1It was told Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom."

2So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, "The king is grieving for his son."

3And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle.

4The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

5Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines,

6because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased.

7Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now."

8Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, "Behold, the king is sitting in the gate." And all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his own home.

9And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.

10But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"

11And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: "Say to the elders of Judah, '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?

12You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?'

13And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.'"

14And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, "Return, both you and all your servants."

15So the king came back to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan.