsa mî-amǃnâ-e gaosis ai ūhâ tsî ǁkhāti Davidi on ai. Tarexa du ǁnâi sida ra sora? Si tamada ǂgurose ge gao-aob nî oaǀkhī ǃkhaisa ǂgan da?”
Xawes ge Judab din di mîsa Israelǁîn dis ǃgâ-ai ge ǀgaisa i.
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.
