19 Then the king said to (A)Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you go with us too? Return and stay with [a]your king, since you are a foreigner and an exile as well; return to your own place. 20 You came only yesterday, so should I make you wander with us today, while (B)I go wherever I go? Return and take your brothers back; (C)mercy and [b]truth be with you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, (D)wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there assuredly shall your servant be!” 22 Then David said to Ittai, “Go and cross over the brook Kidron.” So Ittai the Gittite crossed over with all his men and all the [c]little ones who were with him. 23 While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people were crossing over. The king was also crossing over (E)the brook Kidron, and all the people were crossing over toward (F)the way of the wilderness.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:19 Lit the king
  2. 2 Samuel 15:20 Or faithfulness
  3. 2 Samuel 15:22 I.e., children; here, families of the men

19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you coming with us too? Go back! Stay with King Absalom.[a] You are a foreigner and an exile from your own country. 20 You just got here yesterday. So today should I make you wander around with us while I go wherever I have to go? No. Go back, and take your relatives with you. May the Lord show you loyal love and faithfulness.”[b]

21 But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the Lord lives and as surely as my master the king lives, wherever my master the king may be, facing death or facing life, your servant will be there too.”

22 “Okay then,” David replied to Ittai. “Keep marching!”

So Ittai the Gittite and all of his men and all the little children with him marched past. 23 The whole countryside cried loudly as all the troops marched past. The king crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the troops passed by on the Olive road[c] into the wilderness.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:19 Heb lacks Absalom.
  2. 2 Samuel 15:20 LXX; MT lacks may the Lord show you.
  3. 2 Samuel 15:23 LXXL; MT lacks Olive.