2 Samuel 15

1 Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.

2 He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”

3 Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.”

4 And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”

5 Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.

6 Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD.

8 For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’”

9 “Go in peace,” said the king. So Absalom got up and went to Hebron.

10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”

11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter.

12 While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.

13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”

15 The king’s servants replied, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.”

16 Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

17 So the king set out with all the people following him. He stopped at the last house,

18 and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.

19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.

20 In fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.”

21 But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”

22 “March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

23 Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. And as the king crossed the Kidron Valley, all the people also passed toward the way of the wilderness.

24 Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had passed out of the city.

25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again.

26 But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.”

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.

28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”

29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.

31 Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

32 When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.

33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.

34 But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’

35 Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report to them everything you hear from the king’s palace.

36 Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.”

37 So David’s friend Hushai arrived in Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.

1 ¶ And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was [so], that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city [art] thou? And he said, Thy servant [is] of one of the tribes of Israel.

3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters [are] good and right; but [there is] no man [deputed] of the king to hear thee.

4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

5 And it was [so], that when any man came nigh [to him] to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 ¶ And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

9 And the king said unto 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 ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, [that were] called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, [even] from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13 ¶ And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

14 And David said unto all his servants that [were] with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not [else] escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants [are ready to do] whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, [which were] concubines, to keep the house.

17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou [art] a stranger, and also an exile.

20 Whereas thou camest [but] yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth [be] with thee.

21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, [As] the LORD liveth, and [as] my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that [were] with him.

23 And 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 ¶ And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites [were] 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 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me [both] it, and his habitation:

26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, [here am] I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, [Art not] thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

30 And David went up by the ascent of [mount] Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that [was] with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

31 ¶ And [one] told David, saying, Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

32 And it came to pass, that [when] David was come to the top [of the mount], where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:

34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; [as] I [have been] thy father's servant hitherto, so [will] I now also [be] thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

35 And [hast thou] not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, [that] what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt 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 ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

1 And it came to pass afterward, that Absalom made him chariots, and horses, and fifty men to carry him.

2 And Absalom rose up early in the morning, and stood by the way of the gate. And it came to pass, when any man had a bargain to come before the king in judgment, that Absalom called him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is one of the tribes of Israel,

3 Thus spake. And Absalom said unto him, Behold, thy cause is just and evil; but thou hast no interrogator from the king.

4 And Absalom said, Who shall make me a judge in the land, that every man may come to me that hath a cause and a judgment, and that I may set him right?

5 And if any man came near to him to worship him, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6 In this manner did Absalom to all Israel, when they came before the king in judgment: so he stole the heart of the men of Israel.

7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king: I will go and perform my vow at Hebron, which I have vowed unto the LORD.

8 For thy servant made a vow, when I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD bring me again to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD.

9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. And he arose, and went to Hebron.

10 And Absalom sent out spies into all the tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, Absalom is become king in Hebron.

11 And there went with Absalom two hundred men, called from Jerusalem: but they went in their simplicity, and knew not the matter.

12 And Absalom sent also to Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsel, out of Gib his city. And it came to pass, when he had offered the sacrifices, that the covenant was strengthened: and the people ran and multiplied with Absalom.

13 And there came one, and told David, saying, The heart of every man in Israel follow Absalom.

14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Come, and let us flee; for here shall be no escape from Absalom: make haste that we go, lest he overtake us, and take us, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

15 And the king's servants said unto him, What my lord the king hath mentioned, behold, here are thy servants.

16 And the king went out on foot with all his household. And he sent ten concubines to keep the house.

17 And when the king and all the people were come out on foot, they stood afar off from the house.

18 And all his servants went beside him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came from Gath on foot, went before the king.

19 And the king said unto Ithai the Gittite, Why goest thou also with us? Turn again, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and art come hither out of thy place.

20 Yesterday thou camest, and to day thou darest to go with us. But I will go where I may go. Return, and to thy brethren with thee be mercy and faithfulness.

21 And Ithai answered and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, in what place my lord the king shall be, whether it be death or life, there shall thy servant be also.

22 And David said unto Ithai, Come then, and go with me. So went Ithai the Gittite, and all his men, and all the multitude of the children that were with him.

23 And all the land wept with a loud voice, and all the people went with him. And the king passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people went forward by the way of the wilderness.

24 And, behold, Zadok also was there, and all the Levites that were with him; and they bare the ark of the covenant of God, and set it there. And Abiathar went up, until all the people came out unto the city.

25 But the king said unto Zadok: Bring again the ark of GOD into the city. If I find favor in the sight of the LORD, he will bring me again, and will let me see it, and his house.

26 And thus saith he: I have no desire for thee: behold, here am I, and he will do with me as he pleaseth?

27 And the king said unto Zadok the priest: O seer, return again into the city with peace, and with you your two sons, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28 Behold, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until tidings come from you, and they shall tell me.

29 So Zadok and Abiathar brought the ark of God again to Jerusalem, and abode there.

30 And David went up the mount of Olives, and wept, and his head was covered with a veil, and he went barefooted. And all the people that were with him had every man his head covered, and went up weeping.

31 And when it was told David that Ahithophel was in league with Absalom, he said, Lord, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolish.

32 And when David was come up to the high place, where they worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Arachite met him, with his skirt rent, and earth upon his head.

33 And David said unto him, If thou go with me, thou shalt be a burden unto me.

34 And if thou go into the city again, and say unto Absalom, I am thy servant, I will be the king's servant: for I was thy father's servant in those days, and I will be thy servant now: then thou shalt well destroy the counsel of Ahithophel for me.

35 So Zadok and Abiathar the priests are with thee. All that thou heardest of the king's house, say thou unto Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36 Behold, their two sons are with them, Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. By them thou mayest tell me what thou shalt hear.

37 So Hushai the friend of David came into the city, and Absalom came to Jerusalem.