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Absalom’s Revolt

15 After this, Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run before him.(A) 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,” Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you.” 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.” When a person approached to pay homage to him, Absalom reached out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him.(C) 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.

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. 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)

“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

Absalom’s Conspiracy

15 Now it came about after this that (A)Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him. Absalom used to rise early and (B)stand beside the way to the gate; and when any man had a suit to come 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.” Then Absalom would say to him, “See, (C)your [a]claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king.” Moreover, Absalom would say, “(D)Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice.” And when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and (E)kiss him. In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; (F)so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel.

Now it came about at the end of [b]forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the Lord, in (G)Hebron. For your servant (H)vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘(I)If the Lord shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’” The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘(J)Absalom is king in Hebron.’” 11 Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, (K)who were invited and (L)went [c]innocently, and they did not know anything. 12 And Absalom sent for (M)Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city (N)Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for (O)the people increased continually with Absalom.

David Flees Jerusalem

13 Then a messenger came to David, saying, “(P)The hearts of the men of Israel are [d]with Absalom.” 14 David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “(Q)Arise and let us flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Go in haste, or he will overtake us quickly and bring down calamity on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 Then the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.” 16 So the king went out and all his household [e]with him. But (R)the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 17 The king went out and all the people [f]with him, and they stopped at the last house. 18 Now all his servants passed on beside him, (S)all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, (T)six hundred men who had come [g]with him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19 Then the king said to (U)Ittai the Gittite, “Why will you also go with us? Return and remain with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile; return to your own place. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander with us, while (V)I go where I will? Return and take back your brothers; (W)mercy and [h]truth be with you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely (X)wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be.” 22 Therefore David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people passed over. The king also passed over (Y)the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward (Z)the way of the wilderness.

24 Now behold, (AA)Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him (AB)carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and (AC)Abiathar came up until all the people had finished passing from the city. 25 The king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then (AD)He will bring me back again and show me both it and (AE)His habitation. 26 But if He should say thus, ‘(AF)I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am, (AG)let Him do to me as seems good [i]to Him.” 27 The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Are you not (AH)a seer? Return to the city in peace and your (AI)two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I am going to wait (AJ)at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 Therefore Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there.

30 And David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went, and (AK)his head was covered and he walked (AL)barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his head and went up weeping as they went. 31 Now someone told David, saying, “(AM)Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, (AN)make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness.”

32 It happened as David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, that behold, Hushai the (AO)Archite met him with his [j]coat torn and [k]dust on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you pass over with me, then you will be (AP)a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city, and (AQ)say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant,’ then you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35 Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So it shall be that (AR)whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold (AS)their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and (AT)by them you shall send me everything that you hear.” 37 So Hushai, (AU)David’s friend, came into the city, and (AV)Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:3 Lit words
  2. 2 Samuel 15:7 Some ancient versions render four
  3. 2 Samuel 15:11 Lit in their integrity
  4. 2 Samuel 15:13 Lit after
  5. 2 Samuel 15:16 Lit at his feet
  6. 2 Samuel 15:17 Lit at his feet
  7. 2 Samuel 15:18 Lit at his feet
  8. 2 Samuel 15:20 Or faithfulness
  9. 2 Samuel 15:26 Lit in His sight
  10. 2 Samuel 15:32 Or tunic
  11. 2 Samuel 15:32 Lit ground

Absalom’s Conspiracy

15 After this Absalom acquired for himself a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run before him. Absalom would go early and stand beside the way into the gate. When any man who had a dispute concerning which he had come to the king for a judgment approached, Absalom would call to him and say, “Which city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claim is good and right, but there is no one to hear you on behalf of the king.” Absalom would continue, “If I were appointed a judge in the land, then every man who had a claim could come and I would give him justice.”

When a man would approach to bow before him, he would reach out, embrace him, and kiss him. Absalom acted this way toward every Israelite who came to the king for a judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

After forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please allow me to go fulfill my vow that I made to the Lord in Hebron. For your servant made a vow when I was dwelling in Geshur in Aram, saying: If indeed the Lord will bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.”

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

10 But Absalom sent scouts throughout all of the tribes of Israel, saying, “When you hear the sound of the horn, say: Absalom has become king in Hebron.” 11 Now two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, invited and unsuspecting; they did not know anything. 12 Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, the advisor of David, from his city Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. Now the conspiracy was strong, for the number of people with Absalom was continually growing.

David Flees Jerusalem

13 A messenger came to David and said, “The hearts of the men of Israel are following Absalom.”

14 David said to all of his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Get up. We must flee or there will be no escape from Absalom for us. Hurry up and leave, or he will soon reach us and bring disaster upon us, striking the city with the edge of the sword.”

