| 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. |
