II Samuel 15
Absalom's Rebellion and David's Flight
1 And it came to pass after this that Absalom had chariots and horses equipped, and fifty men to run before him.
2 Also Absalom arose in the morning, and stood on the way to the gate. And it came to pass that every man who had any demand to come to the king for judgment, called Absalom to him, and said to him, What city are you from? And he saying, One of the tribes of Israel is thy servant;
3 Then Absalom said to him, Look, your affairs are good and right, but you have no one to listen to you from the king.
4 Absalom said more: Ah! I wish I were a judge on earth! that every man who had a demand or a question might come to me, that I might do him justice.
5 It also happened that when anyone approached him to bow down to him, he would stretch out his hand, and take hold of him, and kiss him.
6 And thus did Absalom do to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: thus did Absalom steal the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, Let me go to Hebron to pay my vow which I have vowed to the LORD.
8 For while I was living in Geshur in Syria, your servant took one vow, saying, If the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem again, I will serve the LORD.
9 Then the king said to him, Go in peace. So he got up and went to Hebron.
10 And Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the sound of the trumpets, ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11 And two hundred invited men from Jerusalem went with Absalom, but they went in their simplicity, because they knew nothing of the matter.
12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, from the council of David, to his city of Gilo, while he was sacrificing his sacrifices; and the conspiracy was strengthened, and the people came, and increased with Absalom.
13 Then came a messenger to David, saying, The heart of every one in Israel follows Absalom.
14 And David said to all his servants that were with him in Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee: for we could not escape from Absalom. Make haste to go, lest he make haste, and overtake us, and cast evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 Then the king's servants said to the king, Behold, your servants are here, for whatever the king our lord determines.
16 And the king went out with all his house on foot: but he left ten wives concubines to guard the house.
17 So when the king and all the people had gone out on foot, they stopped in a distant place.
18 And all his servants went with him, and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites: and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came from Gath on foot, walked before the king.
19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, Why should you go with us also? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a stranger, and you will also return to your place.
20 Yesterday you came, and would I take you with us today? For it is strength for me to go where I can go: go back then, and take your brothers with you again, with kindness and faithfulness.
21 But Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, in the place where my lord the king is, whether for death or for life, there your servant also will surely be.
22 Then David said to Ittai, Come, therefore, and pass on. So Ittai the Gittite passed by, and all his men, and all the children that were with him.
23 And all the land wept with loud voices, and all the people passed by: the king also passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed towards the way of the wilderness.
24 Behold, Zadokhai also was, and with him all the Levites that carried the ark of the covenant of God; and they put the ark of God there; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had left the city.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, Bring back the ark of God into the city; that if he find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me there again, and let me see her and her dwelling place.
26 But if I say thus: I have no pleasure in thee; here I am, make me as seems right in your eyes.
27 And the king said moreover to Zadok the priest, Art not thou the seer? therefore return to the city in peace, and your two sons also with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 Behold, I will stay in the plains of the desert until I have news of you.
29 So Zodak and Abiathar brought back the ark of God to Jerusalem, and they remained there.
30 And David went up by the ascent of the Olives, going up and weeping, and with his head covered; and walked barefoot; and all the people that went with him each covered his head. and they went up crying without ceasing.
31 Then it was made known to David, saying, Ahithophel also is among those who conspired with Absalom. Wherefore David said, O Lord, overthrow the counsel of Aquithophel.
32 And it came to pass, when David had come to the top, to worship God there, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him, with his garment torn and dirt on his head.
33 And David said to him, If you pass by with me, you will be a burden to me.
34 But if thou return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I was once your father's servant, so now will I be your servant: then you will tell me the advice of Aquithophel.
35 And are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? And it shall be that all things which thou hearest in the king's house thou shalt make known to me to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests.
36 Behold, their two sons are also there with them, Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar: by their hand ye shall send me word of all things that ye shall hear.
37 So Hushai a friend of David came into the city: and Absalom entered Jerusalem.