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.

---

¹ And it came to pass after this, ^H310 that Absalom ^H53 prepared ^H6213 him chariots ^H4818 and horses, ^H5483 and fifty ^H2572 men ^H376 to run ^H7323 before ^H6440 him.

² And Absalom ^H53 rose up early, ^H7925 and stood ^H5975 beside ^H3027 the way ^H1870 of the gate: ^H8179 and it was so, that when any man ^H376 that had a controversy ^H7379 came ^H935 to the king ^H4428 for judgment, ^H4941 then Absalom ^H53 called ^H7121 unto him, and said, ^H559 Of what ^H335 city ^H5892 art thou? And he said, ^H559 Thy servant ^H5650 is of one ^H259 of the tribes ^H7626 of Israel. ^H3478

³ And Absalom ^H53 said ^H559 unto him, See, ^H7200 thy matters ^H1697 are good ^H2896 and right; ^H5228 but there is no man deputed of the king ^H4428 to hear ^H8085 thee.

⁴ Absalom ^H53 said ^H559 moreover, Oh that I were made ^H7760 judge ^H8199 in the land, ^H776 that every man ^H376 which hath any suit ^H7379 or cause ^H4941 might come ^H935 unto me, and I would do him justice! ^H6663

⁵ And it was so, that when any man ^H376 came nigh ^H7126 to him to do him obeisance, ^H7812 he put forth ^H7971 his hand, ^H3027 and took ^H2388 him, and kissed ^H5401 him.

⁶ And on this manner ^H1697 did ^H6213 Absalom ^H53 to all Israel ^H3478 that came ^H935 to the king ^H4428 for judgment: ^H4941 so Absalom ^H53 stole ^H1589 the hearts ^H3820 of the men ^H582 of Israel. ^H3478

⁷ And it came to pass after ^H7093 forty ^H705 years, ^H8141 that Absalom ^H53 said ^H559 unto the king, ^H4428 I pray thee, let me go ^H3212 and pay ^H7999 my vow, ^H5088 which I have vowed ^H5087 unto the LORD, ^H3068 in Hebron. ^H2275

⁸ For thy servant ^H5650 vowed ^H5087 a vow ^H5088 while I abode ^H3427 at Geshur ^H1650 in Syria, ^H758 saying, ^H559 If the LORD ^H3068 shall bring me again ^{H7725 H7725} indeed to Jerusalem, ^H3389 then I will serve ^H5647 the LORD. ^H3068

⁹ And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 unto him, Go ^H3212 in peace. ^H7965 So he arose, ^H6965 and went ^H3212 to Hebron. ^H2275

¹⁰ But Absalom ^H53 sent ^H7971 spies ^H7270 throughout all the tribes ^H7626 of Israel, ^H3478 saying, ^H559 As soon as ye hear ^H8085 the sound ^H6963 of the trumpet, ^H7782 then ye shall say, ^H559 Absalom ^H53 reigneth ^H4427 in Hebron. ^H2275

¹¹ And with Absalom ^H53 went ^H1980 two hundred ^H3967 men ^H376 out of Jerusalem, ^H3389 that were called; ^H7121 and they went ^H1980 in their simplicity, ^H8537 and they knew ^H3045 not any thing. ^H1697

¹² And Absalom ^H53 sent ^H7971 for Ahithophel ^H302 the Gilonite, ^H1526 David's ^H1732 counsellor, ^H3289 from his city, ^H5892 even from Giloh, ^H1542 while he offered ^H2076 sacrifices. ^H2077 And the conspiracy ^H7195 was strong; ^H533 for the people ^H5971 increased ^H7227 continually ^H1980 with Absalom. ^H53

¹³ And there came ^H935 a messenger ^H5046 to David, ^H1732 saying, ^H559 The hearts ^H3820 of the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 are after ^H310 Absalom. ^H53

¹⁴ And David ^H1732 said ^H559 unto all his servants ^H5650 that were with him at Jerusalem, ^H3389 Arise, ^H6965 and let us flee; ^H1272 for we shall not else escape ^H6413 from ^H6440 Absalom: ^H53 make speed ^H4116 to depart, ^H3212 lest he overtake ^H5381 us suddenly, ^H4116 and bring ^H5080 evil ^H7451 upon us, and smite ^H5221 the city ^H5892 with the edge ^H6310 of the sword. ^H2719

