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

He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I’m an Amalekite.’

Indeed, you are my lamp, Lord. The Lord illumines the darkness around me.

In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the real leader in Israel. The Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over Israel.’”

Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come with us? Go back and stay with the new king, for you are a foreigner and an exile from your own country.

Then Abner turned and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” He replied, “Yes it is!”

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

So the king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will take care of you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”

David said to the young man who told this to him, “Where are you from?” He replied, “I am an Amalekite, the son of a resident foreigner.”

“Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in?

You made Israel your very own people for all time. You, O Lord, became their God.

Now, O sovereign Lord, you are the true God! May your words prove to be true! You have made this good promise to your servant!

Now there was a servant from Saul’s house named Ziba, so he was summoned to David. The king asked him, “Are you Ziba?” He replied, “At your service.”

Although you have acted in secret, I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight.’”

The king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer? Go back to the city in peace! Your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan may go with you and Abiathar.

and will bring the entire army back to you. In exchange for the life of the man you are seeking, you will get back everyone. The entire army will return unharmed.”

If I had acted at risk of my own life – and nothing is hidden from the king! – you would have abandoned me.”

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

He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. Then they sent word to the king saying, “Return, you and all your servants as well.”

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