2 Samuel 15

Absalom’s Conspiracy

1Now it came about after this that 1Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him. 2Absalom used to rise early and 2stand beside the way to the gate; and when any man had a suit to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Then Absalom would say to him, “See, 3your 4claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king.” 4Moreover, Absalom would say, “5Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice.” 5And when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and 6kiss him. 6In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; 7so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel.

7Now it came about at the end of 8forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the Lord, in 9Hebron. 8For your servant 10vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘11If the Lord shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’” 9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘12Absalom is king in Hebron.’” 11Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, 13who were invited and 14went 15innocently, and they did not know anything. 12And Absalom sent for 16Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city 17Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for 18the people increased continually with Absalom.

David Flees Jerusalem

13Then a messenger came to David, saying, “19The hearts of the men of Israel are 20with Absalom.” 14David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “21Arise and let us flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Go in haste, or he will overtake us quickly and bring down calamity on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15Then the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.” 16So the king went out and all his household 22with him. But 23the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 17The king went out and all the people 24with him, and they stopped at the last house. 18Now all his servants passed on beside him, 25all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, 26six hundred men who had come 27with him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19Then the king said to 28Ittai the Gittite, “Why will you also go with us? Return and remain with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile; return to your own place. 20You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander with us, while 29I go where I will? Return and take back your brothers; 30mercy and 31truth be with you.” 21But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely 32wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be.” 22Therefore David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people passed over. The king also passed over 33the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward 34the way of the wilderness.

24Now behold, 35Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him 36carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and 37Abiathar came up until all the people had finished passing from the city. 25The king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then 38He will bring me back again and show me both it and 39His habitation. 26But if He should say thus, ‘40I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am, 41let Him do to me as seems good 42to Him.” 27The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Are you not 43a seer? Return to the city in peace and your 44two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28See, I am going to wait 45at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29Therefore Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there.

30And David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went, and 46his head was covered and he walked 47barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his head and went up weeping as they went. 31Now someone told David, saying, “48Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, 49make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness.”

32It happened as David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, that behold, Hushai the 50Archite met him with his 51coat torn and 52dust on his head. 33David said to him, “If you pass over with me, then you will be 53a burden to me. 34But if you return to the city, and 54say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant,’ then you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So it shall be that 55whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36Behold 56their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and 57by them you shall send me everything that you hear.” 37So Hushai, 58David’s friend, came into the city, and 59Absalom came into Jerusalem.