1 And it came to pass after this|strong="H0310", that Absalom|strong="H0053" prepared|strong="H6213" him chariots|strong="H4818" and horses|strong="H5483", and fifty|strong="H2572" men|strong="H0376" to run|strong="H7323" before|strong="H6440" him.
2 And Absalom|strong="H0053" rose up early|strong="H7925", and stood|strong="H5975" beside|strong="H3027" the way|strong="H1870" of the gate|strong="H8179": and it was so, that when any man|strong="H0376" that had a controversy|strong="H7379" came|strong="H0935" to the king|strong="H4428" for judgment|strong="H4941", then Absalom|strong="H0053" called|strong="H7121" unto him, and said|strong="H0559", Of what|strong="H0335" city|strong="H5892" art thou? And he said|strong="H0559", Thy servant|strong="H5650" is of one|strong="H0259" of the tribes|strong="H7626" of Israel|strong="H3478".
3 And Absalom|strong="H0053" said|strong="H0559" unto him, See|strong="H7200", thy matters|strong="H1697" are good|strong="H2896" and right|strong="H5228"; but there is no man deputed of the king|strong="H4428" to hear|strong="H8085" thee.
4 Absalom|strong="H0053" said|strong="H0559" moreover, Oh that I were made|strong="H7760" judge|strong="H8199" in the land|strong="H0776", that every man|strong="H0376" which hath any suit|strong="H7379" or cause|strong="H4941" might come|strong="H0935" unto me, and I would do him justice|strong="H6663"!
5 And it was so, that when any man|strong="H0376" came nigh|strong="H7126" to him to do him obeisance|strong="H7812", he put forth|strong="H7971" his hand|strong="H3027", and took|strong="H2388" him, and kissed|strong="H5401" him.
6 And on this manner|strong="H1697" did|strong="H6213" Absalom|strong="H0053" to all Israel|strong="H3478" that came|strong="H0935" to the king|strong="H4428" for judgment|strong="H4941": so Absalom|strong="H0053" stole|strong="H1589" the hearts|strong="H3820" of the men|strong="H0582" of Israel|strong="H3478".
7 And it came to pass after|strong="H7093" forty|strong="H0705" years|strong="H8141", that Absalom|strong="H0053" said|strong="H0559" unto the king|strong="H4428", I pray thee, let me go|strong="H3212" and pay|strong="H7999" my vow|strong="H5088", which I have vowed|strong="H5087" unto the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, in Hebron|strong="H2275".
8 For thy servant|strong="H5650" vowed|strong="H5087" a vow|strong="H5088" while I abode|strong="H3427" at Geshur|strong="H1650" in Syria|strong="H0758", saying|strong="H0559", If the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* shall bring me again|strong="H7725" indeed to Jerusalem|strong="H3389", then I will serve|strong="H5647" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*.
9 And the king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559" unto him, Go|strong="H3212" in peace|strong="H7965". So he arose|strong="H6965", and went|strong="H3212" to Hebron|strong="H2275".
10 But Absalom|strong="H0053" sent|strong="H7971" spies|strong="H7270" throughout all the tribes|strong="H7626" of Israel|strong="H3478", saying|strong="H0559", As soon as ye hear|strong="H8085" the sound|strong="H6963" of the trumpet|strong="H7782", then ye shall say|strong="H0559", Absalom|strong="H0053" reigneth|strong="H4427" in Hebron|strong="H2275".
11 And with Absalom|strong="H0053" went|strong="H1980" two hundred|strong="H3967" men|strong="H0376" out of Jerusalem|strong="H3389", that were called|strong="H7121"; and they went|strong="H1980" in their simplicity|strong="H8537", and they knew|strong="H3045" not any thing|strong="H1697".
12 And Absalom|strong="H0053" sent|strong="H7971" for Ahithophel|strong="H0302" the Gilonite|strong="H1526", David’s|strong="H1732" counsellor|strong="H3289", from his city|strong="H5892", even from Giloh|strong="H1542", while he offered|strong="H2076" sacrifices|strong="H2077". And the conspiracy|strong="H7195" was strong|strong="H0533"; for the people|strong="H5971" increased|strong="H7227" continually|strong="H1980" with Absalom|strong="H0053".
