8Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. They told to all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate: and all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent.
9All the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land from Absalom.
10Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why don`t you speak a word of bringing the king back?
11King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, [to bring him] to his house.
12You are my brothers, you are my bone and my flesh: why then are you the last to bring back the king?
13Say you to Amasa, Aren`t you my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you aren`t captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
14He bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent to the king, [saying], Return you, and all your servants.
