David Flees Jerusalem; Loyal Followers Accompany Him
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Chapter 15
13And the messenger came to David saying, "The heart of the men of Israel is after Absalom."14And David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, "Rise up and let us flee, for there will not be for us an escape from the presence of Absalom. Hurry to go, lest he hurry and overtake us and bring the evil upon us and strike the city with the mouth of the sword."15And the king's servants said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king chooses, behold, your servants are here."16And the king went out and all his house on foot, and the king left ten women concubines to guard the house.17And the king went out and all the people after him, and they stopped at the last house.18And all his servants passing by him, and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had come on foot from Gath, passing by before the king.19And the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why will you go with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your place."20Yesterday you came, and today I would shake you with us to go, but I am going where I am going—turn back and take your brother back with you in steadfast love and truth.21And Ittai the king said, "As the LORD lives and as my lord the king lives, surely wherever my lord the king shall be, whether to die or to live, your servant will be."22And David said to Ittai, "Go with me and cross over." And Ittai the Gittite crossed over, and all his men and all the little ones who were with him.23And all the land wept with a great voice, and all the people crossed over, and the king crossed the wadi Kidron, and all the people crossed over the face of the way toward the wilderness.24And behold, Zadok was there also, and all the Levites with him, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. And they set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished passing from the city.25And the king said to Zadok, "Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, then he will return me and show me it and its dwelling."26And if he says in this way, "I have no delight in you," behold, he will do to me what is good in his eyes.27The king said to Zadok the priest, "You are the seer. Return to the city in peace, and Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan son of Abiathar, your two sons, with you."28See, I will be waiting in the steppes of the wilderness until word comes from you to tell me.29And Zadok and Abiathar brought back the Ark of God to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.30David went up by the ascent of the Olives, going up and weeping, with his head covered, and he walked barefoot. And all the people who were with him each covered his head and went up, weeping as they went.31David told them, saying, "Ahithophel is conspiring with Absalom." And he said, "Please frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel, LORD."32And when David came to the place where he would prostrate himself to God, there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him, with his tunic torn and dirt on his head.33And David said to him, "If you have crossed over with me, then you will be a burden to me."34But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'I am your servant; I will be the servant of the king your father from then and now, and I am your servant,' then you will frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel for me.35Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? And it will be that every word that you hear from the house of the king you will tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests.36Behold—there with them are their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son, and you shall send by their hand every word that you hear to me.37And Hushai, David's friend, came to the city, and Absalom came to Jerusalem.