13 And there came|strong="H0935" a messenger|strong="H5046" to David|strong="H1732", saying|strong="H0559", The hearts|strong="H3820" of the men|strong="H0376" of Israel|strong="H3478" are after|strong="H0310" Absalom|strong="H0053".
14 And David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559" unto all his servants|strong="H5650" that were with him at Jerusalem|strong="H3389", Arise|strong="H6965", and let us flee|strong="H1272"; for we shall not else escape|strong="H6413" from|strong="H6440" Absalom|strong="H0053": make speed|strong="H4116" to depart|strong="H3212", lest he overtake|strong="H5381" us suddenly|strong="H4116", and bring|strong="H5080" evil|strong="H7451" upon us, and smite|strong="H5221" the city|strong="H5892" with the edge|strong="H6310" of the sword|strong="H2719".
15 And the king’s|strong="H4428" servants|strong="H5650" said|strong="H0559" unto the king|strong="H4428", Behold, thy servants|strong="H5650" are ready to do whatsoever my lord|strong="H0113" the king|strong="H4428" shall appoint|strong="H0977".
16 And the king|strong="H4428" went forth|strong="H3318", and all his household|strong="H1004" after|strong="H7272" him. And the king|strong="H4428" left|strong="H5800" ten|strong="H6235" women|strong="H0802", which were concubines|strong="H6370", to keep|strong="H8104" the house|strong="H1004".
17 And the king|strong="H4428" went forth|strong="H3318", and all the people|strong="H5971" after|strong="H7272" him, and tarried|strong="H5975" in a place|strong="H1004" that was far off|strong="H4801".
18 And all his servants|strong="H5650" passed on|strong="H5674" beside|strong="H3027" him; and all the Cherethites|strong="H3774", and all the Pelethites|strong="H6432", and all the Gittites|strong="H1663", six|strong="H8337" hundred|strong="H3967" men|strong="H0376" which came|strong="H0935" after|strong="H7272" him from Gath|strong="H1661", passed on|strong="H5674" before|strong="H6440" the king|strong="H4428".
19 Then said|strong="H0559" the king|strong="H4428" to Ittai|strong="H0863" the Gittite|strong="H1663", Wherefore goest|strong="H3212" thou also with us? return|strong="H7725" to thy place|strong="H4725", and abide|strong="H3427" with the king|strong="H4428": for thou art a stranger|strong="H5237", and also an exile|strong="H1540".
20 Whereas thou camest|strong="H0935" but yesterday|strong="H8543", should I this day|strong="H3117" make thee go|strong="H3212" up and down|strong="H5128" with us? seeing I go|strong="H1980" whither I may, return|strong="H7725" thou, and take back|strong="H7725" thy brethren|strong="H0251": mercy|strong="H2617" and truth|strong="H0571" be with thee.
21 And Ittai|strong="H0863" answered|strong="H6030" the king|strong="H4428", and said|strong="H0559", As the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* liveth|strong="H2416", and as my lord|strong="H0113" the king|strong="H4428" liveth|strong="H2416", surely in what place|strong="H4725" my lord|strong="H0113" the king|strong="H4428" shall be, whether in death|strong="H4194" or life|strong="H2416", even there also will thy servant|strong="H5650" be.
22 And David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559" to Ittai|strong="H0863", Go|strong="H3212" and pass over|strong="H5674". And Ittai|strong="H0863" the Gittite|strong="H1663" passed over|strong="H5674", and all his men|strong="H0582", and all the little ones|strong="H2945" that were with him.
23 And all the country|strong="H0776" wept|strong="H1058" with a loud|strong="H1419" voice|strong="H6963", and all the people|strong="H5971" passed over|strong="H5674": the king|strong="H4428" also himself passed over|strong="H5674" the brook|strong="H5158" Kidron|strong="H6939", and all the people|strong="H5971" passed over|strong="H5674", toward|strong="H6440" the way|strong="H1870" of the wilderness|strong="H4057".
24 And lo Zadok|strong="H6659" also, and all the Levites|strong="H3881" were with him, bearing|strong="H5375" the ark|strong="H0727" of the covenant|strong="H1285" of God|strong="H0430": and they set down|strong="H3332" the ark|strong="H0727" of God|strong="H0430"; and Abiathar|strong="H0054" went up|strong="H5927", until all the people|strong="H5971" had done|strong="H8552" passing|strong="H5674" out of the city|strong="H5892".
