3 And the people1 stole back ainto the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4 But the king acovered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, b“O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
5 Then aJoab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, 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 today that you1 regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.
7 Now therefore, arise, go out and speak1 comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”
8 Then the king arose and sat in the agate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king. For everyone of Israel had bfled to his tent.
David Returns to Jerusalem
9 Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our aenemies, he delivered us from the hand of the bPhilistines, and now he has cfled from the land because of Absalom.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Book Notes:
Barnes' Book Notes
Introduction to 2 Samuel
See the Introduction to Samuel in the notes on First Samuel
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