After the death and defeat of Absalom King David was humble enough to return to Israel not as a Conquering Hero but seeking the consent of the people and the nation's tribal leadership.
There had long been a hostility between the house of Saul and the House of David, the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. One of the Benjamites, Sheba, fomented a rebellion against David and led some of the Israelites to abandon the king. The rebellion was put down.
Israel was in a turmoil with the people quarreling among themselves. The self-appointed ruler Absalom, was dead. King David, who had saved them from the Philistines, was in exile so a movement thus began to restore David to his throne. Now at home the remnants of Absalom’s army was in quandary. The man they had rallied behind was dead. Many were questioning why the elders not bringing the King David.
When David heard that the ten tribes of Israel were talking about restoring him to the throne, he sent two priests to the elders of Judah, asking why they, of his tribe of Judah, were the last to bring him back as king. The elders had supported Absalom during in the rebellion, so likely some resentment as well as fear existed.
Lots of politics ensued. Perhaps out of political correctness and partly because Joab had killed Absalom David removed Joab as commander in chief and appointed Amasa to take Joab’s place. Amasa was a nephew of David but had only recently supported Absalom. This was rather like the king punished loyalty and rewarded rebellion, however, these moves won over the men of Judah over to David's side.
Shimei and Ziba proved to be politically expedience and helped David in his return. Recall that Shimei had cursed David previously and Ziba had slandered Mephibosheth. David promised Shimei amnesty but later ordered Solomon to with him.
The slandered Mephibosheth also came to meet the king. He had been truly loyal to the king but the crippled Mephibosheth was unable to accompanying the king into exile. David rather unfairly ruled that Ziba and Mephibosheth should divide the land between them that had been unfairly given to the lying Ziba.
Finally, a great procession had formed with all the people of Judah and half the men of the other tribes to bring the king back to Jerusalem.
As an aside, part of regaining his claim to the throne was in recovering King David’s harem. These women had been compromised by David's son Absalom and as a result were treated somewhat like wards of the state and pensioned as widows.
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