Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet King David. Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet, cut his beard, or washed his clothes from the time the king had left Jerusalem until he returned safely. When Mephibosheth came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Mephibosheth, why didn’t you go with me?”
He answered, “My master, my servant Ziba tricked me! I said to Ziba, ‘I am crippled, so saddle a donkey. Then I will ride it so I can go with the king.’ But he lied about me to you. You, my master and king, are like an angel from God. Do what you think is good. You could have killed all my grandfather’s family. Instead, you put me with those people who eat at your own table. So I don’t have a right to ask anything more from the king!”
The king said to him, “Don’t say anything more. I have decided that you and Ziba will divide the land.”
Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let Ziba take all the land now that my master the king has arrived safely home.”
Barzillai of Gilead came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan River with the king. Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old. He had taken care of the king when David was staying at Mahanaim, because Barzillai was a very rich man. David said to Barzillai, “Cross the river with me. Come with me to Jerusalem, and I will take care of you.”
But Barzillai answered the king, “Do you know how old I am? Do you think I can go with you to Jerusalem? I am eighty years old! I am too old to taste what I eat or drink. I am too old to hear the voices of men and women singers. Why should you be bothered with me? I am not worthy of a reward from you, but I will cross the Jordan River with you. Then let me go back so I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is Kimham, your servant. Let him go with you, my master and king. Do with him whatever you want.”
The king answered, “Kimham will go with me. I will do for him anything you wish, and I will do anything for you that you wish.” The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai returned home, and the king and all the people crossed the Jordan.
When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel led David across the river.
Soon all the Israelites came to the king and said to him, “Why did our relatives, the people of Judah, steal you away? Why did they bring you and your family across the Jordan River with your men?”
All the people of Judah answered the Israelites, “We did this because the king is our close relative. Why are you angry about it? We have not eaten food at the king’s expense or taken anything for ourselves!”
The Israelites answered the people of Judah, “We have ten tribes in the kingdom, so we have more right to David than you do! But you ignored us! We were the first ones to talk about bringing our king back!”
But the people of Judah spoke even more unkindly than the people of Israel.
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