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2 Samuel 15
Lexham English Bible

Absalom Leads a Rebellion

15 It happened afterward that Absalom made himself a chariot with horses and fifty men running before him. 2 Absalom used to rise early in the morning, and he stood beside[a] the road at the gate; anyone[b] who had a legal dispute to bring to the king for judgment Absalom would call to him and say, “Where are you from?”[c] And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right, but for you there is no hearing with the king.” 4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh, that someone would[d] appoint me as judge in the land, that anyone[e] might come to me who had a legal dispute or a case, and I would give him justice.” 5 It happened whenever anyone drew near to do obeisance to him, that he would stretch his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Absalom did like this to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts[f] of the people of Israel.

7 It happened at the end of four[g] years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to Yahweh in Hebron, 8 for your servant made a vow while I was staying in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If Yahweh will indeed let me return[h] to Jerusalem, then I will worship Yahweh.’” 9 Then the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron. 10 Then Absalom sent scouts throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “When you hear the sound of the trumpet, you shall shout ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’” 11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom as invited guests, going in their innocence as they did not know anything. 12 Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, the advisor of David, from his city Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. The conspiracy grew in strength,[i] and the people were going and increasing[j] with Absalom.

David Flees from Jerusalem

13 Then the messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts[k] of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Get up and let us flee, for there will be no escape for us from Absalom! Hurry to go, otherwise he will come quickly and overtake us! And he will bring disaster on us and evil! He will attack the city with the edge of the sword!” 15 Then the servants of the king said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king chooses, your servants are ready to act!”[l] 16 The king went out with[m] all his household following him,[n] but the king left behind ten concubines to look after the house. 17 So the king went out with[o] all the people following him,[p] and they stopped at the last house.[q] 18 All his servants were passing by him:[r] all of the Kerethites and all of the Pelethites and all of the Gittites—six hundred men who had followed him[s] from Gath—passing before the king.[t] 19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also coming with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner; moreover, you are an exile. You are far from your place.[u] 20 Yesterday when you came and today,[v] I have caused you to wander by going with us. Now I am going to where I am going; return and let your brothers return. May loyal love and faithfulness be with you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As Yahweh lives[w] and my lord the king lives,[x] surely in the place wherever my lord the king shall be, if for death or if for life, surely there your servant will be.” 22 Then David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over and all his men and all of the little children who were with him. 23 All of the land was weeping with a loud voice as all the people were passing by and the king was crossing through the Wadi Kidron, and all the people were passing on the road to the wilderness.[y]

The Priests Offer Sacrifices for David

24 Suddenly Zadok was there, and all of the Levites with him, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people passed out of the city. 25 The king said to Zadok, “Let the ark of God return to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yawheh, he will let me return and let me see him in his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I take no pleasure in you,’ then I am ready.[z] Let him do to me that which is good in his eyes. 27 Then the king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer? Return to the city in peace, with Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons with you. 28 See, I am waiting at the fords of the wilderness until a word comes from you all to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and they remained there.

Hushai Offers to Serve King David

30 Now David was going up on the Ascent of the Olives, weeping as he went,[aa] with his head covered and going barefoot. All the people who were with him each covered their head and wept as they went.[ab] 31 Now David was told, “Ahithophel was among the conspirators with Absalom.” Then David said, “Please frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel, O Yahweh.” 32 It happened that as David was coming up to the summit where he used to worship God, suddenly Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him. His coat was torn and dirt was on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you move on with me, you will be a burden to me, 34 but if you want to return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I am your servant, O king. I used to be a servant of your father, but from then and now I will be your servant,’ then you can frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35 Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be with you there? It shall be that all the words you hear from the house of the king you shall tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Look, there with them are their two sons, Ahimaaz of Zadok and Jonathan of Abiathar. You shall send to me by means of them[ac] all the words that you hear.” 37 So Hushai the friend of David came to the city as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:2 Literally “on hand of”
  2. 2 Samuel 15:2 Literally “every man”
  3. 2 Samuel 15:2 Literally “Where from this city are you?”
  4. 2 Samuel 15:4 Literally “Who will …?”
  5. 2 Samuel 15:4 Literally “every man”
  6. 2 Samuel 15:6 Hebrew “heart”
  7. 2 Samuel 15:7 So LXX, followed by Syriac and Vulgate; MT has “forty”
  8. 2 Samuel 15:8 Literally (following Qere) “If returning Yahweh will return me”
  9. 2 Samuel 15:12 Literally “became strong”
  10. 2 Samuel 15:12 Literally “many”
  11. 2 Samuel 15:13 Hebrew “heart”
  12. 2 Samuel 15:15 Literally “here are your servants”
  13. 2 Samuel 15:16 Hebrew “and”
  14. 2 Samuel 15:16 Literally “at his feet”
  15. 2 Samuel 15:17 Hebrew “and”
  16. 2 Samuel 15:17 Literally “at his feet”
  17. 2 Samuel 15:17 Literally “at the house of the distance”
  18. 2 Samuel 15:18 Literally “on his hand”
  19. 2 Samuel 15:18 Literally “who had come at his feet”
  20. 2 Samuel 15:18 Literally “on the face of the king”
  21. 2 Samuel 15:19 Literally “You as far as your place”
  22. 2 Samuel 15:20 Literally “the day”
  23. 2 Samuel 15:21 Literally “The life of Yahweh”
  24. 2 Samuel 15:21 Literally “the life of my lord the king”
  25. 2 Samuel 15:23 Literally “on the face of the road with the wilderness”
  26. 2 Samuel 15:26 Literally “here I am”
  27. 2 Samuel 15:30 Literally “going up and weeping”
  28. 2 Samuel 15:30 Literally “going up and weeping”
  29. 2 Samuel 15:36 Literally “by their hand”
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2 Samuel 15
Christian Standard Bible