¹⁵ And the king's ^H4428 servants ^H5650 said ^H559 unto the king, ^H4428 Behold, thy servants ^H5650 are ready to do whatsoever my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 shall appoint. ^H977

¹⁶ And the king ^H4428 went forth, ^H3318 and all his household ^H1004 after ^H7272 him. And the king ^H4428 left ^H5800 ten ^H6235 women, ^H802 which were concubines, ^H6370 to keep ^H8104 the house. ^H1004

¹⁷ And the king ^H4428 went forth, ^H3318 and all the people ^H5971 after ^H7272 him, and tarried ^H5975 in a place ^H1004 that was far off. ^{H4801 H1023}

¹⁸ And all his servants ^H5650 passed on ^H5674 beside ^H3027 him; and all the Cherethites, ^H3774 and all the Pelethites, ^H6432 and all the Gittites, ^H1663 six ^H8337 hundred ^H3967 men ^H376 which came ^H935 after ^H7272 him from Gath, ^H1661 passed on ^H5674 before ^H6440 the king. ^H4428

¹⁹ Then said ^H559 the king ^H4428 to Ittai ^H863 the Gittite, ^H1663 Wherefore goest ^H3212 thou also with us? return ^H7725 to thy place, ^H4725 and abide ^H3427 with the king: ^H4428 for thou art a stranger, ^H5237 and also an exile. ^H1540

²⁰ Whereas thou camest ^H935 but yesterday, ^H8543 should I this day ^H3117 make thee go ^H3212 up and down ^{H5128 H5128} with us? seeing I go ^H1980 whither I may, return ^H7725 thou, and take back ^H7725 thy brethren: ^H251 mercy ^H2617 and truth ^H571 be with thee.

²¹ And Ittai ^H863 answered ^H6030 the king, ^H4428 and said, ^H559 As the LORD ^H3068 liveth, ^H2416 and as my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 liveth, ^H2416 surely in what place ^H4725 my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 shall be, whether in death ^H4194 or life, ^H2416 even there also will thy servant ^H5650 be.

²² And David ^H1732 said ^H559 to Ittai, ^H863 Go ^H3212 and pass over. ^H5674 And Ittai ^H863 the Gittite ^H1663 passed over, ^H5674 and all his men, ^H582 and all the little ones ^H2945 that were with him.

²³ And all the country ^H776 wept ^H1058 with a loud ^H1419 voice, ^H6963 and all the people ^H5971 passed over: ^H5674 the king ^H4428 also himself passed over ^H5674 the brook ^H5158 Kidron, ^H6939 and all the people ^H5971 passed over, ^H5674 toward ^H6440 the way ^H1870 of the wilderness. ^H4057

²⁴ And lo Zadok ^H6659 also, and all the Levites ^H3881 were with him, bearing ^H5375 the ark ^H727 of the covenant ^H1285 of God: ^H430 and they set down ^H3332 the ark ^H727 of God; ^H430 and Abiathar ^H54 went up, ^H5927 until all the people ^H5971 had done ^H8552 passing ^H5674 out of the city. ^H5892

²⁵ And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 unto Zadok, ^H6659 Carry back ^H7725 the ark ^H727 of God ^H430 into the city: ^H5892 if I shall find ^H4672 favour ^H2580 in the eyes ^H5869 of the LORD, ^H3068 he will bring me again, ^H7725 and shew ^H7200 me both it, and his habitation: ^H5116

²⁶ But if he thus say, ^H559 I have no delight ^H2654 in thee; behold, here am I, let him do ^H6213 to me as seemeth ^H5869 good ^H2896 unto him.

²⁷ The king ^H4428 said ^H559 also unto Zadok ^H6659 the priest, ^H3548 Art not thou a seer? ^H7200 return ^H7725 into the city ^H5892 in peace, ^H7965 and your two ^H8147 sons ^H1121 with you, Ahimaaz ^H290 thy son, ^H1121 and Jonathan ^H3083 the son ^H1121 of Abiathar. ^H54

²⁸ See, ^H7200 I will tarry ^H4102 in the plain ^{H6160 H5679} of the wilderness, ^H4057 until there come ^H935 word ^H1697 from you to certify ^H5046 me.

²⁹ Zadok ^H6659 therefore and Abiathar ^H54 carried ^H7725 the ark ^H727 of God ^H430 again ^H7725 to Jerusalem: ^H3389 and they tarried ^H3427 there.

