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Absalom’s Treason
After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with 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.
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.
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.
Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give 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 so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him.
When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them.
In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So 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.
For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’ ”
And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose 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.
Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you 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 invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything.
He took 200 men from Jerusalem with him as guests, but they knew nothing of his intentions.
Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city — from Giloh — while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.
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 Escapes from Jerusalem
A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”
So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike 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, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.”
“We are with you,” his advisers replied. “Do what you think is best.”
Then the king went out with all his household after him. But 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 out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts.
The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house
Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place.
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.
In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go I know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.”
But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will 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.”
So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over.
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 crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward 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.
There was 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 finished crossing over from the city.
Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place.
But if He says thus: ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”
But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”
See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.
So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to the city and stayed there.
So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and 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.
Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, 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!”
Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God — there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on 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.
David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me.
But David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden.
But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.
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 do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell 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,
Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”
and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on.”