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one that has been thy bitter enemy； who； while he was thine own
son hath proved so wicked to thee。 Leave off； therefore； thy
unreasonable grief； and come abroad and be seen of thy soldiers；
and return them thanks for the alacrity they showed in the fight；
for I myself will this day persuade the people to leave thee； and
to give the kingdom to another； if thou continuest to do thus；
and then I shall make thee to grieve bitterly and in earnest。〃
Upon Joab's speaking thus to him； he made the king leave off his
sorrow； and brought him to the consideration of his affairs。 So
David changed his habit； and exposed himself in a manner fit to
be seen by the multitude； and sat at the gates； whereupon all the
people heard of it；
and ran together to him； and saluted him。 And this was the
present state of David's affairs。
CHAPTER 11。
How David； When He Had Recovered His Kingdom； Was Reconciled To
Shimei； And To Ziba； And Showed A Great Affection To Barzillai；
And How； Upon The Rise Of A Sedition； He Made Amasa Captain Of
His Host； In Order To Pursue Seba； Which Amasa Was Slain By Joab。
1。 Now those Hebrews that had been With Absalom； and had retired
out of the battle； when they were all returned home； sent
messengers to every city to put them in mind of what benefits
David had bestowed upon them； and of that liberty which he had
procured them； by delivering them from many and great wars。 But
they complained； that whereas they had ejected him out of his
kingdom； and committed it to another governor； which other
governor； whom they had set up； was already dead； they did not
now beseech David to leave off his anger at them； and to become
friends with them； and； as he used to do； to resume the care of
their affairs； and take the kingdom again。 This was often told to
David。 And； this notwithstanding； David sent to Zadok and
Abiathar the high priests； that they should speak to the rulers
of the tribe of Judah after the manner following： That it would
be a reproach upon them to permit the other tribes to choose
David for their king before their tribe； 〃and this；〃 said he；
〃while you are akin to him； and of the same common blood。〃 He
commanded them also to say the same to Amasa the captain of their
forces； That whereas he was his sister's son； he had not
persuaded the multitude to restore the kingdom to David； that he
might expect from him not only a reconciliation； for that was
already granted； but that supreme command of the army also which
Absalom had bestowed upon him。 Accordingly the high priests； when
they had discoursed with the rulers of the tribe； and said what
the king had ordered them； persuaded Amasa to undertake the care
of his affairs。 So he persuaded that tribe to send immediately
ambassadors to him； to beseech him to return to his own kingdom。
The same did all the Israelites； at the like persuasion of Amasa。
2。 When the ambassadors came to him； he came to Jerusalem； and
the tribe of Judah was the first that came to meet the king at
the river Jordan。 And Shimei； the son of Gera； came with a
thousand men； which he brought with him out of the tribe of
Benjamin； and Ziba； the freed…man of Saul； with his sons； fifteen
in number； and with his twenty servants。 All these； as well as
the tribe of Judah； laid a bridge ＇of boats＇ over the river； that
the king； and those that were with him； might with ease pass over
it。 Now as soon as he was come to Jordan； the tribe of Judah
saluted him。 Shimei also came upon the bridge； and took hold of
his feet； and prayed him to forgive him what he had offended； and
not to be too bitter against him； nor to think fit to make him
the first example of severity under his new authority； but to
consider that he had repented of his failure of duty； and had
taken care to come first of all to him。 While he was thus
entreating the king； and moving him to compassion； Abishai；
Joab's brother； said； 〃And shall not this man die for this； that
he hath cursed that king whom God hath appointed to reign over
us？〃 But David turned himself to him； and said； 〃Will you never
leave off； ye sons of Zeruiah？ Do not you； I pray； raise new
troubles and seditions among us； now the former are over； for I
would not have you ignorant that I this day begin my reign； and
therefore swear to remit to all offenders their punishments； and
not to animadvert on any one that has sinned。 Be thou；
therefore；〃 said he； 〃O Shimei； of good courage； and do not at
all fear being put to death。〃 So he worshipped him； and went on
before him。
3。 Mephibosheth also； Saul's grandson； met David； clothed in a
sordid garment； and having his hair thick and neglected； for
after David was fled away； he was in such grief that he had not
polled his head； nor had he washed his clothes； as dooming
himself to undergo such hardships upon occasion of the change…of
the king's affairs。 Now he had been unjustly calumniated to the
king by Ziba； his steward。 When he had saluted the king； and
worshipped him； the king began to ask him why he did not go out
of Jerusalem with him； and accompany him during his flight。 He
replied； that this piece of injustice was owing to Ziba； because；
when he was ordered to get things ready for his going out with
him； he took no care of it； but regarded him no more than if he
had been a slave； 〃and； indeed； had I had my feet sound and
strong； I had not deserted thee； for I could then have made use
of them in my flight： but this is not all the injury that Ziba
has done me； as to my duty to thee； my lord and master； but he
hath calumniated me besides； and told lies about me of his own
invention； but I know thy mind will not admit of such calumnies；
but is righteously disposed； and a lover of truth； which it is
also the will of God should prevail。 For when thou wast in the
greatest danger of suffering by my grandfather； and when； on that
account； our whole family might justly have been destroyed； thou
wast moderate and merciful； and didst then especially forget all
those injuries； when； if thou hadst remembered them； thou hadst
the power of punishing us for them； but thou hast judged me to be
thy friend； and hast set me every day at thine own table； nor
have I wanted any thing which one of thine own kinsmen； of
greatest esteem with thee； could have expected。〃 When he had said
this； David resolved neither to punish Mephibosheth； nor to
condemn Ziba； as having belied his master； but said to him； that
as he had ＇before＇ granted all his estate to Ziba； because he did
not come along with him； so he ＇now＇ promised to forgive him； and
ordered that the one half of his estate should be restored to
him。 （20） Whereupon Mephibosheth said； 〃Nay； let Ziba take all；
it suffices me that thou hast recovered thy kingdom。〃
4。 But David desired Barzillai the Gileadite； that great and good
man； and one that had made a plentiful provision for him at
Mahanaim； and had conducted him as far as Jordan； to accompany
him to Jerusalem； for he promised to treat him in his old age
with all manner of respect … to take care of him； and provide for
him。 But Barzillai was so desirous to live at home； that he
entreated him to excuse him from attendance on him； and s