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David Escapes from Jerusalem

13 A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”

14 “Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.”

15 “We are with you,” his advisers replied. “Do what you think is best.”

16 So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace. 17 The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house 18 to let all the king’s men move past to lead the way. There were 600 men from Gath who had come with David, along with the king’s bodyguard.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 15:18 Hebrew the Kerethites and Pelethites.

David Flees from Jerusalem

13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!”[a] 14 So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come on![b] Let’s escape![c] Otherwise no one will be delivered from Absalom! Go immediately, or else he will quickly overtake us and bring[d] disaster on us and kill the city’s residents with the sword.”[e] 15 The king’s servants replied to the king, “We will do whatever our lord the king decides.”[f]

16 So the king and all the members of his royal court[g] set out on foot, though the king left behind ten concubines[h] to attend to the palace. 17 The king and all the people set out on foot, pausing[i] at a spot[j] some distance away. 18 All his servants were leaving with him,[k] along with all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites—some 600 men who had come on foot from Gath. They were leaving with[l] the king.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:13 tn Heb “the heart of the men of Israel is with Absalom.”
  2. 2 Samuel 15:14 tn Heb “Arise!”
  3. 2 Samuel 15:14 tn Heb “let’s flee.”
  4. 2 Samuel 15:14 tn Heb “thrust.”
  5. 2 Samuel 15:14 tn Heb “and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
  6. 2 Samuel 15:15 tn Heb “according to all that my lord the king will choose, behold your servants!”
  7. 2 Samuel 15:16 tn Heb “and all his house.”
  8. 2 Samuel 15:16 tn Heb “women, concubines.”
  9. 2 Samuel 15:17 tn Heb “and they stood.”
  10. 2 Samuel 15:17 tn Heb “house.”
  11. 2 Samuel 15:18 tn Heb “crossing over near his hand.”
  12. 2 Samuel 15:18 tn Heb “crossing over near the face of.”