Joab Challenges Grieving David To Face His Troops

2And it was reported to Joab, “Look, the king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.”

3So the victory on that day was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day the people heard it said, “The king is grieved over his son.”

4So the people slipped into the city that day, as people who are ashamed slip away when they flee in battle.

5And the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”

6Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have put to shame all your servants who today saved your life, and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and your concubines.”

7to love those who hate you and to hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants mean nothing to you; for I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then it would be right in your eyes.

8Now get up, go out, and speak to the heart of your servants, for I swear by Yahweh that if you do not go out, not a man will stay with you tonight, and this will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come upon you from your youth until now.

9Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “Look, the king is sitting in the gate.” Then all the people came before the king. But Israel had fled, each man to his tent.

10And all the people were disputing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies, and he rescued us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.”

11And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, died in battle. So now why are you silent about bringing the king back?

12And King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king, to his house?’”

13You are my brothers; you are my own bone and flesh. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?

14And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me all the days in place of Joab.’

15And he swayed the heart of every man of Judah as one man, and they sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your servants.”