2 Samuel 15

1After this Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him.

2Absalom rose early and stood alongside the road to the gate. Whenever any man who had a dispute to bring before the king for judgment came, Absalom called to him and said, "From what city are you?" He said, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."

3Absalom said to him, "Look, your matters are good and upright, but there is no one from the king to hear you."

4Absalom said, "Who will appoint me judge in the land, so that every man who has a dispute or judgment comes to me, and I vindicate him!"

5Whenever any man came near to bow down to him, he stretched out his hand, grasped him, and kissed him.

6Absalom did so to all Israel who came to the king for judgment, and he stole the hearts of Israel's men.

7After forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and fulfill my vow, which I vowed to Yahweh in Hebron.”

8For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed in Geshur in Aram, saying, "If Yahweh surely brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh."

9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

10Absalom sent spies into all the tribes of Israel, saying, "When you hear the trumpet's sound, say, 'Absalom reigns in Hebron.'"

11Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom; they were invited and went in their innocence, knowing nothing at all.

12Absalom sent Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's advisor, from his city Giloh while he offered the sacrifices. The conspiracy grew strong, and the people kept going with Absalom in greater numbers.

13A messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of Israel's men have turned to Absalom."

14David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, "Arise, let us flee, for otherwise no escape will be left for us from Absalom. Hurry to go, lest he hasten and overtake us and drive evil upon us and strike the city with the sword's edge."

15The king's servants said to the king, "Whatever my lord the king chooses, behold, your servants."

16The king departed, his entire household following him. The king left ten women, concubines, to guard the house.

17The king went out, all the people following him, and they halted at a distant place.

18All his servants passed alongside him, and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites—six hundred men who had followed him from Gath—passed before the king.

19The king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why are you going with us too? Return to your place and remain with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile."

20Yesterday you came, but today—should I make you go to and fro with us? I go where I go. Return and bring your brothers back with you. Kindness and truth be with you.

21Ittai answered the king and said, "As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely wherever my lord the king shall be, whether to death or to life, there your servant will be."

22David said to Ittai, "Go and cross over." Ittai the Gittite crossed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

23All the land wept aloud, and all the people crossed over; the king himself crossed the Kidron brook, and all the people crossed toward the road to the wilderness.

24Look, Zadok was there too with all the Levites carrying the ark of God's covenant; they set God's ark down, and Abiathar went up until all the people finished crossing from the city.

25The king said to Zadok, "Return the ark of God to the city; if I gain favor in Yahweh's sight, he will restore me and reveal to me both it and his dwelling."

26But if he says thus, "I take no delight in you," behold, here I am; let him do to me as is good in his eyes.

27The king said to Zadok the priest, "Are you a seer? Return to the city in peace, and Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan son of Abiathar—your two sons—with you."

28See, I will linger at the fords in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.

29Zadok and Abiathar brought the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30David ascended by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended, his head covered, and he went barefoot. All the people with him covered each man's head, and they went up, weeping as they ascended.

31David was told that Ahithophel was among those conspiring with Absalom. David said, "Yahweh, please make Ahithophel's counsel foolish."

32When David reached the summit where he bowed down to God, Hushai the Archite suddenly came to meet him with his tunic torn and dust on his head.

33David said to him, "If you go with me, you will be a burden to me."

34But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, “I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant until now, so I will be your servant,” then you will frustrate Ahithophel’s counsel for me.

35Aren't Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king's house, declare it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36See, their two sons are there with them—Ahimaaz son of Zadok, and Jonathan son of Abiathar—and by their hand send me every word that you hear.

37Hushai, David's friend, came to the city, and Absalom came to Jerusalem.