-
And it
came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared
him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run
before him.
02 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside
the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any
man that had a controversy came to the king for
judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said,
Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant
is of one of the tribes of Israel.
03 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters
are good and right; but there is no man deputed
of the king to hear thee.
04 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made
judge in the land, that every man which hath any
suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do
him justice!
05 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to
him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand,
and took him, and kissed him.
06 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel
that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom
stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
07 And it came to pass after forty years, that
Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me
go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the
Lord, in Hebron.
08 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at
Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring
me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve
the Lord.
09 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he
arose, and went to Hebron.
10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the
tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the
sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom
reigneth in Hebron.
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of
Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in
their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite,
David's counsellor, from his city, even from
Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the
conspiracy was strong; for the people increased
continually with Absalom.
13 And there came a messenger to David, saying,
The hearts of the men of Israel are after
Absalom.
14 And David said unto all his servants that were
with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee;
for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make
speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly,
and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with
the edge of the sword.
15 And the king's servants said unto the king,
Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever
my lord the king shall appoint.
16 And the king went forth, and all his household
after him. And the king left ten women, which
were concubines, to keep the house.
17 And the king went forth, and all the people
after him, and tarried in a place that was far
off.
18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and
all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and
all the Gittites, six hundred men which came
after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite,
Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy
place, and abide with the king: for thou art a
stranger, and also an exile.
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20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I
this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing
I go whither I may, return thou, and take back
thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the
Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth,
surely in what place my lord the king shall be,
whether in death or life, even there also will
thy servant be.
22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And
Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men,
and all the little ones that were with him.
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice,
and all the people passed over: the king also
himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the
people passed over, toward the way of the
wilderness.
24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were
with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God:
and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar
went up, until all the people had done passing
out of the city.
25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the
ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour
in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again,
and shew me both it, and his habitation:
26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee;
behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth
good unto him.
27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art
not thou a seer? return into the city in peace,
and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and
Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the
wilderness, until there come word from you to
certify me.
29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark
of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried
there.
30 And David went up by the ascent of mount
Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head
covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people
that was with him covered every man his head, and
they went up, weeping as they went up.
31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is
among the conspirators with Absalom. And David
said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of
Ahithophel into foolishness.
32 And it came to pass, that when David was come
to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God,
behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with
his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with
me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto
Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have
been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now
also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me
defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and
Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that
what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the
king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and
Abiathar the priests.
36 Behold, they have there with them their two
sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan
Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me
every thing that ye can hear.
37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city,
and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
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