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

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.”(E)

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

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew May kindness and faithfulness be with you

19 Then the king turned and said to Ittai, a leader of the men from Gath, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile. 20 You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don’t even know where we will go. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you, and may the Lord show you his unfailing love and faithfulness.[a]

21 But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death.”

22 David replied, “All right, come with us.” So Ittai and all his men and their families went along.

23 Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by. They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:20 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads and may unfailing love and faithfulness go with you.