1
And it came to pass after this, that Absalomprepared him chariots and horses, and fiftymen to runbefore him.
2
And Absalom rose up early, and stoodbeside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversycame to the king for judgment, then Absalomcalled unto him, and said, Of whatcity art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
3
And Absalomsaid unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
4Absalomsaid moreover, Oh that I were madejudge 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 mannerdidAbsalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalomstole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7
And it came to pass afterfortyyears, that Absalomsaid 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 servantvowed 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 kingsaid unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10
But Absalomsentspies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalomreigneth in Hebron.
11
And with Absalomwent two hundredmen out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12
And Absalomsent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offeredsacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the peopleincreasedcontinually with Absalom.
13
And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are afterAbsalom.
14
And Davidsaid unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escapefromAbsalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bringevil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15
And the king's servantssaid 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 householdafter him. And the kinglefttenwomen, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17
And the king went forth, and all the peopleafter him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18
And all his servants passed onbeside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, sixhundredmen which cameafter him from Gath, passed onbefore 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 Ittaianswered the king, and said, As the LORDliveth, and as my lord the kingliveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
22
And Davidsaid 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 countrywept with a loudvoice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brookKidron, 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 donepassing out of the city.
25
And the kingsaid unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall findfavour 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 seemethgood unto him.
27
The kingsaid also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer?return into the city in peace, and your twosons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there comeword from you to certify me.
29Zadok therefore and Abiatharcarried the ark of Godagain to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
30
And Davidwentup by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he wentup, and had his headcovered, and he wentbarefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they wentup, weeping as they wentup.
31
And one toldDavid, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And Davidsaid, 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 worshippedGod, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coatrent, and earth upon his head:
33
Unto whom Davidsaid, 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 servanthitherto, 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 twosons, 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 friendcame into the city, and Absalomcame into Jerusalem.