Shmuel II - Chapter 15

1. And it came to pass after this, that Absalom made for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men were running before him.

2. And Absalom would rise up, and stand beside the path of the gate; and it was [when] any man that would have a suit [due] to come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him and he said: "From what city are you?" and he said: "Of one of the tribes of Israel is your servant.

3. And Absalom said to him: "See your words are good and right; but there is none of the king's [judges] to hear you."

4. And Absalom said, "Oh, who will appoint me judge in the land, and every man who has a quarrel or suit, will come to me, then I will [surely] do him justice."

5. And it would be, when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, that he put forth his hand and took hold of him, and kissed him.

6. And Absalom did likewise to all the Israelites that came to the king for judgment. And Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7. And it came to pass at the end of forty years; and Absalom said to the king; "Allow me to go, I beg you, and pay my vow which I have vowed to the Lord in Hebron.

8. For your servant vowed a vow during my stay in Geshur in Aram, saying: 'If the Lord shall bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord'."

9. And the king said to him: "Go in peace." And he arose and went to Hebron.

10. And Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the shofar, then you shall say: 'Absalom is king in Hebron'."

11. And with Absalom went two hundred men [that were] invited; and went in their innocence; and did not know of anything.

12. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, from Giloh, as he offered the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, and the people with Absalom were steadily increasing.

13. And the messenger came to David saying, "The hearts of the people of Israel are after Absalom."

14. And David said to all his servants that were with him in Jerusalem: "Arise and let us flee, for there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly lest he hurry and overtake us, and bring upon us evil, and smite the city with the edge of the sword."

15. And the king's servants said to the king, "Whatever my lord the king shall choose, behold your servants [are ready to do]."

16. And the king went forth, and all his household were right behind him. And the king led the ten women (who were) concubines to keep the house.

17. And the king went forth, and all the people were right behind him: and they remained standing at the farthest house.

18. And all his servants passed on beside him, and all the archers and all the slingers, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19. And the king said to Ittai the Gittite; 'Why do you also go with us? return, and abide with the king; for you are a foreigner, and if you are wont to wander, [go to] your own place.

20. [Only] yesterday you came, and today I should move you about with us, seeing that I go wherever I can go? Return and take back your brothers with you, (and do) kindness and truth (to them)."

21. And Ittai answered the king and said, 'As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, that in the place where my lord the king shall be, whether for life or for death, for there shall your servant be.'

22. And David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over." And Ittai the Gittite passed over and [so did] all his men and all the little ones that were with him.

23. And all the land wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over; and the king passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness.

24. And lo, Zadok also [came], and all the Levites with him, bearing 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 out of the city.

25. And the king said to Zadok, "Carry back the ark of God to the city; if I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, then He will bring me back, and He will show me it, and His habitation.

26. But if so [He] says, 'I do not want you,' behold, here I am, let Him do to me as seems good in His eyes."

27. And the king said to Zadok the priest: 'Do you (not) see? return to the city in peace, and Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons, [shall be] with you.

28. See, I will tarry in the plains of the wilderness, until there comes word from you to announce to me.'

29. And Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem, and they abode there.

30. And David went up by the ascent of the [mount of] olives, weeping as he went up. And he had his head covered and he went barefoot; and (of) all the people that were with him every man covered his head, weeping as they went up.

31. And [someone] told David saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "Make foolish, I beg you, the counsel of Ahithophel, O' Lord."

32. And David was coming to the top where he would prostrate himself to God, and behold, towards him [came] Hushai the Archite with his shirt torn, and earth upon his head.

33. And David said to him, "If you pass on with me you will be a burden to me.

34. But if you return to the city and you say to Absalom, 'I O' king will be your servant, just as I was previously your father's servant,' and now I am your servant; then you will (be able) to frustrate for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

35. And have you not there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priest? And it shall [therefore] be that everything you hear from the king's house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36. And, behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz to Zadok, and Jonathan to Abiathar, and through them you shall send to me everything you hear."

37. And Hushai the Archite, the friend of David, came into the city, and Absalom [was] coming to Jerusalem.