|
Chapter 15 |
| 1 | And it came to
pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men
to run before him. |
| 2 | And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside
the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy
came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what
city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of
Israel. |
| 3 |
And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and
right; 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 suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him
justice! |
| 5
| And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do
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 it
came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee,
let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
|
| 8 | For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If
the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the
LORD. |
| 9 |
And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went
to Hebron. |
| 10
| But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of
Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then 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, and they
knew not any thing. |
| 12 | And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the
Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered
sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually
with Absalom. |
|
13 | And there came a messenger to David, saying, The
hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. |
| 14 | And David
said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us
flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he
overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge
of the sword. |
|
15 | And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold,
thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
|
| 16 | And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king
left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. |
| 17 | And the
king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was
far off. |
| 18
| And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the
Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men
which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. |
| 19 | Then
said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return
to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an
exile. |
| 20
| Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make
thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take
back 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, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or
life, even there also will thy servant be. |
|
22 | And David said to
Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men,
and all the little ones that were with him. |
|
23 | And all 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. |
|
24 | And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were 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 done passing out of the
city. |
| 25 |
And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God 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 his habitation: |
| 26 | But if he
thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as
seemeth good unto him. |
| 27 | The king said also unto Zadok the priest,
Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you,
Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. |
| 28 | See, I will
tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify
me. |
| 29 |
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to
Jerusalem: and they tarried there. |
| 30 | And David went up by the
ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and
he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his
head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. |
| 31 | And one told
David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David
said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into
foolishness. |
|
32 | And it came to pass, that when David was come to
the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came
to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: |
| 33 | Unto
whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then 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 thy father's servant hitherto, so will I
now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of
Ahithophel. |
|
35 | And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and
Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt
hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the
priests. |
| 36
| Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz
Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me
every thing that ye can hear. |
|
37 | So Hushai David's friend came into the
city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem. |
