The king began to tremble and went up to the room over the gate and wept. And this is what he said as he went, "My son Avsholom. My son, my son Avsholom. If only I had died instead of you. Avsholom my son, my son.

It was told to Yoav that the king was crying and mourning over Avsholom.

The victory of that day was turned into mourning for all of the people because the people heard on that day saying, "The king grieves over his son."

On that day the people entered the city discreetly like people silent and ashamed from having fled from battle.

The king covered his face and the king cried out loudly, "My son Avsholom, Avsholom my son, my son.

Yoav came inside the king's chamber and said, "Today, you have embarassed all your servants who have, this day, saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines.

You are showing love to your enemies and hatred towards your friends for [by your actions] today you are declaring that you do not value your officers or servants. For today I know that [you are thinking] if only Avsholom were alive and all of us dead, it would have been right in your eyes.

Now, get up, go out and speak to the hearts of your servants because I have sworn by Adonoy that [if] you do not go out [to the people] then no one will remain here with you tonight. This will be worse for you then all the evil that has befallen you from your youth up until today."

The king rose, [went] and sat by the gate. All the people were told, "The king is sitting by the gate." All the people came before the king [as the people of] Yisroel fled back to their homes.

All the people reproached each other throughout all the tribes of Yisroel, saying. "The king saved us from the hands of our enemies and he saved us from the hands of the Pelishtim, now he has had to flee from the land because of Avsholom.

Avsholom whom we anointed king over us, has died in battle. And now, why are you silent about restoring the king [to his throne]."

King Dovid sent [messages] to Tsodok and Evyosor the Kohanim saying, "Speak to the elders of Yehudah saying, "Why should you be last to bring back the king to his palace while the messages of all Yisroel are coming to the king [requesting his return] to his palace.

You are my brothers, you are of my own flesh why should you be the last to bring back the king.'

And tell Amosoh [in my name], 'are you not of my own bone and flesh. God should do [such and such] to me and more if I do not make you my commanding officer from now on, instead of Yoav.'

He [Dovid] was able to sway the hearts of all the men of Yehudah [to favor him] as one would sway just one man. They sent [a message] to the king, 'You and all your servants should return.'

The king began his return and as he reached the Yardein, Yehudah came to Gilgal to greet the king to bring the king over the Yardein.

Shimi, the son of Geiroh, hurried, [son] of the Yemini from Bachurim, and went down with the men of Yehudah to greet king Dovid.

A thousand men from Binyomin accompanyed him together with Tzivoh, a young man from the house of Shaul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They crossed the Yardein before the king.

The ferry boat crossed over bringing the household of the king and to do what is good in his eyes. Shimi, the son of Geiroh fell before the king as he crossed the Yardein.

He said to the king, "Do not consider it a sin on my behalf, do not remember how your servant wronged [you] on the day my master, the king left Yerusholoyim. The king [should not] take it to heart.

Because your servant knows that I have sinned, behold I come today the first from among all the House of Yoseif to come down and greet my master the king.

Avishai, the son of Tsruyoh replied and said, Should Shimi not be put to death for this since he cursed the anointed one of Adonoy?

Dovid said, "What [hatred] exists between me and you, sons of Tsruyoh that today you should be adversaries unto me? Should a man of Yisroel die today? Because I [now] know that today I am [truly] king over Yisroel.

The king said to Shimi, "You shall not die." And the king swore unto him.

Mephivoshes, the son of Shaul went down to greet the king. He had not tended to the hair [between] his legs nor groomed his moustache nor laundered his clothes from the day the king left until his peaceful return.

When he came to Yerusholoyim to the greet the king, the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mephivoshes?"

He replied, "My master the king, my servant [Tsivoh] deceived me because your servant said [to Tsivoh], 'Saddle up the donkey so that I can ride it and join the king', because your servant is lame.

And he [Tsivoh] maligned your servant to my master the king. My master the king is like an angel of God, do what you deem to be proper.

The entire house of my father were nothing but mortal enemies to my master the king and [nevertheless] you placed your servant among those eating at your table. What more charity can I [ask of you]? About what more can I cry to the king?"

The king said to him, "Why speak any further, I have said that you and Tsivoh should divide the field."

Mephivoshes said to the king, "Let him take everything now that my master the king has returned to his palace in peace."

Birzilai the Gilodite came down from Roglim and crossed the Yardein with the king accompanying him over the Yardein.

Barzilai was very old, eighty years of age, he had provided for the king during his stay in Machanayim because he was a very great man.

The king said to Barzilai, "You cross over with me and I will provide for you [while you stay] with me in Yerusholoyim."

Barzilai said to the king, "How many more years of life [do I have] that I should go up with the king to Yerusholoyim?

I am eighty years old today, can I differentiate between something good or bad? Does your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I still hear the voices of princes and princesses? Why should you servant remain a burden to my master the king?"

Your servant will just cross over the Yardein to accompany the king. Why should the king give me this type of reward?

Let your servant return and I will die in my own city [and be buried] in the burial place of my father and mother and your servant Kimhom will travel on with my master, the king and do unto him as you see fit."

The king said, "Kimhom will cross over with me and I will do unto him what you see fit and whatever you choose, [to request] of me, I will do for you."

All the people crossed the Yardein and the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzilai and blessed him. He [then] returned home.

The king went over to Gilgol and Kimhon went over with him. All the people of Yehudah, brought the king over together with half of the people of Yisroel.

[Then] all the men of Yisroel came to the king and they said to the king, "Why did our brothers, steal you away the men of Yehudah and [secretly] cross the king and his household over the Yardein together with all of Dovid's men?"

All the men of Yehudah answered to the men of Yisroel, "Because the king is close to us, why should this anger you? Have we received any food from the king, have any presents been given to us?"

The men of Yisroel replied to men of Yehudah, and said, "We have ten parts of the king and we also have more right in Dovid than you. Why have you made light of me? Was I not first in asking to have my king return?" The words of men of Yehudah overpowered the words of the men of Yisroel.