David is quite a softie at heart, and despite his son's treachery, is more than willing to forgive. This readiness to forgive, may be another reason why God says 'David is a man after His own heart'. We see this forgiving spirit with regards to Saul and his family, and now even with his Absalom, who stole his throne and tried to kill him.
In this instance, this forgiving spirit is seen very much as a sign of David's weakness. Joab, hardnosed and hardheaded as usual, sees David mourning publicly, and rebukes his king in the strongest possible language.
David's powerbase from Judah makes plans to 'ceremonially' bring David back to Jerusalem and to reinstall him as King. Even Shimei, Saul's descendant, realizes his folly in kicking David when he was down, pleads for forgiveness. David predictably, forgives him.
The rivalry between the northern small kingdoms and the Southern ones resurface over who gets the honour of returning David to the throne. A rebellion breaks out between a faction led
Sheba son of Bicri in Ephraim. Joab, ever reliable and militarily powerful, crushes the rebellion, and kills Amasa (Absalom's commander). Incidentally Amasa was also related to both Joab and David. Joab pursues Bicri to a city called Abel Beth Maacah, and in exchange for the safety of the city, secures the assassination of Bicri by the inhabitants of the city.
There is a allusion to the historical value of Abel Beth Maacah, but the the significance is quite obscure.
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