¹² While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel^(A) the Gilonite, David’s counselor,^(B) to come from Giloh,^(C) his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.^(D)

David Flees

¹³ A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

¹⁴ Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee,^(E) or none of us will escape from Absalom.^(F) We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”

¹⁵ The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”

¹⁶ The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines^(G) to take care of the palace. ¹⁷ So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. ¹⁸ All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites^(H) and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

¹⁹ The king said to Ittai^(I) the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner,^(J) an exile from your homeland. ²⁰ You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander^(K) about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”^[a](L)

²¹ But Ittai replied to 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.”^(M)

²² David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.

²³ The whole countryside wept aloud^(N) as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,^(O) and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

²⁴ Zadok^(P) was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark^(Q) of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar^(R) offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

²⁵ Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place^(S) again. ²⁶ But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.^(T)”

²⁷ The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand?^(U) Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan.^(V) You and Abiathar return with your two sons. ²⁸ I will wait at the fords^(W) in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

³⁰ But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping^(X) as he went; his head^(Y) was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. ³¹ Now David had been told, “Ahithophel^(Z) is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

³² When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai^(AA) the Arkite^(AB) was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust^(AC) on his head. ³³ David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden^(AD) to me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’^(AE) then you can help me by frustrating^(AF) Ahithophel’s advice.

The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

¹⁵ Meanwhile, Absalom^(A) and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel^(B) was with him. ¹⁶ Then Hushai^(C) the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

¹⁷ Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”^(D)

¹⁸ Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him. ¹⁹ Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”^(E)

²⁰ Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”

²¹ Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” ²² So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.^(F)

²³ Now in those days the advice^(G) Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David^(H) and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.

¹⁷ Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”^(A)