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So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, "The king is grieved for his son."
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And the people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
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But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!"
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Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, "Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,
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in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.
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Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now."
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Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, "There is the king, sitting in the gate." So all the people came before the king. For everyone of Israel had fled to his tent.
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Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.
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But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?"
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So King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house?
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You are my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?'