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.
10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”
11 So King David sent to aZadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house?
12 You are my brethren, you are amy bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’
13 aAnd say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? bGod do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me1 continually in place of Joab.’ ”
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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