2Sa 15 | ABEn | STEP | And it came to pass after these things , that [ 2 prepared 3 for himself 1 Absalom] chariots, and horsemen, and fifty men to run along in front of him.

2 Samuel 15

CHAPTER 15 Absalom Appoints Himself as Judge

1 And it came to pass after these things, that [²prepared ³for himself ¹Absalom] chariots, and horsemen, and fifty men to run along in front of him. 2 And [²rose early ¹Absalom], and stood at the way of the gate. And it came to pass every man in which had a case, and came to the king for a judgment, that [²called ³him ¹Absalom], and said to him, From out of of what city are you? And he said, [²is from ³one ⁴of the ⁵tribes ⁶of Israel ¹your servant]. 3 And [²said ³to ⁴him ¹Absalom], Behold, your words are good and well-tempered; but [³hearing ²no one ¹there is] you from the king. 4 And Absalom said, Why shall he not place me for judge in the land, and [⁴to ⁵me ³shall come ¹every ²man] to whom ever there might be a dispute, and a case, and I will do justice for him. 5 And it came to pass when the [²approached ¹man] to do obeisance to him, that he stretched out his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. 6 And Absalom did according to this thing to all Israel, to the ones coming for a judgment to the king. And Absalom adopted the heart of the men of Israel. 7 And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to his father, I will go indeed and pay my vows which I vowed to the lord in Hebron. 8 For [⁴a vow ³vowed ²servant ¹your] in my living in Geshur in Syria, saying, If in returning [³shall return ⁴me ¹the ² lord] to Jerusalem, then I will serve to the lord. 9 And [³said ⁴to him ¹the ²king], Proceed in peace! And rising up he went unto Hebron. 10 And Absalom sent spies into all the tribes of Israel, saying, In your hearing the sound of the trumpet, that you shall say, [²reigns ¹Absalom] in Hebron. 11 And [⁴went ⁵with ⁶Absalom ¹two hundred ³men ⁷from out of ⁸Jerusalem ²chosen]; and they went in simplicity, and they did not know not one thing. 12 And Absalom sent and called Ahithophel the Gilonite, counselor to David, from out of his city Giloh, during his sacrificing the sacrifices. And there was [²confederation ¹a strong]. And the people went, and it multiplied with Absalom. 13 And one came reporting to David, saying, [⁵is committed ¹The ²heart ³of the men ⁴of Israel] after Absalom.

David Flees from Absalom

14 And David said to all his servants with him in Jerusalem, Rise up! for we should flee, for there is no deliverance for us from the face of Absalom. Hasten to go! that he should not hasten and overtake us, and thrust [²upon ³us ¹evil], and should strike the city by the mouth of the broadsword. 15 And [⁵said ¹the ²servants ³of the ⁴king] to the king, According to all as much as seems good to our master the king, behold, we are your servants. 16 And [³went forth ¹the ²king], and all his house on their feet. And [³left ¹the ²king] ten women of his concubines to guard the house. 17 And [³went forth ¹the ²king], and all his people by foot. And they set up in a house far away. 18 And all his servants [²by ³his hand ¹passed]. And every Cherethite, and every Pelethite, and all the Gittites -- six hundred men having come from out of Gath by foot, were passing in front of the king. 19 And [³said ¹the ²king] to Ittai the Gittite, Why should you go even yourself with us? Return and live with the king! For you are an alien yourself, and because you are displaced from out of your place. 20 Since [²yesterday ¹you came], then today shall I move you to go with us? And I shall go where ever I shall go. Go, and return your brothers with you! and the lord shall execute with you an act of kindness and truth. 21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the lord lives, and as [⁴lives ¹my master ²the ³king], that unto the place where ever [⁴might be ¹my master ²the ³king], and if unto death, or if unto life, that there [²will be ¹your servant]. 22 And David said to Ittai, Go, and pass over with me! And [⁴went ¹Ittai ²the ³Gittite], and all the men, the ones with him, and all his servants. 23 And all the land wept [²voice ¹with a great]. And all the people passed through the rushing stream of the Kidron. And the king passed over the rushing stream Kidron. And all the people came unto the face of the way of the wilderness.

Zadok and Abiathar

24 And behold, also indeed Zadok and all the Levites were with him lifting the ark of the covenant of God. And they stationed the ark of God. And Abiathar ascended until [⁴ceased ¹all ²the ³people] going out of the city. 25 And [³said ¹the ²king] to Zadok, Return the ark of God unto the city! If I should find favor in the eyes of the lord, and he returns me, then he shall show it to me, and its beauty. 26 And if he should say thus, I have no want in you; behold, I, I let him do to me the pleasing thing before him. 27 And [³said ¹the ²king] to Zadok the priest, Behold, you return to the city in peace, and Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, the two sons of yours with you! 28 Behold, I wait for you in the wilderness of the desert until the coming of a word by you to report to me. 29 And [⁴returned ¹Zadok ²and ³Abiathar] the ark of God to Jerusalem, and it stayed there. 30 And David ascended upon the ascent of the olive groves, ascending and weeping, and his head being covered over, and he went barefoot. And all the people, the one with him, [³covered ¹each ²man] his head. And they ascended -- ascending and weeping. 31 And it was announced to David, saying, And Ahithophel is among the ones confederating with Absalom. And David said, O lord my God, efface indeed the counsel of Ahithophel! 32 And David was coming unto Ros, where he did obeisance there to God. And behold, [⁵was come ⁶for ⁷meeting ⁸him ¹Hushai ²the ³chief friend ⁴of David], tearing his inner garment, with earth upon his head. 33 And [²said ³to him ¹David], If you should go through with me, then you will be unto me a load. 34 If into the city you should return, then you shall say to Absalom, [²your servant ¹I am], O king, allow me to live! [²a servant ³of your father ¹for I was] then and just now, and now I am your servant. And by saying this efface to me the counsel of Ahithophel! 35 And behold, there are with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests. And it will be every word which ever you should hear from out of the house of the king, that you shall report it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, [⁶there ⁴are with ⁵them ²two ³sons ¹their], Ahimaaz son of Zadok, and Jonathan son of Abiathar. And you shall send by their hand to me every word which ever you should hear. 37 And [⁵entered ²the ³friend ¹Hushai ⁴of David] into the city, and Absalom at present entered into Jerusalem.