1 A fter this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him.

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

2 A bsalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. When any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?” He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”

He 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.”

3 A bsalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you.”

Then 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.”

4 A bsalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!”

And 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.”

5 I t was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he stretched out his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.

When 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.

6 A bsalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

He 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.

7 A t the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron.

At 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.

8 F or your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.’”

For 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.’”

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

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

10 B ut 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 is king in Hebron!’”

But 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.’”

11 T wo hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn’t know anything.

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

12 A bsalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

While 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

13 A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”

Then a man came to David with news, 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, “Arise, and let us flee; or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

David 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.”

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

The king’s servants said to him, “See, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”

16 T he king went out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.

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

17 T he king went out, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak.

The king left with all the people, and they stopped at the last house.

18 A ll his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

All 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.

19 T hen the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Return, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner, and also an exile. Return to your own place.

Then 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.

20 W hereas you came but yesterday, should I today make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you.”

You 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.”

21 I ttai answered the king, and said, “As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king is, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there also.”

But 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.”

22 D avid said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him.

So 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.

23 A ll the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over. The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

All 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.

24 B ehold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down God’s ark; and Abiathar went up, until all the people finished passing out of the city.

Zadok 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.

25 T he king said to Zadok, “Carry God’s ark back into the city. If I find favor in Yahweh’s eyes, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation;

The 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.

26 b ut if he says, ‘I have no delight in you;’ behold, here am I. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”

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

27 T he king said also to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

And 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.

28 B ehold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me.”

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

29 Z adok therefore and Abiathar carried God’s ark to Jerusalem again; and they stayed there.

So Zadok and Abiathar returned the special box of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30 D avid 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 each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

David 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.

31 S omeone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

Now 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.”

32 W hen David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head.

As 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.

33 D avid said to him, “If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me;

David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be trouble for me.

34 b ut if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’

But 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.

35 D on’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

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

36 B ehold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. Send to me everything that you shall hear by them.”

Their 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.”

37 S o Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

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