2 Samuel 15:21-29

21But Ittai answered the king, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord and the king live: Wherever you are, whether you’re dead or alive, I’ll be there.”

22So David told Ittai, “Go ahead and keep marching.” So Ittai from Gath marched on with all his men and all the families who were with him.

23The whole country was crying loudly as all the troops were passing by. The king was crossing the Kidron Valley, and all the people were moving down the road toward the desert.

24Zadok and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of God’s promise. They set down the ark of God beside Abiathar until all the troops had withdrawn from the city.

25The king told Zadok, “Take God’s ark back to the city. If the Lord looks favorably on me, he will allow me to come back and see both it and its  dwelling place again.

26But if he says, ‘I’m not pleased with you,’ let him do to me what he considers right.”

27“Aren’t you a seer?”  the king asked Zadok the priest. “Go back to the city peacefully, and take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan with you.

28I’ll wait at the river crossings in the desert until I receive a message from you.”

29So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.