Chapter 15

And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared⁴ him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run⁵ before him.

And Absalom rose up early,⁵² and stood¹ beside the way of the gate: and it was [so], that when any man that had a controversy came² to the king for judgment, then Absalom called⁴ unto him, and said,⁴ Of what city [art] thou? And he said,⁴ Thy servant [is] of one of the tribes of Israel.

And Absalom said⁴ unto him, See,³ thy matters [are] good and right; but [there is] no man [deputed] of the king to hear⁶ thee.

Absalom said⁴ moreover, Oh that I were made⁴ judge⁶ in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come⁴ unto me, and I would do him justice!⁵²

And it was [so], that when any man came nigh² [to him] to do him obeisance,⁹⁹ he put forth¹ his hand, and took⁵² him, and kissed¹ him.

And on this manner did⁴ Absalom to all Israel that came⁴ to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole¹⁷ the hearts of the men of Israel.

And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said⁴ unto the king, I pray thee, let me go⁴ and pay¹⁷ my vow, which I have vowed¹ unto the LORD, in Hebron.

For thy servant vowed¹ a vow while I abode² at Geshur in Syria, saying,² If the LORD shall bring me again^{4 7725 55} indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve¹ the LORD.

And the king said⁴ unto him, Go³ in peace. So he arose,⁴ and went⁴ to Hebron.

But Absalom sent⁴ spies¹⁸ throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying,² As soon as ye hear² the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say,¹ Absalom reigneth¹ in Hebron.

And with Absalom went¹ two hundred men out of Jerusalem, [that were] called;⁷ and they went⁶ in their simplicity, and they knew¹ not any thing.

And Absalom sent⁴ for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor,⁶ from his city, [even] from Giloh, while he offered² sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually⁶ with Absalom.

And there came⁴ a messenger⁵⁶ to David, saying,² The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

And David said⁴ unto all his servants that [were] with him at Jerusalem, Arise,³ and let us flee;⁴ for we shall not [else] escape from Absalom: make speed¹⁶ to depart,² lest he overtake⁵² us suddenly,¹⁷ and bring⁵² evil upon us, and smite⁵² the city with the edge of the sword.

And the king's servants said⁴ unto the king, Behold, thy servants [are ready to do] whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.⁴

And the king went forth,⁴ and all his household after him. And the king left⁴ ten women, [which were] concubines, to keep² the house.

And the king went forth,⁴ and all the people after him, and tarried⁴ in a place that was far off. ^{4801 1023}

And all his servants passed on⁶ beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came¹ after him from Gath, passed on⁶ before the king.

Then said⁴ the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest⁴ thou also with us? return³ to thy place, and abide³ with the king: for thou [art] a stranger, and also an exile.⁶

Whereas thou camest² [but] yesterday, should I this day make thee go² up and down^{55 5128 4} with us? seeing I go⁶ whither I may, return³ thou, and take back⁵⁴ thy brethren: mercy and truth [be] with thee.

And Ittai answered⁴ the king, and said,⁴ [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 said⁴ to Ittai, Go³ and pass over.³ And Ittai the Gittite passed over,⁴ and all his men, and all the little ones that [were] with him.

And all the country wept⁶ with a loud voice, and all the people passed over:⁶ the king also himself passed over⁶ the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over,⁶ toward the way of the wilderness.

And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites [were] with him, bearing⁶ the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down⁵⁵ the ark of God; and Abiathar went up,⁴ until all the people had done² passing² out of the city.

And the king said⁴ unto Zadok, Carry back⁵⁴ the ark of God into the city: if I shall find⁴ favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again,⁵² and shew⁵² me [both] it, and his habitation:

But if he thus say,⁴ I have no delight¹ in thee; behold, [here am] I, let him do⁴ to me as seemeth good unto him.

The king said⁴ also unto Zadok the priest, [Art not] thou a seer?⁶ return³ into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

See,³ I will tarry¹¹⁹ in the plain ⁵⁶⁷⁹ of the wilderness, until there come² word from you to certify⁵³ me.

Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again⁵⁵ to Jerusalem: and they tarried⁴ there.

And David went up⁶ by the ascent of [mount] Olivet, and wept⁶ as he went up,⁶ and had his head covered,⁶ and he went⁶ barefoot: and all the people that [was] with him covered¹ every man his head, and they went up,¹ weeping² as they went up.²

And [one] told⁵² David, saying,² Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators⁶ with Absalom. And David said,⁴ O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.¹⁶

And it came to pass, that [when] David was come¹ to the top [of the mount], where he worshipped¹⁰¹ God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet² him with his coat rent,⁷ and earth upon his head:

Unto whom David said,⁴ If thou passest on¹ with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:

But if thou return⁴ to the city, and say¹ 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 defeat⁵² 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 hear⁴ out of the king's house, thou shalt tell⁵⁵ [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 send¹ unto me every thing that ye can hear.⁴

So Hushai David's friend came⁴ into the city, and Absalom came⁴ into Jerusalem.