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Absalom's Conspiracy
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Absalom’s Rebellion
After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him.
After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him.
And Absalom rose early, and stood beside the way of the gate; and it was so, that when any man who had a controversy had to come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe.
And Absalom said to him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man to hear thee [appointed] by the king.
Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it.
And Absalom said, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any controversy and cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!
I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!”
And it was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them.
And in this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment; and Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.
And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay in Hebron my vow which I have vowed to Jehovah.
For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode in Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.
And the king said to him, Go in peace. And he rose up and went to Hebron.
“All right,” the king told him. “Go and fulfill your vow.”
So Absalom went to Hebron.
So Absalom went to Hebron.
And Absalom sent emissaries into all the tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the sound of the trumpet, ye shall say, Absalom reigns in Hebron.
But while he was there, he sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Israel to stir up a rebellion against the king. “As soon as you hear the ram’s horn,” his message read, “you are to say, ‘Absalom has been crowned king in Hebron.’”
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew nothing.
He took 200 men from Jerusalem with him as guests, but they knew nothing of his intentions.
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, from Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. And the conspiracy gathered strength; and the people increased continually with Absalom.
While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, one of David’s counselors who lived in Giloh. Soon many others also joined Absalom, and the conspiracy gained momentum.
David Flees Jerusalem
And there came one to David who reported saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
And there came one to David who reported saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
David Escapes from Jerusalem
A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”
And David said to all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Rise up and let us flee; for we shall not [else] escape from Absalom. Be quick to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
“Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.”
And the king's servants said to the king, Behold, thy servants [will do] whatever my lord the king shall choose.
“We are with you,” his advisers replied. “Do what you think is best.”
And the king went forth, and all his household after him, and the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.
So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace.
And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and stayed at the remote house.
The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house
And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed over before the king.
And the king said to Ittai the Gittite, Why dost thou also go with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king; for thou art a foreigner, and besides, thou hast emigrated to the place where thou [dwellest].
Then the king turned and said to Ittai, a leader of the men from Gath, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile.
Thou didst come yesterday, and should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I can? Return and take back thy brethren. Mercy and truth be with thee!
And Ittai answered the king and said, [As] Jehovah liveth, and [as] my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by the LORD and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens — whether it means life or death.”
And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
David replied, “All right, come with us.” So Ittai and all his men and their families went along.
And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over; the king also himself passed over the torrent Kidron, and all the people passed over, towards the way of the wilderness.
Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by. They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness.
And behold, Zadok also, 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 passed completely out of the city.
And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I shall find favour in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and shew me it, and its habitation.
But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, [here am] I, let him do to me as seemeth good to him.
But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”
And the king said to Zadok the priest, Thou art the seer: return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
See, I will stop in the plains of the desert, until there come word from you to inform me.
And Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem; and they abode there.
So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to the city and stayed there.
David Weeps at Mount Olivet
But David went up by the ascent of the Olives, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot; and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
But David went up by the ascent of the Olives, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot; and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill.
And one told David saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. Then said David, Jehovah, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, “O LORD, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!”
And it came to pass, when David had come to the summit, where he worshipped God, that behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.
When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning.
And David said to him, If thou passest on with me, thou wilt be a burden to me;
But David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden.
but if thou return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so now will I be thy servant; then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice.
And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? and it shall be, [that] whatsoever thing thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king’s palace,
Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's [son], and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send to me everything that ye shall hear.
and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on.”