2 Samuel 19:16-43 - David Pardons His Enemies
16 And Shimei the son of Gera the son of Benjamin which was of Bahurim, hasted and came with the men of Judah against king David, 17 and a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him. And they whipt over Jordan before the king. 18 And there went over a boat to carry over the king's household and to do him pleasure. And Shimei the son of Gera fell before the king, as he was come over Jordan, 19 and said unto him, "Let not my lord impute wickedness unto me, nor let him not remember the wickedness that thy servant did, when my lord the king departed out of Jerusalem that the king should take it to heart. 20 For thy servant doth know how that I have done amiss. And therefore behold, I am the first this day of all the house of Joseph that am come to meet my lord the king."
21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, "Shall Shimei not die for that cause: which cursed the LORD's anointed?"
22 And the king said, "What matter is between you and me ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? There shall no man die this day in Israel: for I know that I am this day king over Israel." 23 And the king said unto Shimei, "Thou shalt not die," and sware unto him.
24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet nor shaved his beard nor washed his clothes from the time the king departed, until he came again in peace. 25 And when he was come to Jerusalem toward the king, the king said unto him, "Wherefore went not thou with me Mephibosheth?"
26 And he said, "My lord king, my servant deceived me. For thy servant said: that I would have mine ass saddled to ride thereon, for to go to the king, because thy servant is lame. 27 And he hath thereto complained on thy servant unto my lord the king. But my lord the king is as an Angel of God: do therefore what seemeth best in thine eyes. 28 For all my father's house were but dead men unto my lord the king: and yet didst thou put me among them that eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet, to cry any more unto the king?"
29 And the king said, "It needeth thee not to speak any more, for I have said that thou and Ziba shall divide the lands between you."
30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, "Yea, let him take all: for so much as my lord the king is come in peace unto his own house."
31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came from Rogelim and went over Jordan with the king, to accompany him over Jordan: 32 which Barzillai was a very aged man, even four score year old, and had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim: for he was a man of very great substance.
33 And the king said unto Barzillai, "Come thou with me, that I may feed thee with me in Jerusalem."
34 But Barzillai said unto the king, "Of what age am I of, that I should go with the king into Jerusalem? 35 I am this day four score year old: and therefore can not discern savoury from unsavoury, neither hath thy servant pleasure in that he eateth or drinketh: nor yet delectation in the songs of men or women. It is no need that thy servant be a burden unto my lord the king: 36 let thy servant go a little way over Jordan with the king, for why should the king render me such a reward? 37 But let thy servant turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father and mother. But lo here is thy servant Chimham: let him go with my lord the king, and do to him, what shall please thee."
38 And the king answered, "Chimham shall go with me. And I will do to him that thou shalt be content with. And thereto whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that same will I do for thee." 39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over Jordan, he kissed Barzillai and took his leave of him, and he went back again unto his own place.
40 And then the king went to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. Now all the men of Judah were at the bringing over of the king, and but half the men of Israel. 41 Wherefore all the men of Israel came to the king and said unto him, "Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king and his household and all David's men with him over Jordan?"
42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "For the king is near of kin to us: wherefore be ye angry for that matter? Think ye that we eat of the king's cost, or that the king giveth us any gifts?"
43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, "We have ten parts in the king, and have thereto more right to David than ye. Why then did ye despise us, that our advice had not been first had in restoring our king again?" And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.