1. The king was shaken, and went up to the room over the city gate and wept. He said as he wept, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
2. Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom,”
3. and that day’s victory was turned into mourning for the whole army when they heard, “The king is grieving for his son.”
4. The soldiers stole into the city that day like men shamed by flight in battle.
5. Meanwhile the king covered his face and cried out in a loud voice, “My son Absalom! Absalom! My son, my son!”
6. So Joab went to the king’s residence and said: “Though they saved your life and your sons’ and daughters’ lives, and the lives of your wives and your concubines, you have put all your servants to shame today
7. by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you. For you have announced today that officers and servants are nothing to you. Indeed I am now certain that if Absalom were alive today and all of us dead, that would be fine with you.
8. Now then, get up! Go out and speak kindly to your servants. I swear by the Lord that if you do not go out, not a single man will remain with you overnight, and this will be a far greater disaster for you than any that has come upon you from your youth until now.”
9. So the king got up and sat at the gate. When all the people were told, “The king is sitting at the gate,” they came into his presence. Now the Israelites had fled to their separate tents,
10. but throughout the tribes of Israel all the people were arguing among themselves, saying to one another: “The king delivered us from the grasp of our enemies, and it was he who rescued us from the grasp of the Philistines. Now, he has fled the country before Absalom,