2 Samuel 15:1-19

1Some time laterH1961H310H3651, AbsalomH53 provided forH6213 himself a chariotH4818 with horsesH5483 and fiftyH2572 menH376 to runH7323 ahead of himH6440. 2HeH53 would get up earlyH7925 and standH5975 besideH5921H3027 the roadH1870 leading to the city gateH8179.

WheneverH1961 anyoneH3605H376 hadH1961 a grievanceH7379 to bringH935 beforeH413 the kingH4428 for a decisionH4941, AbsalomH53 would call outH7121 and askH559, “WhatH335H2088 cityH5892 are you fromH859?” And if he repliedH559, “Your servantH5650 is from oneH259 of the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478,” 3AbsalomH53 would sayH559H413, “LookH7200, your claimsH1697 are goodH2896 and rightH5228, but the kingH4428 has no deputyH369 to hearH8085 you.”

4AndH53 he would addH559, “If onlyH4310 someone would appoint meH7760 judgeH8199 in the landH776, then everyoneH3605H376 withH834 a grievanceH7379 or disputeH4941 could comeH935 to meH5921, and I would give him justiceH6663.”

5Also, whenH1961 anyoneH376 approachedH7126 to bow downH7812 to him, Absalom would reach outH7971 his handH3027, take holdH2388 of him, and kissH5401 him. 6AbsalomH53H1697 didH6213 thisH2088 to allH3605 the IsraelitesH3478 whoH834 cameH935 toH413 the kingH4428 for justiceH4941. In this way heH53 stoleH1589 the heartsH3820 of the menH582 of IsraelH3478.

7AfterH7093 fourH7051 yearsH8141 had passedH1961, AbsalomH53 saidH559 toH413 the kingH4428, “PleaseH4994 let me goH1980 to HebronH2275 to fulfillH7999 a vowH5088 I have madeH5087 to the LORDH3068. 8ForH3588 your servantH5650 madeH5087 a vowH5088 while dwellingH3427 in GeshurH1650 of AramH758, sayingH559: ‘IfH518 indeedH7725 the LORDH3068 brings me backH7725 to JerusalemH3389, I will worshipH5647 the LORDH3068 in Hebron.’2”

9“GoH1980 in peaceH7965,” saidH559 the kingH4428. So Absalom got upH6965 and wentH1980 to HebronH2275.

10Then AbsalomH53 sentH7971 spiesH7270 throughoutH3605 the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478 with this messageH559: “When you hearH8085 the soundH6963 of the hornH7782, you are to sayH559, ‘AbsalomH53 reignsH4427 in HebronH2275!’”

11Two hundredH3967 menH376 from JerusalemH3389 accompaniedH1980H854 AbsalomH53. They had been invited as guestsH7121 and they went alongH1980 innocentlyH8537, for they knewH3045 nothingH3808 aboutH3605 the matterH1697. 12While Absalom was offeringH2076 the sacrificesH2077, he sent forH7971 AhithophelH302 the GiloniteH1526, David’sH1732 counselorH3289, to come from his hometownH5892 of GilohH1542.

So the conspiracyH7195 gainedH1961 strengthH533, and Absalom’sH53 followingH5971 keptH1980 increasingH7227H854.

13Then a messengerH5046 cameH935 toH413 DavidH1732 and reportedH559, “The heartsH3820 of the menH376 of IsraelH3478 areH1961 withH310 AbsalomH53.”

14And DavidH1732 saidH559 to allH3605 the servantsH5650 with himH854 in JerusalemH3389, “AriseH6965 and let us fleeH1272, orH3588 we willH1961 notH3808 escapeH6413 fromH6440 AbsalomH53! We must leaveH1980 quicklyH4116, orH6435 he will soonH4116 overtake usH5381, heapH5080 disasterH7451 on usH5921, and putH5221 the cityH5892 toH6310 the swordH2719.”

15The king’sH4428 servantsH5650 repliedH559, “WhateverH3605 our lordH113 the kingH4428H2009 decidesH977, we are your servantsH5650.”

16Then the kingH4428 set outH3318, and his entireH3605 householdH1004 followed himH7272. But heH4428 left behindH5800 tenH6235H802 concubinesH6370 to take care ofH8104 the palaceH1004.

17So the kingH4428 set outH3318 with allH3605 the peopleH5971 following himH7272. He stoppedH5975 atH1004 the last houseH4801, 18and allH3605 his servantsH5650 marchedH5674 pastH5921 himH3027—allH3605 the CherethitesH3774 andH3605 PelethitesH6432, andH3605 sixH8337 hundredH3967 GittitesH1663H376 whoH834 had followedH935 himH7272 from GathH1661.

19Then the kingH4428 saidH559 toH413 IttaiH863 the GittiteH1663, “WhyH4100 should youH859 alsoH1571 goH1980 with usH854? Go backH7725 and stayH3427 withH5973 the new kingH4428, sinceH3588 you areH859 both a foreignerH5237 andH1571 an exileH1540H859 from your homelandH4725.