15 The king’s servants said to the king, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.”

16 So the king left with his entire house after him, but he left behind ten women, concubines, to watch over the house. 17 So the king left with all of the people after him, and they came to a stop at the furthest house. 18 Now all his servants passed on beside him, all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Go back and dwell with the king, for you are a foreigner and, moreover, exiled from your own place. 20 You came only yesterday. Shall I cause you to go roaming around with us today? I am going where I go. Go back, and take back your brothers with you. Mercy and truth be with you.”

21 Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives and as lives my lord the king, only in the place where my lord the king is, whether for death or for life, there alone will your servant be.”

22 So David said to Ittai, “Go on, pass by.” So Ittai the Gittite passed by, along with all of his men and all of the children and elderly who were with him.

23 The whole land wept with a loud voice as all the people passed by. Now the king was crossing over the brook Kidron, and all of the people were crossing over on the road to the wilderness.

24 And also Zadok and all of the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar came up until all of the people had finished passing from the city.

25 The king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back to the city. If I have found favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and allow me to see both it and its resting place. 26 But if He should say now, ‘I take no delight in you,’ here I am. May He do to me what seems good to Him.”

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace with your two sons, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word from you comes to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem, and they remained there.

30 David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and he went barefoot. Then all of the people who were with him each covered his head and went up, weeping as they went. 31 Now it was reported to David that Ahithophel was conspiring with Absalom, and David said, “O Lord, make the advice of Ahithophel folly.”

32 When David came to the summit where he would worship God, Hushai the Arkite approached him with his coat torn and dirt on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you pass on with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city, you may say to Absalom, ‘I am your servant, O king, as I was a servant of your father. As I was then, so now I am your servant,’ so as to counter the advice of Ahithophel. 35 Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be with you there? You shall report everything that you hear from the king’s house to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Their two sons Ahimaaz the son of Zadok and Jonathan the son of Abiathar will be there with them. You shall send word of everything that you hear to me by their hand.”

37 So Hushai, the friend of David, came to the city as Absalom entered Jerusalem.

15 ACONTECIO después de esto, que Absalom se hizo de carros y caballos, y cincuenta que corriesen delante de él.

Y levantábase Absalom de mañana, y poníase á un lado del camino de la puerta; y á cualquiera que tenía pleito y venía al rey á juicio, Absalom le llamaba á sí, y decíale: ¿De qué ciudad eres? Y él respondía: Tu siervo es de una de las tribus de Israel.

Entonces Absalom le decía: Mira, tus palabras son buenas y justas: mas no tienes quien te oiga por el rey.

Y decía Absalom: ­Quién me pusiera por juez en la tierra, para que viniesen á mí todos los que tienen pleito ó negocio, que yo les haría justicia!

Y acontecía que, cuando alguno se llegaba para inclinarse á él, él extendía su mano, y lo tomaba, y lo besaba.

Y de esta manera hacía con todo Israel que venía al rey á juicio: y así robaba Absalom el corazón de los de Israel.

Y al cabo de cuarenta años aconteció que Absalom dijo al rey: Yo te ruego me permitas que vaya á Hebrón, á pagar mi voto que he prometido á Jehová:

Porque tu siervo hizo voto cuando estaba en Gessur en Siria, diciendo: Si Jehová me volviere á Jerusalem, yo serviré á Jehová.

Y el rey dijo: Ve en paz. Y él se levantó, y se fué á Hebrón.

10 Empero envió Absalom espías por todas las tribus de Israel, diciendo: Cuando oyereis el sonido de la trompeta, diréis: Absalom reina en Hebrón.

11 Y fueron con Absalom doscientos hombres de Jerusalem por él convidados, los cuales iban en su sencillez, sin saber nada.

12 También envió Absalom por Achitophel Gilonita, del consejo de David, á Gilo su ciudad, mientras hacía sus sacrificios. Y la conjuración vino á ser grande, pues se iba aumentando el pueblo con Absalom.

13 Y vino el aviso á David, diciendo: El corazón de todo Israel va tras Absalom.

14 Entonces David dijo á todos sus siervos que estaban con él en Jerusalem: Levantaos, y huyamos, porque no podremos escapar delante de Absalom; daos priesa á partir, no sea que apresurándose él nos alcance, y arroje el mal sobre nosotros, y hiera la ciudad á filo de espada.

15 Y los siervos del rey dijeron al rey: He aquí, tus siervos están prestos á todo lo que nuestro señor el rey eligiere.

16 El rey entonces salió, con toda su familia en pos de él. Y dejó el rey diez mujeres concubinas para que guardasen la casa.

17 Salió pues el rey con todo el pueblo que le seguía, y paráronse en un lugar distante.

18 Y todos sus siervos pasaban á su lado, con todos los Ceretheos y Peletheos; y todos los Getheos, seiscientos hombres que habían venido á pie desde Gath, iban delante del rey.

19 Y dijo el rey á Ittai Getheo: ¿Para qué vienes tú también con nosotros? vuélvete y quédate con el rey; porque tú eres extranjero, y desterrado también de tu lugar.

