And it came to pass after this, that Absalom
prepared
him chariots
and horses
, and fifty
men
to run
before
him.
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
.
And Absalom said
unto him, See
, thy matters
are good
and right
; but there is no man deputed of the king
to hear
thee.
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
!
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.
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
.
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
.
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
.
And the king said
unto him, Go
in peace
. So he arose
, and went
to Hebron
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
And there came a messenger
to David
, saying
, The hearts
of the men
of Israel
are after
Absalom
.
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
.
And the king's servants
said
unto the king
, Behold, thy servants
are ready to do whatsoever my lord
the king
shall appoint
.
And the king went forth
, and all his household
after
him. And the king
left
ten
women
, which were concubines
, to keep
the house
.
And the king went forth
, and all the people
after
him, and tarried
in a place
that was far off
.
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
.
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
.
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.
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.
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.
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
.
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
.
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
:
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.
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
.
See, I will tarry
in the plain
of the wilderness
, until there come
word
from you to certify
me.
Zadok therefore and Abiathar
carried
the ark
of God
again
to Jerusalem
: and they tarried
there.
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
.
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
.
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
:
Unto whom David said
, If thou passest on
with me, then thou shalt be a burden
unto me:
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
.
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
.
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
.
So Hushai David's
friend
came
into the city
, and Absalom
came
into Jerusalem
.