¹² After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua,^(A) died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah,^(B) to the men who were shearing his sheep,^(C) and his friend Hirah the Adullamite^(D) went with him.

¹⁹ David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.

“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

²³ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him,^(A) but he will not return to me.”^(B)