³⁰ And David ^H1732 went up ^H5927 by the ascent ^H4608 of mount Olivet, ^H2132 and wept ^H1058 as he went up, ^H5927 and had his head ^H7218 covered, ^H2645 and he went ^H1980 barefoot: ^H3182 and all the people ^H5971 that was with him covered ^H2645 every man ^H376 his head, ^H7218 and they went up, ^H5927 weeping ^H1058 as they went up. ^H5927

³¹ And one told ^H5046 David, ^H1732 saying, ^H559 Ahithophel ^H302 is among the conspirators ^H7194 with Absalom. ^H53 And David ^H1732 said, ^H559 O LORD, ^H3068 I pray thee, turn the counsel ^H6098 of Ahithophel ^H302 into foolishness. ^H5528

³² And it came to pass, that when David ^H1732 was come ^H935 to the top ^H7218 of the mount, where he worshipped ^H7812 God, ^H430 behold, Hushai ^H2365 the Archite ^H757 came to meet ^H7125 him with his coat ^H3801 rent, ^H7167 and earth ^H127 upon his head: ^H7218

³³ Unto whom David ^H1732 said, ^H559 If thou passest on ^H5674 with me, then thou shalt be a burden ^H4853 unto me:

³⁴ But if thou return ^H7725 to the city, ^H5892 and say ^H559 unto Absalom, ^H53 I will be thy servant, ^H5650 O king; ^H4428 as I have been thy father's ^H1 servant ^H5650 hitherto, ^H227 so will I now also be thy servant: ^H5650 then mayest thou for me defeat ^H6565 the counsel ^H6098 of Ahithophel. ^H302

³⁵ And hast thou not there with thee Zadok ^H6659 and Abiathar ^H54 the priests? ^H3548 therefore it shall be, that what thing ^H1697 soever thou shalt hear ^H8085 out of the king's ^H4428 house, ^H1004 thou shalt tell ^H5046 it to Zadok ^H6659 and Abiathar ^H54 the priests. ^H3548

³⁶ Behold, they have there with them their two ^H8147 sons, ^H1121 Ahimaaz ^H290 Zadok's ^H6659 son, and Jonathan ^H3083 Abiathar's ^H54 son; and by them ^H3027 ye shall send ^H7971 unto me every thing ^H1697 that ye can hear. ^H8085

³⁷ So Hushai ^H2365 David's ^H1732 friend ^H7463 came ^H935 into the city, ^H5892 and Absalom ^H53 came ^H935 into Jerusalem. ^H3389

---

¹ And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot 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 had a suit which should come 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 who 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 do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of 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 at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Jehovah, in Hebron.

⁸ For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.

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 is king in Hebron.

¹¹ And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not anything.

¹² And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the 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 else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down 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 choose.

¹⁶ And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house.

¹⁷ And the king went forth, and all the people after him; and they tarried in Beth-merhak.

¹⁸ And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that 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, and abide with the king: for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile; `return' to thine own place.

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 Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for 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 `came', 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 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 Jehovah, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:

²⁶ but if he say thus, 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 thou `not' 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 at the fords 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 abode there.

³⁰ And 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 that were 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 Jehovah, 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 ascent', where God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.

³³ And David said unto him, If thou passest on with me, then thou wilt 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 in time past, so will I now be thy servant; then wilt thou defeat for me 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 everything that ye shall hear.

³⁷ So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

---

¹ And it cometh to pass afterwards, that Absalom prepareth for himself a chariot, and horses, and fifty men are running before him;

² and Absalom hath risen early, and stood by the side of the way of the gate, and it cometh to pass, every man who hath a pleading to come unto the king for judgment, that Absalom calleth unto him, and saith, `Of what city `art' thou?' and he saith, `Of one of the tribes of Israel `is' thy servant.'

³ And Absalom saith unto him, `See, thy matters `are' good and straightforward -- and there is none hearkening to thee from the king.'

⁴ And Absalom saith, `Who doth make me a judge in the land, that unto me doth come every man who hath a plea and judgment? -- then I have declared him righteous.'

⁵ And it hath come to pass, in the drawing nearing of any one to bow himself to him, that he hath put forth his hand, and laid hold on him, and given a kiss to him;

⁶ and Absalom doth according to this thing to all Israel who come in for judgment unto the king, and Absalom stealeth the heart of the men of Israel.

