7. Now go out and encourage your servants. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, no man will be left with you by tonight! That will be worse than all the troubles you have had from your youth until today.”
8. So the king went to the city gate. The news spread that the king was at the gate. So everyone came to see him.All the Israelites who had followed Absalom had run away to their homes.
9. People in all the tribes of Israel began to argue. They said, “The king saved us from the Philistines and our other enemies. But he left the country because of Absalom.
10. We appointed Absalom to rule us, but now he has died in battle. We should make David the king again.”
11. King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. David said, “Speak to the elders of Judah. Say, ‘Even in my house I have heard what all the Israelites are saying. So why are you the last tribe to bring the king back to his palace?