Absalom’s Revolt

15 After this, Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run before him.(A) 2 He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate.(B) Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for settlement, Absalom called out to him and asked, “What city are you from?” If he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” 3 Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you.” 4 He added, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would make sure he received justice.” 5 When a person approached to pay homage to him, Absalom reached out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him.(C) 6 Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 When four[a] years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I made to the Lord. 8 For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram,(D) saying, ‘If the Lord really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron.’”[b](E)

9 “Go in peace,” the king said to him.(F) So he went to Hebron.

10 Then Absalom sent agents throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the ram’s horn,(G) you are to say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’” (H)

11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They had been invited and were going innocently, for they did not know the whole situation. 12 While he was offering the sacrifices, Absalom sent for David’s adviser Ahithophel the Gilonite,(I) from his city of Giloh. So the conspiracy grew strong, and the people supporting Absalom continued to increase.

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

14 David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom!(J) Leave quickly, or he will overtake us quickly, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

15 The king’s servants said to the king, “Whatever my 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, and all the people followed him. They stopped at the last house 18 while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the people of Gath—six hundred men who came with him from there(K)—marched past the king.

19 The king said to Ittai of Gath,(L) “Why are you also going with us? Go back and stay with the new king since you’re both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland. 20 Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the Lord show you[c] kindness and faithfulness.”

21 But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, “As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!” (M)

22 “March on,” David replied to Ittai. So Ittai of Gath marched past with all his men and the dependents who were with him. 23 Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly while all the people were marching out of the city. As the king was crossing the Kidron Valley, all the people were marching past on the road that leads to the wilderness.

24 Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices[d] until the people had finished marching past.(N) 25 Then the king instructed Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city.(O) If I find favor with the Lord, he will bring me back and allow me to see both it and its[e] dwelling place.(P) 26 However, if he should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am—he can do with me whatever pleases him.”[f](Q)

27 The king also said to the priest Zadok,(R) “Look,[g] return to the city in peace and your two sons with you: your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. 28 Remember, I’ll wait at the fords[h] 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 David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives,(S) weeping as he ascended. His head was covered,(T) and he was walking barefoot.(U) All of the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they ascended.

31 Then someone reported to David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.”

“Lord,” David pleaded, “please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” (V)

32 When David came to the summit where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite(W) was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go away with me, you’ll be a burden to me, 34 but if you return to the city and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, Your Majesty! Previously, I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can counteract Ahithophel’s counsel for me. 35 Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Report everything you hear from the palace to the priests Zadok and Abiathar. 36 Take note: their two sons are there with them—Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. Send them to tell me everything you hear.” 37 So Hushai,(X) David’s personal adviser, entered Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.

Footnotes

  1. 15:7 Some LXX mss, Syr, Vg; other LXX mss, MT read 40
  2. 15:8 Some LXX mss; MT omits in Hebron
  3. 15:20 LXX; MT omits Lit May the Lord show you
  4. 15:24 Or Abiathar went up
  5. 15:25 Or his
  6. 15:26 Lit me what is good in his eyes
  7. 15:27 LXX; MT reads “Are you a seer?
  8. 15:28 Alt Hb tradition reads plains
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