Absalom’s Treason
1 After thisit happened that Absalomprovided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate.Soit was, whenever anyone who had alawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What cityareyou from?” And he would say, “Your servantisfrom such and such a tribe of Israel.”
3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your caseisgood and right; butthereisno deputy of the king to hear you.”
4 Moreover Absalom would say,“Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”
5 Andsoit was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him andkiss him.
6 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment.So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 Now it came to passafter forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go toHebron and pay the vow which I made to theLord.
8 For your servanttook a vowwhile I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If theLordindeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve theLord.’ ”
9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalomreigns in Hebron!’ ”
11 And with Absalom went two hundred meninvited from Jerusalem, and theywent along innocently and did not know anything.
12 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite,David’s counselor, from his city—fromGiloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalomcontinually increased in number.
David Escapes from Jerusalem
13 Now a messenger came to David, saying,“The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
14 So David said to all his servants whowerewith him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let usflee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “Weareyour servants,readytodowhatever my lord the king commands.”
16 Thenthe king went out with all his household after him. But the king leftten women, concubines, to keep the house.
17 And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts.
18 Then all his servants passed before him;and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites,six hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.
19 Then the king said toIttai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For youarea foreigner and also an exile from your own place.
20 In fact, you cameonlyyesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I goI know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truthbewith you.”
21 But Ittai answered the king and said,“AstheLordlives, andasmy lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”
22 So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones whowerewith him crossed over.
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of thewilderness.
24 There wasZadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing theark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, andAbiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of theLord, Hewill bring me back and show mebothit andHis dwelling place.
26 But if He says thus: ‘I have nodelight in you,’ here I am,let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”
27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Areyounotaseer? Return to the city in peace, andyour two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 See,I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
29 Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.
30 So David went up by the Ascent of theMountofOlives, and wept as he went up; and hehad his head covered and wentbarefoot. And all the people whowerewith himcovered their heads and went up,weeping as they went up.
31 Thensomeonetold David, saying,“Ahithophelisamong the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “OLord, I pray,turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
32 Now it happened when David had come to the topofthemountain,where he worshiped God—there was Hushai theArchite coming to meet himwith his robe torn and dust on his head.
33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will becomea burden to me.
34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom,‘I will be your servant, O king;asIwasyour father’s servant previously, so Iwillnow alsobeyour servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.
35 Anddoyou nothaveZadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will bethatwhatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell toZadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 Indeedtheyhavetherewith them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’sson,and Jonathan, Abiathar’sson;and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”
37 So Hushai,David’s friend, went into the city.And Absalom came into Jerusalem.