David’s Forces Defeat the Ammonites

^26 [a] So Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city.

David Permits Absalom to Return to Jerusalem

14 Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see^[a] Absalom.

²⁰ But Joab said to him, “You will not be a bearer of good news today. You will bear good news some other day, but not today,^[a] for the king’s son is dead.”

⁵ So Joab visited^[a] the king at his home. He said, “Today you have embarrassed all your servants who have saved your life this day, as well as the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines. ⁶ You seem to love your enemies and hate your friends! For you have as much as declared today that leaders and servants don’t matter to you. I realize now^[b] that if^[c] Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today,^[d] it would be all right with you. ⁷ So get up now and go out and give some encouragement to^[e] your servants. For I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out there, not a single man will stay here with you tonight! This disaster will be worse for you than any disaster that has overtaken you from your youth right to the present time!”