David's Grief and Joab's Rebuke

1

Yo'av was told, "The king is weeping, mourning for Avshalom."

2

Thus the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day that the king was grieving for his son;

3

so that the people entered the city furtively that day, the way that people who are ashamed creep away when fleeing a battlefield.

4

Meanwhile, the king covered his face and cried aloud, "Oh, my son Avshalom! Oh, Avshalom, my son, my son!"

5

Yo'av went inside to the king and said, "Today you made all your servants feel ashamed. They saved your life today, and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives and concubines.

6

But you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. Today you said that princes and servants mean nothing to you - for I can see today that it would have pleased you more if Avshalom had lived today, and we had all died!

7

Now get up, go out and speak heart-to-heart with your servants. For I swear by ADONAI that if you don't go out, not one man will stay here with you tonight - and that will be worse for you than all the misfortunes you have suffered from your youth until now."

8

So the king got up and sat in the city gateway; and when all the people were told, "Now the king is sitting in the gate," they came before the king. Meanwhile, Isra'el had fled, each man to his tent;

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