2 Samuel 15:13-20

13Then a messenger came to David, saying, “1The hearts of the people of Israel are 2with Absalom.” 14So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “3Arise and let’s flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Go quickly, or he will hurry and overtake us, and bring disaster on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15Then the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants will do whatever my lord the king chooses.” 16So the king left, and all his household 4with him; but 5the king left ten concubines behind to take care of the house. 17The king left, and all the people 6with him, and they stopped at the last house. 18Now all of his servants passed by beside him, and 7all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, 8six hundred men who had come 9with him from Gath, passed by before the king.

19Then the king said to 10Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you go with us too? Return and stay with 11your king, since you are a foreigner and an exile as well; return to your own place. 20You came only yesterday, so should I make you wander with us today, while 12I go wherever I go? Return and take your brothers back; 13mercy and 14truth be with you.”