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MAY 24
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Jordan. And Shimei the son of Gera, a
Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried
and came down with the men of Judah to meet
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19:7 not one will stay with you. Joab, who King David. There were a thousand men of
was the esteemed general of the army, was a Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of
dangerous person because of that power. He the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his
was also dangerous to David because he had twenty servants with him; and they went over
disobeyed his command to spare Absalom the Jordan before the king. Then a ferryboat
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and killed him with no remorse. When he went across to carry over the king’s house-
warned David that he would be in deep trou- hold, and to do what he thought good.
ble if he did not immediately express appreci- Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before
ation to his men for their victory, David knew the king when he had crossed the Jordan.
he could be in serious danger. 19 Then he said to the king, “Do not let my lord
impute iniquity to me, or remember what
wrong your servant did on the day that my
the gate.” So all the people came before the
king. lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king
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For everyone of Israel had fled to his tent. should take it to heart. For I, your servant,
9 Now all the people were in a dispute know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am,
throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The the first to come today of all the house of Jo-
king saved us from the hand of our enemies, seph to go down to meet my lord the king.”
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he delivered us from the hand of the But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered
Philistines, and now he has fled from the land and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for
because of Absalom. But Absalom, whom we this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”
10
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anointed over us, has died in battle. Now there- And David said, “What have I to do with
fore, why do you say nothing about bringing you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be
back the king?” adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put
11 So King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar to death today in Israel? For do I not know that
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the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Ju- today I am king over Israel?” Therefore the
dah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And
king back to his house, since the words of all the king swore to him.
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Israel have come to the king, to his very Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came
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house? You are my brethren, you are my down to meet the king. And he had not cared
bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor
to bring back the king?’ And say to Amasa, washed his clothes, from the day the king
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‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so departed until the day he returned in peace.
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to me, and more also, if you are not command- So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to
er of the army before me continually in place meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why
of Joab.’ ” So he swayed the hearts of all the did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
14
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men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so And he answered, “My lord, O king, my ser-
that they sent this word to the king: “Return, vant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will
you and all your servants!” saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on
15 Then the king returned and came to the it and go to the king,’ because your servant is
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Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to lame. And he has slandered your servant to
meet the king, to escort the king across the my lord the king, but my lord the king is like
the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in
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your eyes. For all my father’s house were but
dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set
your servant among those who eat at your
19:13 Amasa…commander of the army…in
place of Joab. David appointed Amasa com- own table. Therefore what right have I still to
mander of his army, hoping to secure the alle- cry out anymore to the king?”
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giance of those who had followed Amasa So the king said to him, “Why do you
when he led Absalom’s forces,especially those speak anymore of your matters? I have said,
of Judah. This appointment did persuade the ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’ ”
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tribe of Judah to support David’s return to the Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather,
kingship (v. 14) and secured the animosity of let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king
Joab against Amasa for taking his position has come back in peace to his own house.”
(20:8–10). 31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down
from Rogelim and went across the Jordan
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