4. The king covered his face and cried loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
5. Joab went into the king’s house and said, “Today you have shamed all your men. They saved your life and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives, and slave women.
6. You have shamed them because you love those who hate you, and you hate those who love you. Today you have made it clear that your commanders and men mean nothing to you. What if Absalom had lived and all of us were dead? I can see you would be pleased.
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. When the news spread that the king was at the gate, 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, saying, “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.”