I will cross the Jordan with the king and go a short distance.<n id="1" /> Why should the king reward me in this way?

<p class="bodytext">The king replied, &#8220;Kimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever I deem appropriate. And whatever you choose, I will do for you.&#8221;p>

Once he had removed Amasa<n id="1" /> from the path, everyone followed Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.p>

<p class="bodytext">Sheba<n id="1" /> traveled through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of<n id="2" /> Beth Maacah and all the Berite region. When they had assembled,<n id="3" /> they too joined him.

<p class="bodytext">They crossed the Jordan and camped at Aroer, on the south side of the city, at<n id="1" /> the wadi of Gad, near Jazer.

<p class="bodytext">When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants approaching him, he<n id="1" /> went out and bowed to the king with his face<n id="2" /> to the ground.

When the time of mourning passed, David had her brought to his palace.<n id="1" /> She became his wife and she bore him a son. But what David had done upset the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="2" />p>

He removed<n id="1" /> the people who were in it and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, putting them to work at the brick kiln. This was his policy<n id="2" /> with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.<n id="3" />p>

Zadok and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. When they positioned the ark of God, Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving<n id="1" /> the city.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">When David had gone a short way beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a couple of donkeys that were saddled, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred baskets of summer fruit,<n id="1" /> and a container of wine.p>

<p class="bodytext">Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, &#8220;Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">When the servants of Absalom approached the woman at her home, they asked, &#8220;Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?&#8221; The woman replied to them, &#8220;They crossed over the stream.&#8221; Absalom&#8217;s men<n id="1" /> searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">After the men had left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan<n id="1" /> climbed out of the well. Then they left and informed King David. They advised David, &#8220;Get up and cross the stream<n id="2" /> quickly, for Ahithophel has devised a plan to catch you.&#8221;<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">Then Absalom happened to come across David&#8217;s men. Now as Absalom was riding on his<n id="1" /> mule, it<n id="2" /> went under the branches of a large oak tree. His head got caught in the oak and he was suspended in midair,<n id="3" /> while the mule he had been riding kept going.p>

Let me<n id="1" /> return so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But look, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems appropriate to you.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Then all the men of Israel began coming to the king. They asked the king, &#8220;Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, sneak the king away and help the king and his household cross the Jordan &#8211; and not only him but all of David&#8217;s men as well?&#8221;p> <p class="bodytext">

<p class="bodytext">David felt guilty<n id="1" /> after he had numbered the army. David said to the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, O <sc>Lordsc>, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.&#8221;p>