1 A fter this, Absalom got a war-wagon and horses, and fifty men to run in front of him.

After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 H e used to get up early and stand beside the way to the gate. When any man had a problem to be decided upon by the king, Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would answer, “Your servant is from one of the families of Israel.”

Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.”

3 T hen Absalom would say to him, “Your side of the problem is good and right. But there is no man to listen to you for the king.”

Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.”

4 A nd Absalom would say, “If only I were chosen to be the one to be judge in the land! Then every man who has a problem could come to me. And I would do for him what is right and fair.”

Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”

5 W hen a man came near to put his face to the ground in front of him, Absalom would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.

And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him.

6 H e acted this way toward all those of Israel who came with a problem for the king to judge. So Absalom became friends with the men of Israel.

In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 A t the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, “I ask you, let me go to Hebron and keep my promise that I have promised to the Lord.

Now it came to pass after forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the Lord.

8 F or your servant made a promise while I was living at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord will bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’”

For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’”

9 A nd the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron.

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

10 B ut Absalom sent men to go in secret through all the families of Israel. He said to them, “As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron.’”

Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”

11 W ith Absalom went 200 men from Jerusalem. They had been asked to come, and did not know what Absalom had planned.

And with Absalom went two hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything.

12 W hile Absalom was giving gifts on the altar in worship, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, from his city Giloh. He was the man who talked with David about what to do. The plans against David became strong. For more and more people joined Absalom. David Runs from Jerusalem

Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number. David Escapes from Jerusalem

13 T hen a man came to David with news, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 D avid said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Get up and let us run. Or else none of us will be safe from Absalom. Hurry and go, or he will be quick to catch us and bring trouble upon us. He would destroy the city with the sword.”

So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

15 T he king’s servants said to him, “See, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”

And the king’s servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.”

16 S o the king left with all those of his house. But he left ten of his women to take care of the house.

Then the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.

17 T he king left with all the people, and they stopped at the last house.

And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts.

18 A ll his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, Pelethites, Gittites, and 600 men who had come with him from Gath. They all passed by the king.

Then all his servants passed before 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.

19 T hen the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you go with us also? Return and stay with the king. For you are from another land and have been driven from your home.

Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place.

20 Y ou came only yesterday. Should I make you go with us today, when I do not know where I am going? Return with your brothers. May loving-kindness and faith be with you.”

In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go I know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.”

21 B ut Ittai said to the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, your servant will be where my lord the king may be, in death or in life.”

But Ittai answered the king and said, “ As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”

22 S o David said to him, “Go then, pass on.” And Ittai the Gittite passed on, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over.

23 A ll the country was crying with a loud voice as all the people passed by. The king crossed the river Kidron, and all the people went on toward the desert.

And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.

24 Z adok came also, with all the Levites who carried the special box with the Law of God. Abiathar had the special box of God put down until all the people had passed out of the city.

There was Zadok also, 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 all the people had finished crossing over from the city.

25 T he king said to Zadok, “Return the special box of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will have me return. And He will have me see both it and His family.

Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place.

26 B ut if He says, ‘I have no joy in you,’ then here I am. Let Him do to me what He thinks is good.”

But if He says thus: ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”

27 A nd the king said to Zadok the religious leader, “Are you not a man who speaks for God? Return to the city in peace with Abiathar and your two sons, your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan.

The king also said to Zadok the priest, “ Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28 S ee, I will wait in the desert by the place where the river is crossed, until I hear from you.”

See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”

29 S o Zadok and Abiathar returned the special box of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.

30 D avid went up the Mount of Olives and cried as he went. His head was covered and he wore no shoes. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up crying as they went.

So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.

31 N ow David was told, “Ahithophel is among those who are making plans with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, make the words of Ahithophel foolish.”

Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

32 A s David was coming to the top of the mountain, where God was worshiped, Hushai the Archite met him. His coat was torn and there was dust on his head.

Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.

33 D avid said to him, “If you go with me, you will be trouble for me.

David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me.

34 B ut if you return to the city, you can bring trouble to the words of Ahithophel for me. Say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. I will work for you as I have worked for your father in the past.’ Then you can make the words of Ahithophel foolish for me.

But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.

35 W ill not Zadok and Abiathar the religious leaders be there with you? Tell Zadok and Abiathar whatever you hear from the king’s house.

And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36 T heir two sons are with them there, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. By them you can send me news of all that you hear.”

Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”

37 S o David’s friend Hushai came into Jerusalem, just as Absalom was coming into the city.

So Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.