[1] It happened after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses,
and fifty men to run before him. [2] Absalom rose up early, and stood
beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man had a suit
which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and
said, Of what city are you? He said, Your servant is of one of the tribes
of Israel. [3] Absalom said to him, Behold, your matters are good and
right; but there is no man deputized of the king to hear you. [4] Absalom
said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who
has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice! [5] It
was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his
hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. [6] In this manner Absalom did
to all Israel who came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the
hearts of the men of Israel. [7] It happened at the end of forty years,
that Absalom said to the king, please let me go and pay my vow, which I
have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron. [8] For your servant vowed a vow while I
abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to
Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh. [9] The king said to him, Go in peace.
So he arose, and went to Hebron. [10] But Absalom sent spies throughout all
the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet,
then you shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron. [11] With Absalom went two
hundred men out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their
simplicity; and they didn`t know anything. [12] Absalom sent for Ahithophel
the Gilonite, David`s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he
was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people
increased continually with Absalom. [13] There came a messenger to David,
saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. [14] David said
to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee;
for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest
he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with
the edge of the sword. [15] The king`s servants said to the king, Behold,
your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king shall choose. [16]
The king went forth, and all his household after him. The king left ten
women, who were concubines, to keep the house. [17] The king went forth,
and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth-merhak. [18] All his
servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the
Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from
Gath, passed on before the king. [19] Then said the king to Ittai the
Gittite, Why go you also with us? return, and abide with the king: for you
are a foreigner, and also an exile; [return] to your own place. [20]
Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down
with us, seeing I go where I may? return you, and take back your brothers;
mercy and truth be with you. [21] Ittai answered the king, and said, As
Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord
the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will your
servant be. [22] David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. Ittai the Gittite
passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him.
[23] All the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed
over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the
people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. [24] Behold, Zadok
also [came], and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant
of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all
the people had done passing out of the city. [25] The king said to Zadok,
Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes
of Yahweh, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:
[26] but if he say thus, I have no delight in you; behold, here am I, let
him do to me as seems good to him. [27] The king said also to Zadok the
priest, "Aren`t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two
sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. [28]
Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from
you to inform me." [29] Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God
again to Jerusalem: and they abode there. [30] David went up by the ascent
of the [Mount of] Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head
covered, and went barefoot: and all the people who were with him covered
every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. [31] One
told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.
David said, Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
[32] It happened that when David had come to the top [of the ascent], where
God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his
coat torn, and earth on his head. [33] David said to him, If you pass on
with me, then you will be a burden to me: [34] but if you return to the
city, and tell Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your
father`s servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you
defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. [35] Don`t you have Zadok and
Abiathar the priests there with you? therefore it shall be, that whatever
thing you shall hear out of the king`s house, you shall tell it to Zadok
and Abiathar the priests. [36] Behold, they have there with them their two
sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok`s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar`s son; and by them you
shall send to me everything that you shall hear. [37] So Hushai, David`s
friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
