2 Samuel Chapter 15

2 Samuel Chapter 15
1 After this, Absalom prepared him
chariots and horses, and fifty men to run
before him.
2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood
hard by the entering in of the gate: and
every man that had any matter, and came
to the king for judgment, him did
Absalom call unto him, and said, Of
what city art thou? And he answered;
Thy servant is of one of the tribes of
Israel.
3 Then Absalom said unto him, See, thy
matters are good and righteous, but there
is no man deputed of the king to hear
thee. 4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that
I were made judge in the land, that every
man which hath any matter of
controversy, might come to me, that I
might do him justice.
5 And when any man came near to him,
and did him obeisance, he put forth his
hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6 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.
7 And after forty years, Absalom said
unto the king, I pray thee, let me go to
Hebron, and render my vow which I
have vowed unto the Lord.
8 For thy servant vowed a vow when I
remained at Geshur, in Aram, saying, If
the Lord shall bring me again indeed to
Jerusalem, I will serve the Lord. 9 And
the king said unto him, Go in peace. So
he arose, and went to Hebron. 10 Then
Absalom sent spies throughout all the
tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the
sound of the trumpet, 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, knowing
nothing.
12 Also Absalom sent for Ahithophel the
Gilonite David’s counselor, from his
city Giloh, while he offered sacrifices:
and the treason was great: for the people
increased still with Absalom.
13 Then came a messenger to David,
saying, The hearts of the men of Israel
are turned after Absalom.
14 Then David said unto all his servants
that were with him at Jerusalem, Up, and
let us flee: for we shall not escape from
Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he
come suddenly and take us, and bring
evil upon us, and smite the city with the
edge of the sword.
15 And the king’s servants said unto
him, Behold, thy servants are ready to
do according to all that my lord the king
shall appoint. 16 So the king departed
and all his household after him, and the
king left ten concubines to keep the
house.
17 And the king went forth and all the
people after him, and tarried in a place
far off.
18 And all his servants went about him,
and all the Cherethites and all the
Pelethites and all the Gittites, even six
hundred men which were come after him
from Gath, went before the king.
19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite,
Wherefore comest thou also with us?
Return and abide with the king, for thou
art a stranger: depart thou therefore to
thy place.
20 Thou camest yesterday, and should I
cause thee to wander today and go with
us? I will go whither I can: therefore
return thou and carry again 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, in what place my lord the
king shall be, whether in death or life,
even there surely will thy servant be.
22 Then David said to Ittai, Come, and
go forward. And Ittai the Gittite went,
and all his men, and all the children that
were with him.
23 And all the country wept with a loud
voice, and all the people went forward,
but the king passed over the brook
Kidron: and all the people went over
toward the way of the wilderness.
24 And lo, Zadok also was there, and all
the Levites with him, bearing the ark of
the covenant of God: and they set down
the ark of God, and Abiathar went up
until the people were all come out of the
city.
25 Then the king said unto Zadok, Carry
the ark of God again into the city: if I
shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord,
he will bring me again, and show me
both it, and the tabernacle thereof.
26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in
thee, behold, here am I, let him do to me
as seemeth good in his eyes.
27 The king said again unto Zadok the
priest, Art not thou a seer? Return into
the city in peace, and your two sons with
you: to wit, Ahimaaz thy son, and
Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 Behold, I will tarry in the fields of
the wilderness, until there come some
word from you to be told me.
29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried
the ark of God again to Jerusalem, and
they tarried there.
30 And David went up the mount of
Olives and wept as he went up, and had
his head covered, and went barefooted:
and all the people that was with him, had
every man his head covered, and as they
went up, they wept. 31 Then one told
David, saying, Ahithophel is one of them
that have conspired with Absalom: and
David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the
counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32 Then David came to the top of the
mount where he worshiped God: and
behold, Hushai the Archite came against
him with his coat torn, and having earth
upon his head.
33 Unto whom David said, If thou go
with me, 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 in time past thy
father’s servant, so will I now be thy
servant) then thou mayest bring me the
counsel of Ahithophel to naught. 35 And
hast thou not there with thee Zadok and
Abiathar the priests?
Therefore whatsoever thou shalt hear out
of the king’s house, thou shalt show to
Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 Behold, there are with them their two
sons: Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and
Jonathan Abiathar’s son: by them also
shall ye send me everything that ye can
hear.
37 So Hushai David’s friend went into
the city: and Absalom came into
Jerusalem.