My son, my son. Eight times.¹ Our Rabbis said,² Seven of those times to lift him out of the seven levels of Gehennom and one to to bring him into the World to Come.

footnotes: ¹ Dovid said the word בְּנִי eight times, five times in this verse and another three times later in verse 5. ² Sotah 10b.

Covered his face. [Yononson translates:] "Covered his face" in the manner of mourners.

Covered. As [we find]: "He wrapped his face with his coat",³ "It is wrapped up in a cloth".⁴

footnotes: ³ Melochim I, 19:13. ⁴ Shmuel I, 21:10.

That [if] you do not go out [to the people]. If you do not go out.⁵

footnotes: ⁵ Rashi is adding the word “if” to the verse.

[As the people of] Yisroel fled. Those people that were with Avsholom.

The people were reproaching each other. Reproaching each other.

While the messages of all Yisroel are coming to the king. All this was part of the message he was charged to bring [to the elders].

To Amosoh. Who is [Avsholom's] commanding officer you should say, 'You are my own sister's son.'⁶

footnotes: ⁶ The son of Avigail. See 17:25.

They crossed the Yardein. They crossed it with their rafts.

The ferry crossed over. The ferry boat that was used to cross over to the other side of the river's width.

First from among all the House of Yoseif. All of Yisroel wronged you, I more then everyone. I have come to ask you forgiveness, if you accept me then all of Yisroel will be confident that you will accept them but if you do not [accept me] they will be afraid to return to you.

Should a man die today? This is a question. Because today I am [truly] king. Until now I thought A great man as this [Shimi] would not have shamed me unless God had decreed to end my kingdom, and He had told him, 'Curse Dovid.' But now that he regrets it I know that I am [truly] king.

He had not tended to the hair [between] his legs. Denoting fixing up, the removing of the hair between his legs.

His moustache. Grenon in O.F.

Why did you not you go with me? To leave Yerusholoyim when I left.

Because your servant is lame. And I can not walk on foot.

Accompanying him. To accompany him.

Because he was a very great man. In terms of wealth.

How many more years of life [do I have]. That I have to live.

That I should go up. There are only a few left, [therefore] what pleasure will I have from your providing for me.

Between something good or bad? Between good food and bad food. Our Rabbis of blessed memory said, He overindulged in sexual relations causing old age to overtake him.⁷

footnotes: ⁷ Shabbos 152a. Otherwise even an eighty year old man would not have deteriorated to that extent.

Your servant will just cross over. You servant will accompany you a little further after you cross the Yardein.

This type of reward. That is not good for me.

Your servant Kimhom. It was his son.

Because the king is close to us. He is from our tribe.

Have any presents. As we find, "A present".⁸ A present from the king's palace.

footnotes: ⁸ Bereishis 43:34.

We have ten parts of the king. Because we are altogether ten tribes.

And also more right in Dovid. Although he is a closer relative of yours nevertheless we have more ownership of him then you do because we have ten parts [of him].

Why have you made light of me? That you should be first, was I not the first to request to have my king return? Prior to this our request came to him to have him return as it is written earlier,⁹ "while the messages of all Yisroel are coming to the king."

The words of men of Yehudah overpowered. Language similar to "Improve".¹⁰ The words of the men of Yehudah were more logical and they prevailed because they showed [as evidence] the letter Dovid had sent them [saying] "Why should you be the last to request" that the king return etc." This is what is explained in Agadah. Some explain וַיִקֶשׁ to denote hard and strong and that is Yonoson's translation, "overpowered."

footnotes: ¹⁰ Tsaphania 2:1.