David Escapes from Jerusalem

13 Now a messenger came to David, saying, (A)“The hearts of the men of Israel are [a]with Absalom.”

14 So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us (B)flee, 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, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.” 16 Then (C)the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left (D)ten 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 [b]before him; (E)and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, (F)six hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:13 Lit. after
  2. 2 Samuel 15:18 Lit. by his hand

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,(A) or none of us will escape from Absalom.(B) 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(C) 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(D) and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

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