2 Samuel 15

2 Samuel Chapter 15 KJV

1Absalom by fair speeches and courtesies stealeth the hearts of the men of Israel. 7Under pretence of a vow he obtaineth leave to go to Hebron: 10where he formeth a dangerous conspiracy. 13Upon the news David fleeth from Jerusalem: 19Ittai, though a stranger, will not leave him. 24Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark. 30David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping. 31He prayeth God to defeat Ahithophel's counsel. 32Hushai is sent back with instructions how to act for David's service.
1 And it came to pass after this, that 1Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 And Absalom 1rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy acame 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, 1thy matters are good and right; but athere is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were 1made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and 2I 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 1took him, and kissed him.
6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so 1Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 ¶ And it came to pass after 1forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me 2go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron.
8 For thy servant vowed a vow 1while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I 2will serve the Lord.
9 And the king said unto him, 1Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10 ¶ But Absalom sent 1spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom 2reigneth in Hebron.
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were 1called; and they went in 2their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12 And Absalom sent for 1Ahithophel the Gilonite, 2David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he 3offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people 4increased continually with Absalom.
13 ¶ And there came a messenger to David, saying, 1The 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 1flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and abring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 And the king's 1servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall aappoint.
16 And the king went forth, and all his household aafter him. And the king left 1ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17 And the king 1went 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 1Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from 2Gath, passed on before the king.
19 ¶ Then said the king to 1Ittai 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 amake thee go up and down with us? seeing I go 1whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: 2mercy and truth be with thee.
21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As 1the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, 2surely 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 1pass 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 1brook aKidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of 2the wilderness.
24 ¶ And lo 1Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, 2bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and 3Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25 And the king said unto Zadok, 1Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he 2will bring me again, and shew me both it, and 3his habitation:
26 But if he thus say, I have no 1delight in thee; behold, 2here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou 1a seer? return into the 2city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 See, I will tarry in the 1plain of the wilderness, until there come 2word 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 1mount Olivet, and awept as he went up, and 2had 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, 1Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, 2turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32 ¶ And it came to pass, that when David was come to the 1top of the mount, where he 2worshipped God, behold, 3Hushai the Archite came to meet him with 4his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be 1a burden unto me:
34 But if thou 1return to the city, and say unto Absalom, 2I 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 1thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 Behold, they have 1there 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 1friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 15