⁷ And it cometh to pass, at the end of forty years, that Absalom saith unto the king, `Let me go, I pray thee, and I complete my vow, that I vowed to Jehovah in Hebron,

⁸ for a vow hath thy servant vowed in my dwelling in Geshur, in Aram, saying, If Jehovah doth certainly bring me back to Jerusalem, then I have served Jehovah.'

⁹ And the king saith to him, `Go in peace;' and he riseth and goeth to Hebron,

¹⁰ and Absalom sendeth spies through all the tribes of Israel, saying, `At your hearing the voice of the trumpet, then ye have said, Absalom hath reigned in Hebron.'

¹¹ And with Absalom have gone two hundred men, out of Jerusalem, invited ones, and they are going in their simplicity, and have not known anything;

¹² and Absalom sendeth Ahithophel the Gilonite, a counsellor of David, out of his city, out of Gilo, in his sacrificing sacrifices; and the conspiracy is strong, and the people are going and increasing with Absalom.

¹³ And he who is declaring tidings cometh in unto David, saying, `The heart of the men of Israel hath been after Absalom.'

¹⁴ And David saith to all his servants who `are' with him in Jerusalem, `Rise, and we flee, for we have no escape from the face of Absalom; haste to go, lest he hasten, and have overtaken us, and forced on us evil, and smitten the city by the mouth of the sword.'

¹⁵ And the servants of the king say unto the king, `According to all that my lord the king chooseth -- lo, thy servants `do'.'

¹⁶ And the king goeth out, and all his household at his feet, and the king leaveth ten women -- concubines -- to keep the house.

¹⁷ And the king goeth out, and all the people at his feet, and they stand still at the farthest off house.

¹⁸ And all his servants are passing on at his side, and all the Cherethite, and all the Pelethite, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came at his feet from Gath, are passing on at the front of the king.

¹⁹ And the king saith unto Ittai the Gittite, `Why dost thou go -- thou also -- with us? turn back -- and abide with the king, for thou `art' a stranger, and also an exile thou -- to thy place.

²⁰ Yesterday `is' thy coming in, and to-day I move thee to go with us, and I am going on that which I am going! -- turn back, and take back thy brethren with thee, -- kindness and truth.'

²¹ And Ittai answereth the king and saith, `Jehovah liveth, and my lord the king liveth, surely in the place where my lord the king is -- if for death, if for life, surely there is thy servant.'

²² And David saith unto Ittai, `Go and pass over;' and Ittai the Gittite passeth over, and all his men, and all the infants who `are' with him.

²³ And all the land are weeping -- a great voice, and all the people are passing over; and the king is passing over through the brook Kidron, and all the people are passing over on the front of the way of the wilderness;

²⁴ and lo, also Zadok, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God, and they make the ark of God firm, and Abiathar goeth up, till the completion of all the people to pass over out of the city.

²⁵ And the king saith to Zadok, `Take back the ark of God to the city; if I find grace in the eyes of Jehovah, then He hath brought me back, and shewn me it and His habitation;

²⁶ and if thus He say, I have not delighted in thee; here `am' I, He doth to me as `is' good in His eyes.'

²⁷ And the king saith unto Zadok the priest, `Art thou a seer? turn back to the city in peace, and Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan son of Abiathar, your two sons with you;

²⁸ see ye, I am tarrying in the plains of the wilderness till the coming in of a word from you to declare to me.'

²⁹ And Zadok taketh back -- and Abiathar -- the ark of God to Jerusalem, and they abide there.

³⁰ And David is going up in the ascent of the olives, going up and weeping, and he hath the head covered, and he is going barefooted, and all the people who `are' with him have covered each his head, and have gone up, going up and weeping;

³¹ and David declared, saying, `Ahithophel `is' among the conspirators with Absalom;' and David saith, `Make foolish, I pray Thee, the counsel of Ahithophel, O Jehovah.'

³² And it cometh to pass, David hath come unto the top, where he boweth himself to God, and lo, to meet him `is' Hushai the Archite, his coat rent, and earth on his head;

³³ and David saith to him, `If thou hast passed on with me then thou hast been on me for a burden,

³⁴ and if to the city thou dost turn back, and hast said to Absalom, Thy servant I am, O king; servant of thy father I `am' also hitherto, and now, I `am' also thy servant; then thou hast made void for me the counsel of Ahithophel;

³⁵ and are there not with thee there Zadok and Abiathar the priests? and it hath been, the whole of the matter that thou hearest from the house of the king thou dost declare to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests.

