2 Samuel 15

And it happened after these things that Abessalom made for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

And Abessalom rose early and stood beside the way of the gate. And it happened that every man who had a lawsuit came to the king for judgment, and Abessalom called out to him and said to him, "From what city are you?" And the man said, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."

And Abessalom said to him, "Behold, your words are good and agreeable, but there is no one from the king to hear you."

And Abessalom said, "Who will appoint me judge in the land? Then every man who has a dispute and a lawsuit would come to me, and I would do him justice."

And it happened, when a man drew near to do obeisance to him, that he stretched out his hand and took hold of him and kissed him.

And Abessalom did according to this manner to all Israel who came for judgment to the king; and Abessalom appropriated to himself the heart of the men of Israel.

And it happened at the end of forty years that Abessalom said to his father, "Let me please go and pay my vows that I vowed to the Lord in Chebron.

For your servant vowed a vow while I dwelt in Gedsour in Syria, saying, 'If the Lord indeed brings me back to Ierousalem, then I will serve the Lord.'"

And the king said to him, "Go in peace." And he rose and went to Chebron.

And Abessalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "When you hear the sound of the horn, then you shall say, 'Abessalom has become king in Chebron.'"

And two hundred men from Ierousalem went with Abessalom; they were invited and went in their simplicity, and they knew nothing of the matter.

And Abessalom sent and summoned Achitophel the Gelmonite, Dauid's counselor, from his city, from Gōla, while he was sacrificing. And the conspiracy became strong, and the people going with Abessalom were many.

And the one bringing the report came to Dauid, saying, "The heart of the men of Israel has come to be after Abessalom."

And Dauid said to all his servants who were with him in Ierousalem, "Rise up and let us flee, for there is no deliverance for us from before Abessalom. Hurry to go, lest he hurry and overtake us and thrust the evil upon us and strike the city with the mouth of the sword."

And the king's servants said to the king, "According to all that our lord the king chooses — behold, we are your servants."

And the king went out, and all his household on foot; and the king left ten women of his concubines to keep the house.

And the king went out, and all his servants on foot, and they stood at the far house.

And all his servants passed by at his side, and all the Chetti and all the Pheletthi; and they stood at the olive tree in the wilderness. And all the people passed along close beside him, and all those around him, and all the stout men and all the warriors, six hundred men; and they were present at his side, and all the Chereththi and all the Pheleththi and all the Geththites, six hundred men who had come on foot from Geth, passing on before the king.

And the king said to Eththi the Geththite, "Why do you also go with us? Turn back and dwell with the king, for you are a foreigner, and because you have migrated from your own place.

You came yesterday, and today shall I move you along with us? And indeed you would migrate from your place. Yesterday was your going out, and today shall I move you along with us to go? And I am going wherever I go. Turn back, and bring your brothers back with you; and the Lord will do mercy and truth with you."

And Eththi answered the king and said, "As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, in whatever place my lord may be, whether for death or for life, there your servant will be."

And the king said to Eththi, "Come and cross over with me." And Eththi the Geththite passed over, and all his servants and all the crowd that was with him.

And all the land wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed along at the Wadi Kedron; and the king crossed the Wadi Kedron, and all the people and the king passed along toward the face of the way to the wilderness.

And behold, Sadok also and all the Leuites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Baithar. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished passing out of the city.

And the king said to Sadok, "Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, then he will bring me back and show me it and its beauty.

But if he should say thus, 'I have taken no pleasure in you' — behold, here I am; let him do to me according to what is good in his eyes."

And the king said to Sadok the priest, "See, you are returning to the city in peace, and Achimaas your son and Ionathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons, with you.

See, I am encamping in Araboth of the wilderness until a word comes from you to report to me."

And Sadok and Abiathar returned the ark to Ierousalem, and it remained there.

And Dauid was going up by the ascent of the olive trees, going up and weeping and with his head covered; and he himself went barefoot. And all the people who were with him, each man covered his head, and they went up, going up and weeping.

And it was reported to Dauid, saying, "Achitophel also is among those conspiring with Abessalom." And Dauid said, "Please frustrate the counsel of Achitophel, O Lord my God."

And Dauid was coming as far as Rōos, where he did obeisance to God there; and behold, Chousi the Archite, Dauid's companion, came to meet him with his tunic torn and earth upon his head.

And Dauid said to him, "If indeed you cross over with me, then you will be a burden upon me.

But if you return to the city and say to Abessalom, 'Your brothers have passed over, and the king your father has passed over behind me; and now I am your servant, O king; let me live. I was your father's servant then and just now, and now I am your slave' — then you will frustrate for me the counsel of Achitophel.

And behold, Sadok and Abiathar the priests are there with you; and every word that you hear from the king's house you shall report to Sadok and to Abiathar the priests.

Behold, their two sons are there with them, Achimaas son of Sadok and Ionathan son of Abiathar; and by their hand you shall send to me every word that you hear."

And Chousi, Dauid's companion, entered the city; and Abessalom was entering Ierousalem.