II Samuel - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 334

18 to meet King David, and a. thousand 20 21 men with him from Benjamin ; also Ziba. the steward of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and twenty attendants, and they crossed the jordan in the presence of the king. They crossed in a ferry—boat to carry over the family of the king and behaved well in his sight. Then Shemai—ben—Ghera fell down before the king, on his crossing the ]ordan, Do not let Your Majesty impute it as a crime to me, and do not remember how your servant offended at the time when Your Majesty came out from jeru- salem ;——let not the king lay it to heart. For your servant knows that he sinned: consequently I have now come the first of all the House of judahl to descend to meet the ‘ zz But Abishai the son of Zeruiah Sha1l not 26 28 Shemai be put to death for that? for he cursed the Consecrated of the EVER-1.iv1NG.’ What

is there between you and I, sons of Zeruiah, that you should to-day be inciting me to kill people in Israel? for do I not recognize now that I am Then the king and the king promised him. Mefibosheth—ben—Saul also came

down to meet the king, and to pay his respects. He had not changed his clothes from the day the king went away, until the day when he returned in peace. And when he came from jerusalem to meet the Why did you not go away with me, Mefibosheth ? ’ Your Majesty

the king, my steward deceived me, for your servant ordered him to saddle my ass, and I would mount it, and follow the king,—-—for your ser~ vant is a cr1pple,—bu‘t instead of it, he libelled your servant to Your Majesty the King. However, Your Majesty is like a Messenger of God, therefore do what is good in your

of the Old

House to which Shemai really belonged. Therefore I restore the true reading.—F. F. opinion. For all my father’s family would have been dead men, but for Your Majesty. You also appointed your servant to eat at your table. And what right was there ever for me to appeal to the king? ’ Why

should you say more? I will order that you and Ziba must divide the property.’ But Mefibosheth answered the Let him take the whole, since Your Majesty has come back in peace to your home.’ Barzilai the Ghiladite also came

down from Rogelim and advanced to the jordan with the king to help him over the jordan. Barzilai, however, was very old, eighty years of age, and he had provided for the king at his own residence at Makhanim, for he was a very great man. Conse- quently the king said to Barzilai, ‘You served me, and provided for me, so I will provide for you wi-th myself in jerusalem. But Barzilai answered the king,

‘ How long would be the years of my life if I were to go up with the king to jerusalem? I am eighty years old to-day. Can I distinguish between pleasant and unpleasant in the taste of what I eat, and what I drink? Can I even hear the tones of men and women singers? Then why should your servant continue to burden the king? How little it costs passing the king over the jordan? so why should the king pay me wages for it? Let your servant return, and I will stayin my own village near the tomb of my father and mother.—But however your ser- vant Kimham can go with your Majesty, and do to him whatever is good in your eyes.’ Kimham

shall go with me, and I will benefit him, as I see right, and all that you choose I will do for you. Then all the forces passed over the

jordan, when the king had passed. The king afterwards saluted Barzilai, and thanked him, and he returned to his home. 32 33 34 35 37 39

(ac. 1023.) Quarrzl hziiuzzxr the @2xt Wrihzs smh Znbuly uiszr @ulrih’¤ return. The king then advanced to Ghilgal, 4t and Kimham his minister with him ; 334