³⁶ Lo, there with them `are' their two sons, Ahimaaz to Zadok, and Jonathan to Abiathar, and ye have sent by their hand unto me anything that ye hear.'

³⁷ And Hushai, David's friend, cometh in to the city, and Absalom cometh in to Jerusalem.

---

¹ And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

² And Absalom rose early, and stood beside the way of the gate; and it was so, that when any man who had a controversy had to come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called 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 to him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man to hear thee [appointed] by the king.

⁴ And Absalom said, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any controversy and cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!

⁵ And it was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

⁶ And in this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment; and Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁷ And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay in Hebron my vow which I have vowed to Jehovah.

⁸ For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode in Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.

⁹ And the king said to him, Go in peace. And he rose up and went to Hebron.

¹⁰ And Absalom sent emissaries into all the tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the sound of the trumpet, ye shall say, Absalom reigns in Hebron.

¹¹ And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew nothing.

¹² And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, from Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. And the conspiracy gathered strength; and the people increased continually with Absalom.

¹³ And there came one to David who reported saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

¹⁴ And David said to all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Rise up and let us flee; for we shall not [else] escape from Absalom. Be quick to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

¹⁵ And the king's servants said to the king, Behold, thy servants [will do] whatever my lord the king shall choose.

¹⁶ And the king went forth, and all his household after him, and the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.

¹⁷ And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and stayed at the remote house.

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

¹⁹ And the king said to Ittai the Gittite, Why dost thou also go with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king; for thou art a foreigner, and besides, thou hast emigrated to the place where thou [dwellest].

²⁰ Thou didst come yesterday, and should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I can? Return and take back thy brethren. Mercy and truth be with thee!

²¹ And Ittai answered the king and said, [As] Jehovah 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 torrent Kidron, and all the people passed over, towards the way of the wilderness.

²⁴ And behold, 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 passed completely out of the city.

²⁵ And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I shall find favour in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and shew me it, and its 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 to him.

²⁷ And the king said to Zadok the priest, Thou art the 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 stop in the plains of the desert, until there come word from you to inform me.

²⁹ And Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem; and they abode there.

³⁰ But David went up by the ascent of the Olives, 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. Then said David, Jehovah, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

³² And it came to pass, when David had come to the summit, where he worshipped God, that behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.

³³ And David said to him, If thou passest on with me, thou wilt be a burden to me;

³⁴ but if thou return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so now will I 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? and it shall be, [that] whatsoever thing 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 to me everything that ye shall hear.

³⁷ And Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

---

¹ It happened after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

² Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, Of what city are you? He said, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

³ Absalom said to him, Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized of the king to hear you.

⁴ Absalom 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!

⁵ It was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.

⁶ In this manner Absalom did to all Israel who came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁷ It happened at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron.

⁸ For your servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.

⁹ The king said to 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 you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron.

¹¹ With Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn't know anything.

¹² Absalom 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.

¹³ There came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

¹⁴ David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.

¹⁵ The king's servants said to the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king shall choose.

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

¹⁷ The king went forth, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak.

¹⁸ All 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.

¹⁹ Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why go you also with us? return, and abide with the king: for you are a foreigner, and also an exile; [return] to your own place.

²⁰ Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us, seeing I go where I may? return you, and take back your brothers; mercy and truth be with you.

²¹ Ittai answered the king, and said, As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will your servant be.

²² David 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.

²³ 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 Behold, Zadok also [came], 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 done passing out of the city.

²⁵ The king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:

²⁶ but if he say thus, I have no delight in you; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seems good to him.

²⁷ The 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.

²⁸ Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me."

²⁹ Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there.

³⁰ 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 every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

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

³² It happened that when David had come to the top [of the ascent], where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head.

³³ David said to him, If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me:

³⁴ but 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.

³⁵ Don't you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? therefore it shall be, that whatever thing you shall hear out of the king's house, you shall 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 you shall send to me everything that you shall hear.

³⁷ So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

---

¹ Now after this, Absalom got for himself a carriage and horses, and fifty runners to go before him.

