9. And all the people were conflicted, in all the tribes of Israel, saying: "The king has freed us from the hand of our enemies. He himself saved us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he flees from the land for the sake of Absalom.
10. But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in the war. How long will you be silent, and not lead back the king?"
11. Then truly, king David sent to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, saying: "Speak to those greater by birth of Judah, saying: 'Why have you arrived last to lead back the king into his house? (For the talk in all of Israel had reached the king in his house.)
12. You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why are you the last to lead back the king?'
13. And say to Amasa: 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do these things, and may he add these other things, if you will not be the leader of the military in my sight, for all time, in the place of Joab.' "
14. And he inclined the heart of all the men of Judah, as if one man. And they sent to the king, saying, "Return, you and all your servants."
15. And the king returned. And he went as far as the Jordan, and all of Judah went as far as Gilgal, so as to meet the king, and to lead him across the Jordan.
16. And Shimei, the son of Gera, the son of Benjamin, from Bahurim, hurried and descended with the men of Judah to meet king David,
17. with one thousand men from Benjamin, and with Ziba, the servant from the house of Saul. And with him were his fifteen sons and twenty servants. And going into the Jordan,
18. they crossed the fords before the king, so that they might lead across the house of the king, and might act in accord with his order. Then, Shimei, the son of Gera, prostrating himself before the king after he had now gone across the Jordan,