Absalom is dead, but David is heartbroken, taking the shine off of the victory. As has happened before, Joab talks some sense into David:

But in private Joab rebuked the king: “Now you’ve done it—knocked the wind out of your loyal servants who have just saved your life, to say nothing of the lives of your sons and daughters, wives and concubines. What is this—loving those who hate you and hating those who love you?…Get hold of yourself; get out there and put some heart into your servants!…So the king came out and took his place at the city gate. (2 Samuel 19.5 – 8, MSG)

David proves himself able to both accept counsel and give orders. As they are on their way back to Jerusalem, Shimei, who cursed David when he was leaving comes to apologize. Again, Abishai wants to execute him. Again, David spares Shimei.

Shimei son of Gera bowed deeply in homage to the king as soon as he was across the Jordan and said, “Don’t think badly of me, my master! Overlook my irresponsible outburst on the day my master the king left Jerusalem—don’t hold it against me!…Abishai son of Zeruiah interrupted, “Enough of this! Shouldn’t we kill him outright? Why, he cursed GOD’s anointed!” But David said, “What is it with you sons of Zeruiah? Why do you insist on being so contentious? Nobody is going to be killed today. I am again king over Israel!” (2 Samuel 19.18 – 22, MSG)

Then Mephibosheth, lame in both feet, greets the king and said that his servant Ziba had lied to David as David was leaving Jerusalem.

The king said, “And why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?” “My master the king,” he said, “my servant betrayed me. I told him to saddle my donkey so I could ride it and go with the king, for, as you know, I am lame. And then he lied to you about me…. (2 Samuel 19.25 – 27, MSG)

A good lesson:

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. (Proverbs 18.17, ESV)

David doesn’t even make all the way to Jerusalem before another rebellion starts:

Just then a good-for-nothing named Sheba son of Bicri the Benjaminite blew a blast on the ram’s horn trumpet, calling out, We’ve got nothing to do with David, there’s no future for us with the son of Jesse! Let’s get out of here, Israel—head for your tents! So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed committed, sticking with their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 20.1, 2, MSG)

We see the beginnings of what will become a permanent split between the tribe of Judah, David’s tribe, and the rest of Israel. It happens after the reign of Solomon. We’ll be there soon – 1 Kings 12.

For now, David has to put an end to this rebellion:

David told Abishai, “Sheba son of Bicri is going to hurt us even worse than Absalom did. Take your master’s servants and hunt him down before he gets holed up in some fortress city where we can’t get to him.” So under Abishai’s command, all the best men—Joab’s men and the Kerethites and Pelethites—left Jerusalem to hunt down Sheba son of Bicri. (2 Samuel 20.6, 7, MSG)

Sheba holes up in the city of Abel Beth Maacah, and David’s army intends to tear down the city’s wall. But a “wise woman,” unnamed, intervenes, explaining to Joab that this is a good city:

…We’re a peaceful people here, and reliable. And here you are, trying to tear down one of Israel’s mother cities. Why would you want to mess with GOD’s legacy like that?” (2 Samuel 20.19, MSG)

Joab explains his objective, and the problem is taken care of:

Joab protested, “Believe me, you’ve got me all wrong. I’m not here to hurt anyone or destroy anything—not on your life! But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bicri by name, revolted against King David; hand him over, him only, and we’ll get out of here.” The woman told Joab, “Sounds good. His head will be tossed to you from the wall.” (2 Samuel 20.20, 21, MSG)

And they did.

More unrest and discord, fallout from chapter 12’s “consequences.” It only takes one malcontent to mess up a country (or an organization). Joab took care of things, but at the cost of time and energy. And sometimes, you can’t reconcile with an enemy. Sometimes you have to kill them, or, in our case, remove them from the organization.

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us… (3 John 1.9, 10, ESV)

I’m passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in. There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming. (1 Timothy 1.18 – 20, MSG)

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (Matthew 18.15 – 17, ESV)