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Given the sudden change in situation, the elders of Israel begin to argue about what to do next. David convinces the elders of Judah to escort him back to Jerusalem. They are joined by Shimei, who apologises to David. Abishai once again calls for the death penalty, but once again David grants clemency. Mephibosheth also comes to David, and explains the earlier situation: he had wanted to come with David and had told Ziba to saddle his donkeys, but Ziba had betrayed and slandered him. David offers to allow him and Ziba to split the land, but Mephibosheth allows Ziba to take the lot in celebration of David's triumph. David invites his host in Mahanaim, Barzillai, to return to Jerusalem with him, but Barzillai protests on the basis that he is now eighty years old and thus will gain no enjoyment from coming. However, he gives David his servant Kimham in his place, and David promises to look after him. A scuffle breaks out between the Judahites and the other Israelites about why they specifically got to escort the king home. Attempting to resolve the issue, a Benjaminite named [[Sheba son of Bichri]] launches a rebellion against David, which all the tribes except Judah back.
Back in Jerusalem, David begins to sort out the issues that were caused by his absence. First, he puts the ten concubines who were left behind into a guarded house and gives them pensions but does not sleep with them, allowing them to live the rest of their lives as widows. He then begins to sort out a defence against Sheba. He tells [[Amasa]], the general whom he wishes to replace Joab, to summon the Judahite troops and have them in Jerusalem within three days, something he fails at. David therefore tells Abishai to start pursuing Sheba to effectively put down his rebellion before it has begun. Amasa meets Abishai and Joab at [[Gibeon (ancient city)|Gibeon]]. Amasa goes to meet Joab, but Joab's dagger falls out of his tunic, stabbing Amasa in the stomach, killing him. He is covered with a cloth and placed in a field, and the army continues pursuing Sheba. They meet him at [[Abel-beth-
2 Samuel concludes with four chapters (chapters 21 to 24) that lie outside the chronological succession narrative of Saul and David, a narrative that will continue in The Book of Kings. These four supplementary<ref>Sub-heading in [[Jerusalem Bible]]</ref> chapters cover a great famine during David's reign;<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|21:1|NKJV}}</ref> the execution of seven of Saul's remaining descendants, only [[Mephibosheth]] being saved;<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|21:2–9|NKJV}}</ref> David's [[2 Samuel 22|song of thanksgiving]],<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|22:1–51|NKJV}}</ref> which is almost identical to [[Psalm 18]]; David's last words;<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|23:1-7|NKJV}}</ref> a list of David's "[[David's Mighty Warriors|mighty warriors]]";<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|23:8–39|NKJV}}</ref> an offering made by David using water from the well of Bethlehem;<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|23:13–17|NKJV}}</ref> David's sinful [[Census#Ancient Israel|census]];<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|24:1–9|NKJV}}</ref> a plague over Israel which David opted for as preferable to either famine or oppression;<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|24:10–17|NKJV}}</ref> and the construction of an altar on land David purchased from [[Araunah the Jebusite]].<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|24:18–25|NKJV}}</ref>
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