25 And the king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559" unto Zadok|strong="H6659", Carry back|strong="H7725" the ark|strong="H0727" of God|strong="H0430" into the city|strong="H5892": if I shall find|strong="H4672" favour|strong="H2580" in the eyes|strong="H5869" of the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, he will bring me again|strong="H7725", and shew|strong="H7200" me both it, and his habitation|strong="H5116":
26 But if he thus say|strong="H0559", I have no delight|strong="H2654" in thee; behold, here am I, let him do|strong="H6213" to me as seemeth|strong="H5869" good|strong="H2896" unto him.
27 The king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559" also unto Zadok|strong="H6659" the priest|strong="H3548", Art not thou a seer|strong="H7200"? return|strong="H7725" into the city|strong="H5892" in peace|strong="H7965", and your two|strong="H8147" sons|strong="H1121" with you, Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" thy son|strong="H1121", and Jonathan|strong="H3083" the son|strong="H1121" of Abiathar|strong="H0054".
28 See|strong="H7200", I will tarry|strong="H4102" in the plain|strong="H6160" of the wilderness|strong="H4057", until there come|strong="H0935" word|strong="H1697" from you to certify|strong="H5046" me.
29 Zadok|strong="H6659" therefore and Abiathar|strong="H0054" carried|strong="H7725" the ark|strong="H0727" of God|strong="H0430" again|strong="H7725" to Jerusalem|strong="H3389": and they tarried|strong="H3427" there.
30 And David|strong="H1732" went up|strong="H5927" by the ascent|strong="H4608" of mount Olivet|strong="H2132", and wept|strong="H1058" as he went up|strong="H5927", and had his head|strong="H7218" covered|strong="H2645", and he went|strong="H1980" barefoot|strong="H3182": and all the people|strong="H5971" that was with him covered|strong="H2645" every man|strong="H0376" his head|strong="H7218", and they went up|strong="H5927", weeping|strong="H1058" as they went up|strong="H5927".
31 And one told|strong="H5046" David|strong="H1732", saying|strong="H0559", Ahithophel|strong="H0302" is among the conspirators|strong="H7194" with Absalom|strong="H0053". And David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559", O \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, I pray thee, turn the counsel|strong="H6098" of Ahithophel|strong="H0302" into foolishness|strong="H5528".
32 And it came to pass, that when David|strong="H1732" was come|strong="H0935" to the top|strong="H7218" of the mount, where he worshipped|strong="H7812" God|strong="H0430", behold, Hushai|strong="H2365" the Archite|strong="H0757" came to meet|strong="H7125" him with his coat|strong="H3801" rent|strong="H7167", and earth|strong="H0127" upon his head|strong="H7218":
33 Unto whom David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559", If thou passest on|strong="H5674" with me, then thou shalt be a burden|strong="H4853" unto me:
34 But if thou return|strong="H7725" to the city|strong="H5892", and say|strong="H0559" unto Absalom|strong="H0053", I will be thy servant|strong="H5650", O king|strong="H4428"; as I have been thy father’s|strong="H0001" servant|strong="H5650" hitherto|strong="H0227", so will I now also be thy servant|strong="H5650": then mayest thou for me defeat|strong="H6565" the counsel|strong="H6098" of Ahithophel|strong="H0302".
35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok|strong="H6659" and Abiathar|strong="H0054" the priests|strong="H3548"? therefore it shall be, that what thing|strong="H1697" soever thou shalt hear|strong="H8085" out of the king’s|strong="H4428" house|strong="H1004", thou shalt tell|strong="H5046" it to Zadok|strong="H6659" and Abiathar|strong="H0054" the priests|strong="H3548".
36 Behold, they have there with them their two|strong="H8147" sons|strong="H1121", Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" Zadok’s|strong="H6659" son, and Jonathan|strong="H3083" Abiathar’s|strong="H0054" son; and by them|strong="H3027" ye shall send|strong="H7971" unto me every thing|strong="H1697" that ye can hear|strong="H8085".
37 So Hushai|strong="H2365" David’s|strong="H1732" friend|strong="H7463" came|strong="H0935" into the city|strong="H5892", and Absalom|strong="H0053" came|strong="H0935" into Jerusalem|strong="H3389".