So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner has come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he’s gone on his way!

David said to the Gibeonites, “What can I do for you, and how can I make amends so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?”

What more can David say to you? You have given your servant special recognition, O Lord God!

Then Mephibosheth bowed and said, “Of what importance am I, your servant, that you show regard for a dead dog like me?”

The king replied to her, “What do you want?” She answered, “I am a widow; my husband is dead.

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”

But Absalom said, “Call for Hushai the Arkite, and let’s hear what he has to say.”

You are my brothers – my very own flesh and blood! Why should you delay any further in bringing the king back?’

Ahimaaz the son of Zadok again spoke to Joab, “Whatever happens, let me go after the Cushite.” But Joab said, “Why is it that you want to go, my son? You have no good news that will bring you a reward.”

So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground. How then could I show my face in the presence of Joab your brother?”

But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back? I will go to him, but he cannot return to me!’”

Then Absalom said, “If you will not go, then let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king replied to him, “Why should he go with you?”

The woman said, “Why have you devised something like this against God’s people? When the king speaks in this fashion, he makes himself guilty, for the king has not brought back the one he has banished.

Then Joab got up and came to Absalom’s house. He said to him, “Why did your servants set my portion of field on fire?”

Absalom said to Hushai, “Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”

But he said, “Whatever happens, I want to go!” So Joab said to him, “Then go!” So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Jordan plain, and he passed the Cushite.

But Absalom, whom we anointed as our king, has died in battle. So now why do you hesitate to bring the king back?”

When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”

Then the king replied to him, “Why should you continue speaking like this? You and Ziba will inherit the field together.”

Barzillai replied to the king, “How many days do I have left to my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?