23. The king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” The king gave him his oath.
24. Then Mephibosheth the son of Saul went down to meet the king. He had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he came back in peace.
25. When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
26. He said, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle the mule for myself in order to ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame.
27. But he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Still my lord the king is as the angel of God, so do what seems best to you.
28. For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What right do I have to cry out any more to the king?”
29. The king said to him, “Why do you still speak of your affairs? I say that you and Ziba shall divide the field.”
30. Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take everything, since my lord the king has come safely to his house.”
31. Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim in order to see the king across the Jordan.
32. Barzillai was very old, eighty years old. But he sustained the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man.
33. The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and I will sustain you with me in Jerusalem.”
34. Barzillai said to the king, “How many days are left in my life that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
35. I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant from what is harmful? Can your servant taste what I eat and what I drink? Can I still hear the voices of men and women who sing? Why, then, should your servant be a burden to my lord the king?
36. Your servant is merely crossing over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with this reward?
37. Now allow your servant to return, that I may die in my own city with the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Kimham. He will cross over with my lord the king. Do for him what seems best to you.”
38. The king said, “Kimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems best to you. Whatever you require of me, I will do for you.”
39. All of the people crossed over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him and he returned to his own place.