2. Then Joab was told, “Look, the king is weeping and mourning over Absalom!”
3. So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops, for the troops heard it said that day, “The king is grieving over his son.”
4. So the troops entered into the city stealthily that day, like troops who are ashamed after running away in battle.
5. The king covered his face and cried with a loud voice, “My son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
6. Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your servants—who this day have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines—
7. by loving those who hate you, and hating those who love you! For you have shown today that officers and officials are nothing to you. For today I realize that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, then it would have pleased you well.
8. So now arise, go out, and speak to the heart of your servants! For I swear by Adonai that if you do not go out, not a single man will stay with you tonight, and that would be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”