2 Samuel 15

1After this, Absalom made for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men running before him.

2Absalom would rise early and stand beside the road to the gate. Whenever any man had a dispute and came to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”

3Then Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but there is no one from the king to hear you.”

4Then Absalom would say, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then every man who has a dispute or a case could come to me, and I would give him justice.”

5And whenever a man came near to bow down to him, he would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.

6Absalom did this to all Israel who came to the king for judgment, and Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7And at the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay the vow that I vowed to the LORD in Hebron.”

8For your servant made a vow while I was dwelling in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If Yahweh indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.’

9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

10Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron.’”

11Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom, invited, and they went innocently, not knowing anything.

12And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people kept increasing with Absalom.

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

14Then David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, for there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he quickly overtake us and bring disaster upon us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

15The king’s servants said to the king, “Whatever my lord the king chooses, here are your servants.”

16So the king went out, and all his household after him on foot; and the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.

17The king went out, and all the people with him on foot, and they halted at the distant house.

18And all his servants were passing by at his side, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites—six hundred men who had come on foot with him from Gath—were passing on before the king.

19Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place.”

20You came only yesterday, and today should I make you wander with us, while I go wherever I can go? Return, and take your brothers back with you. May steadfast love and faithfulness be with you.

21Then Ittai answered the king and said, “As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there your servant will be.”

22Then David said to Ittai, “Go on and cross over.” So Ittai the Gittite crossed over, along with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

23And all the land was weeping with a loud voice, and all the people were crossing over. The king also crossed over the Kidron Valley, and all the people were crossing over on the road toward the wilderness.

24And look, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city.

25Then the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me back and let me see it and its dwelling place.”

26But if he says, ‘I take no pleasure in you,’ here I am; let him do to me as seems good in his eyes.

27Then the king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan son of Abiathar.”

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

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

30And David was going up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, going up and weeping, with his head covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went.

31And it was told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Yahweh, please turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

32When David came to the summit, where he worshiped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his tunic torn and dirt on his head.

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

34But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant in the past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will frustrate Ahithophel’s counsel for me.

35Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? And whatever matter you hear from the king’s house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36Look, their two sons are there with them: Ahimaaz for Zadok, and Jonathan for Abiathar. You shall send to me by their hand every matter that you hear.

37So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.