20 ¿Ayer viniste, y téngote de hacer hoy que mudes lugar para ir con nosotros? Yo voy como voy: tú vuélvete, y haz volver á tus hermanos: en ti haya misericordia y verdad.

21 Y respondió Ittai al rey, diciendo: Vive Dios, y vive mi señor el rey, que, ó para muerte ó para vida, donde mi señor el rey estuviere, allí estará también tu siervo.

22 Entonces David dijo á Ittai: Ven pues, y pasa. Y pasó Ittai Getheo, y todos sus hombres, y toda su familia.

23 Y todo el país lloró en alta voz; pasó luego toda la gente el torrente de Cedrón; asimismo pasó el rey, y todo el pueblo pasó, al camino que va al desierto.

24 Y he aquí, también iba Sadoc, y con él todos los Levitas que llevaban el arca del pacto de Dios; y asentaron el arca del pacto de Dios. Y subió Abiathar después que hubo acabado de salir de la ciudad todo el pueblo.

25 Pero dijo el rey á Sadoc: Vuelve el arca de Dios á la ciudad; que si yo hallare gracia en los ojos de Jehová, él me volverá, y me hará ver á ella y á su tabernáculo:

26 Y si dijere: No me agradas: aquí estoy, haga de mí lo que bien le pareciere.

27 Dijo aún el rey á Sadoc sacerdote: ¿No eres tú el vidente? Vuélvete en paz á la ciudad; y con vosotros vuestros dos hijos, tu hijo Ahimaas, y Jonathán hijo de Abiathar.

28 Mirad, yo me detendré en los campos del desierto, hasta que venga respuesta de vosotros que me dé aviso.

29 Entonces Sadoc y Abiathar volvieron el arca de Dios á Jerusalem; y estuviéronse allá.

30 Y David subió la cuesta de las olivas; y subió la llorando, llevando la cabeza cubierta, y los pies descalzos. También todo el pueblo que tenía consigo cubrió cada uno su cabeza, y subieron llorando así como subían.

31 Y dieron aviso á David, diciendo: Achitophel está entre los que conspiraron con Absalom. Entonces dijo David: Entontece ahora, oh Jehová, el consejo de Achitophel.

32 Y como David llegó á la cumbre del monte para adorar allí á Dios, he aquí Husai Arachîta que le salió al encuentro, trayendo rota su ropa, y tierra sobre su cabeza.

33 Y díjole David: Si pasares conmigo, serme has de carga;

34 Mas si volvieres á la ciudad, y dijeres á Absalom: Rey, yo seré tu siervo; como hasta aquí he sido siervo de tu padre, así seré ahora siervo tuyo, entonces tú me disiparás el consejo de Achitophel.

35 ¿No estarán allí contigo Sadoc y Abiathar sacerdotes? Por tanto, todo lo que oyeres en la casa del rey, darás aviso de ello á Sadoc y á Abiathar sacerdotes.

36 Y he aquí que están con ellos sus dos hijos, Ahimaas el de Sadoc, y Jonathán el de Abiathar: por mano de ellos me enviaréis aviso de todo lo que oyereis.

37 Así se vino Husai amigo de David á la ciudad; y Absalom entró en Jerusalem.

Absalom’s Conspiracy

15 In the course of time,(A) Absalom provided himself with a chariot(B) and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate.(C) Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.”(D) And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land!(E) Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”

Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts(F) of the people of Israel.

At the end of four[a] years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the Lord. While your servant was living at Geshur(G) in Aram, I made this vow:(H) ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron.[b]’”

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

10 Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets,(I) then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’” 11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. 12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel(J) the Gilonite, David’s counselor,(K) to come from Giloh,(L) his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.(M)

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,(N) or none of us will escape from Absalom.(O) 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(P) 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(Q) and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

19 The king said to Ittai(R) the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner,(S) an exile from your homeland. 20 You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander(T) 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.”[c](U)

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.”(V)

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(W) as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,(X) and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

24 Zadok(Y) was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark(Z) of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar(AA) 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(AB) 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.(AC)

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand?(AD) Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan.(AE) You and Abiathar return with your two sons. 28 I will wait at the fords(AF) 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(AG) as he went; his head(AH) 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(AI) 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(AJ) the Arkite(AK) was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust(AL) on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden(AM) 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,’(AN) then you can help me by frustrating(AO) Ahithophel’s advice. 35 Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace.(AP) 36 Their two sons, Ahimaaz(AQ) son of Zadok and Jonathan(AR) son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”

37 So Hushai,(AS) David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom(AT) was entering the city.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:7 Some Septuagint manuscripts, Syriac and Josephus; Hebrew forty
  2. 2 Samuel 15:8 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew does not have in Hebron.
  3. 2 Samuel 15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew May kindness and faithfulness be with you