26. When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why did you not go with me, Meribbaal?”
27. He replied: “My lord king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said to him, ‘Saddle the donkey for me, that I may ride on it and go with the king’; your servant is lame.
28. But he slandered your servant before my lord the king. But my lord the king is like an angel of God. Do whatever seems good to you.
29. For though my father’s entire house deserved only death from my lord the king, yet you placed your servant among those who eat at your table. What right do I still have to make further appeal to the king?”
30. But the king said to him: “Why do you go on talking? I say, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the property.’”
31. Meribbaal answered the king, “Indeed let him take it all, now that my lord the king has returned safely to his house.”
32. Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim and escorted the king to the Jordan for his crossing, taking leave of him at the Jordan.
33. It was Barzillai, a very old man of eighty, who had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim; he was a very great man.
34. The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for your old age as my guest in Jerusalem.”
35. But Barzillai answered the king: “How much longer have I to live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
36. I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and evil? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks, or still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be any further burden to my lord the king?
37. In escorting the king across the Jordan, your servant is doing little enough! Why should the king give me this reward?
38. Please let your servant go back to die in my own city by the tomb of my father and mother. Here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems good to you.”
39. Then the king said to him, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and for him I will do whatever seems good to you. And anything else you would like me to do for you, I will do.”
40. Then all the people crossed over the Jordan but the king remained; he kissed Barzillai and bade him farewell as he returned to his own place.
41. Finally the king crossed over to Gilgal, accompanied by Chimham. All of the people of Judah and half of the people of Israel had escorted the king across.
42. But then all these Israelites began coming to the king and saying, “Why did our brothers the Judahites steal you away and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all David’s men?”
43. All the Judahites replied to the men of Israel: “Because the king is our relative. Why are you angry over this? Have we had anything to eat at the king’s expense? Or have portions from his table been given to us?”