1And it came to pass after this310, that Absalom53 prepared6213 him chariots4818 and horses5483, and fifty2572 men376 to run7323 before6440 him.
2And Absalom53 rose up early7925, and stood5975 beside3027 the way1870 of the gate8179: and it was so, that when any man376 that had a controversy7379 came935 to the king4428 for judgment4941, then Absalom53 called7121 unto him, and said559, Of what335 city5892 art thou? And he said559, Thy servant5650 is of one259 of the tribes7626 of Israel3478.
3And Absalom53 said559 unto him, See7200, thy matters1697 are good2896 and right5228; but there is no man deputed of the king4428 to hear8085 thee.
4Absalom53 said559 moreover, Oh that I were made7760 judge8199 in the land776, that every man376 which hath any suit7379 or cause4941 might come935 unto me, and I would do him justice6663!
5And it was so, that when any man376 came nigh7126 to him to do him obeisance7812, he put forth7971 his hand3027, and took2388 him, and kissed5401 him.
6And on this manner1697 did6213 Absalom53 to all Israel3478 that came935 to the king4428 for judgment4941: so Absalom53 stole1589 the hearts3820 of the men582 of Israel3478.
7And it came to pass after7093 forty705 years8141, that Absalom53 said559 unto the king4428, I pray thee, let me go3212 and pay7999 my vow5088, which I have vowed5087 unto the LORD3068, in Hebron2275.
8For thy servant5650 vowed5087 a vow5088 while I abode3427 at Geshur1650 in Syria758, saying559, If the LORD3068 shall bring me again7725 7725 indeed to Jerusalem3389, then I will serve5647 the LORD3068.
9And the king4428 said559 unto him, Go3212 in peace7965. So he arose6965, and went3212 to Hebron2275.
10But Absalom53 sent7971 spies7270 throughout all the tribes7626 of Israel3478, saying559, As soon as ye hear8085 the sound6963 of the trumpet7782, then ye shall say559, Absalom53 reigneth4427 in Hebron2275.
11And with Absalom53 went1980 two hundred3967 men376 out of Jerusalem3389, that were called7121; and they went1980 in their simplicity8537, and they knew3045 not any thing1697.
12And Absalom53 sent7971 for Ahithophel302 the Gilonite1526, David's1732 counsellor3289, from his city5892, even from Giloh1542, while he offered2076 sacrifices2077. And the conspiracy7195 was strong533; for the people5971 increased7227 continually1980 with Absalom53.
13And there came935 a messenger5046 to David1732, saying559, The hearts3820 of the men376 of Israel3478 are after310 Absalom53.
14And David1732 said559 unto all his servants5650 that were with him at Jerusalem3389, Arise6965, and let us flee1272; for we shall not else escape6413 from6440 Absalom53: make speed4116 to depart3212, lest he overtake5381 us suddenly4116, and bring5080 evil7451 upon us, and smite5221 the city5892 with the edge6310 of the sword2719.
15And the king's4428 servants5650 said559 unto the king4428, Behold, thy servants5650 are ready to do whatsoever my lord113 the king4428 shall appoint977.
16And the king4428 went forth3318, and all his household1004 after7272 him. And the king4428 left5800 ten6235 women802, which were concubines6370, to keep8104 the house1004.
17And the king4428 went forth3318, and all the people5971 after7272 him, and tarried5975 in a place1004 that was far off4801 1023.
18And all his servants5650 passed on5674 beside3027 him; and all the Cherethites3774, and all the Pelethites6432, and all the Gittites1663, six8337 hundred3967 men376 which came935 after7272 him from Gath1661, passed on5674 before6440 the king4428.
19Then said559 the king4428 to Ittai863 the Gittite1663, Wherefore goest3212 thou also with us? return7725 to thy place4725, and abide3427 with the king4428: for thou art a stranger5237, and also an exile1540.
20Whereas thou camest935 but yesterday8543, should I this day3117 make thee go3212 up and down5128 5128 with us? seeing I go1980 whither I may, return7725 thou, and take back7725 thy brethren251: mercy2617 and truth571 be with thee.
21And Ittai863 answered6030 the king4428, and said559, As the LORD3068 liveth2416, and as my lord113 the king4428 liveth2416, surely in what place4725 my lord113 the king4428 shall be, whether in death4194 or life2416, even there also will thy servant5650 be.
22And David1732 said559 to Ittai863, Go3212 and pass over5674. And Ittai863 the Gittite1663 passed over5674, and all his men582, and all the little ones2945 that were with him.
23And all the country776 wept1058 with a loud1419 voice6963, and all the people5971 passed over5674: the king4428 also himself passed over5674 the brook5158 Kidron6939, and all the people5971 passed over5674, toward6440 the way1870 of the wilderness4057.
24And lo Zadok6659 also, and all the Levites3881 were with him, bearing5375 the ark727 of the covenant1285 of God430: and they set down3332 the ark727 of God430; and Abiathar54 went up5927, until all the people5971 had done8552 passing5674 out of the city5892.
25And the king4428 said559 unto Zadok6659, Carry back7725 the ark727 of God430 into the city5892: if I shall find4672 favour2580 in the eyes5869 of the LORD3068, he will bring me again7725, and shew7200 me both it, and his habitation5116:
26But if he thus say559, I have no delight2654 in thee; behold, here am I, let him do6213 to me as seemeth5869 good2896 unto him.
27The king4428 said559 also unto Zadok6659 the priest3548, Art not thou a seer7200? return7725 into the city5892 in peace7965, and your two8147 sons1121 with you, Ahimaaz290 thy son1121, and Jonathan3083 the son1121 of Abiathar54.
28See7200, I will tarry4102 in the plain6160 5679 of the wilderness4057, until there come935 word1697 from you to certify5046 me.
29Zadok6659 therefore and Abiathar54 carried7725 the ark727 of God430 again7725 to Jerusalem3389: and they tarried3427 there.
30And David1732 went up5927 by the ascent4608 of mount Olivet2132, and wept1058 as he went up5927, and had his head7218 covered2645, and he went1980 barefoot3182: and all the people5971 that was with him covered2645 every man376 his head7218, and they went up5927, weeping1058 as they went up5927.
31And one told5046 David1732, saying559, Ahithophel302 is among the conspirators7194 with Absalom53. And David1732 said559, O LORD3068, I pray thee, turn the counsel6098 of Ahithophel302 into foolishness5528.
32And it came to pass, that when David1732 was come935 to the top7218 of the mount, where he worshipped7812 God430, behold, Hushai2365 the Archite757 came to meet7125 him with his coat3801 rent7167, and earth127 upon his head7218:
33Unto whom David1732 said559, If thou passest on5674 with me, then thou shalt be a burden4853 unto me:
34But if thou return7725 to the city5892, and say559 unto Absalom53, I will be thy servant5650, O king4428; as I have been thy father's1 servant5650 hitherto227, so will I now also be thy servant5650: then mayest thou for me defeat6565 the counsel6098 of Ahithophel302.
35And hast thou not there with thee Zadok6659 and Abiathar54 the priests3548? therefore it shall be, that what thing1697 soever thou shalt hear8085 out of the king's4428 house1004, thou shalt tell5046 it to Zadok6659 and Abiathar54 the priests3548.
36Behold, they have there with them their two8147 sons1121, Ahimaaz290 Zadok's6659 son, and Jonathan3083 Abiathar's54 son; and by them3027 ye shall send7971 unto me every thing1697 that ye can hear8085.
37So Hushai2365 David's1732 friend7463 came935 into the city5892, and Absalom53 came935 into Jerusalem3389.