[19:8] Meanwhile all the Israelites had fled to their own hometowns.
[19:9] All over the country they started quarreling among themselves. “King David saved us from our enemies,” they said to one another. “He rescued us from the Philistines, but now he has fled from Absalom and left the country.
[19:10] We anointed Absalom as our king, but he has been killed in battle. So why doesn't somebody try to bring King David back?”
[19:11] The news of what the Israelites were saying reached King David. So he sent the priests Zadok and Abiathar to ask the leaders of Judah, “Why should you be the last to help bring the king back to his palace?
[19:12] You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood; why should you be the last to bring me back?”
[19:13] David also told them to say to Amasa, “You are my relative. From now on I am putting you in charge of the army in place of Joab. May God strike me dead if I don't!”
[19:14] David's words won the complete loyalty of all the men of Judah, and they sent him word to return with all his officials.
[19:15] On his way back the king was met at the Jordan River by the men of Judah, who had come to Gilgal to escort him across the river.
[19:16] At the same time the Benjaminite Shimei son of Gera from Bahurim hurried to the Jordan to meet King David.
[19:17] He had with him a thousand men from the tribe of Benjamin. And Ziba, the servant of Saul's family, also came with his fifteen sons and twenty servants, and they arrived at the Jordan before the king.
[19:18] They crossed the river to escort the royal party across and to do whatever the king wanted.