² And Absalom got up early, morning after morning, and took his place at the side of the public meeting-place: and when any man had a cause which had to come to the king to be judged, then Absalom, crying out to him, said, What is your town? and he would say, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

³ And Absalom would say to him, See, your cause is true and right; but no man has been named by the king to give you a hearing.

⁴ And more than this, Absalom said, If only I was made judge in the land, so that every man who has any cause or question might come to me, and I would give a right decision for him!

⁵ And if any man came near to give him honour, he took him by the hand and gave him a kiss.

⁶ And this Absalom did to everyone in Israel who came to the king to have his cause judged: so Absalom, like a thief, took away the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁷ Now at the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, Let me go to Hebron and give effect to the oath which I made to the Lord:

⁸ For while I was living in Geshur in Aram, your servant made an oath, saying, If ever the Lord lets me come back to Jerusalem, I will give him worship in Hebron.

⁹ And the king said to him, Go in peace. So he got up and went to Hebron.

¹⁰ But Absalom at the same time sent watchers through all the tribes of Israel to say, At the sound of the horn you are to say, Absalom is king in Hebron.

¹¹ And with Absalom, at his request, went two hundred men from Jerusalem, who were completely unconscious of his designs.

¹² And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, one of David's helpers, from Giloh his town, while he was making the offerings. And the design against David became strong, for more and more people were joined to Absalom.

¹³ And one came to David and said, The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.

¹⁴ And David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Come, let us go in flight, or not one of us will be safe from Absalom: let us go without loss of time, or he will overtake us quickly and send evil on us, and put the town to the sword.

¹⁵ And the king's servants said to the king, See, your servants are ready to do whatever the king says is to be done.

¹⁶ So the king went out, taking with him all the people of his house, but for ten of his women, who were to take care of the house.

¹⁷ And the king went out, and all his servants went after him, and made a stop at the Far House.

¹⁸ And all the people went on by his side; and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the men of Ittai of Gath, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, went on before the king.

¹⁹ Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, Why are you coming with us? go back and keep with the king: for you are a man of another country, you are far from the land of your birth.

²⁰ It was only yesterday you came to us; why then am I to make you go up and down with us? for I have to go where I may; go back then, and take your countrymen with you, and may the Lord's mercy and good faith be with you.

²¹ And Ittai the Gittite in answer said, By the living Lord, and by the life of my lord the king, in whatever place my lord the king may be, for life or death, there will your servant be.

²² And David said to Ittai, Go forward, then. And Ittai the Gittite went on, with all his men and all the little ones he had with him.

²³ And there was great weeping in all the country when all the people went through; and the king himself was waiting in the Kidron valley and all the people went by him in the direction of the olive-tree on the edge of the waste land.

²⁴ Then Zadok came, and Abiathar, and with them the ark of God's agreement: and they put down the ark of God, till all the people from the town had gone by.

²⁵ And the king said to Zadok, Take the ark of God back into the town: if I have grace in the eyes of the Lord, he will let me come back and see it and his House again:

²⁶ But if he says, I have no delight in you: then, here I am; let him do to me what seems good to him.

²⁷ The king said further to Zadok the priest, See, you and Abiathar are to go back to the town in peace, with your two sons, Ahimaaz, your son, and Jonathan, the son of Abiathar.

²⁸ See, I will be waiting at the way across the river, in the waste land, till I get news from you.

²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and did not go away from there.

³⁰ And David went up the slopes of the Mount of Olives weeping all the way, with his head covered and no shoes on his feet: and all the people who were with him, covering their heads, went up weeping.

³¹ And word came to David, saying, Ahithophel is among those who are joined to Absalom. And David said, O Lord, let the wisdom of Ahithophel be made foolish.

³² Now when David had come to the top of the slope, where they gave worship to God, Hushai the Archite came to him in great grief with dust on his head:

³³ David said to him, If you go on with me, you will be a trouble to me:

³⁴ But if you go back to the town and say to Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as in the past I have been your father's servant, so now I will be yours: then you will be able to keep Ahithophel's designs against me from being put into effect.

³⁵ And have you not there Zadok and Abiathar the priests? so whatever comes to your ears from the king's house, give word of it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

³⁶ See, they have with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, the son of Abiathar; by them you may send word to me of everything which comes to your ears.

³⁷ So Hushai, David's friend, went into the town, and Absalom came to Jerusalem.