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13 A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”

14 David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise! Let’s flee; or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

15 The king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”

16 The king went out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house. 17 The king went out, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak. 18 All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

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David Flees from Jerusalem

13 Then a messenger arrived to inform David, “The loyalties of the men[a] of Israel have shifted to[b] Absalom.”

14 So David told all of his staff who were with him in Jerusalem, “Let’s get up and get out of here! Otherwise, none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry, or he’ll overtake us quickly, bring disaster on all of us, and execute the inhabitants of the city!”

15 “Look!” the king’s staff replied. “Your servants will do whatever the king chooses.” 16 So the king left, taking his entire household with him except for ten mistresses,[c] who were to keep the palace in order. 17 The king left, along with all of his people with him, and they paused at the last house. 18 All of his staff were going on ahead of[d] him—that is, all of the special forces[e] and mercenaries,[f] all of the Gittites, and 600 men who had come to serve[g] him from Gath, went on ahead of the king.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:13 Lit. heart of the man
  2. 2 Samuel 15:13 Lit. have followed after
  3. 2 Samuel 15:16 Or concubines; i.e. secondary wives
  4. 2 Samuel 15:18 Lit. on beside
  5. 2 Samuel 15:18 Lit. Cherethites; i.e. elite body guards
  6. 2 Samuel 15:18 Lit. Pelethites; i.e. special couriers
  7. 2 Samuel 15:18 Lit. come at his feet