And it came to pass after this,{H310} that Absalom{H53} prepared{H6213} him a chariot{H4818} and horses,{H5483} and fifty{H2572} men{H376} to run{H7323} before{H6440} him.

And Absalom{H53} rose up early,{H7925} and stood{H5975} beside{H3027} the way{H1870} of the gate:{H8179} and it was so, that, when any man{H376} had a suit{H7379} which should come{H935} to the king{H4428} for judgment,{H4941} then Absalom{H53} called{H7121} unto him, and said,{H559} Of what{H335} city{H5892} art thou? And he said,{H559} Thy servant{H5650} is of one{H259} of the tribes{H7626} of Israel.{H3478}

And Absalom{H53} said{H559} unto him, See,{H7200} thy matters{H1697} are good{H2896} and right;{H5228} but there is no man deputed of the king{H4428} to hear{H8085} thee.

Absalom{H53} said{H559} moreover, Oh that I were made{H7760} judge{H8199} in the land,{H776} that every man{H376} who hath any suit{H7379} or cause{H4941} might come{H935} unto me, and I would do him justice!{H6663}

And it was so, that, when any man{H376} came nigh{H7126} to do him obeisance,{H7812} he put forth{H7971} his hand,{H3027} and took{H2388} hold of him, and kissed{H5401} him.

And on this manner{H1697} did{H6213} Absalom{H53} to all Israel{H3478} that came{H935} to the king{H4428} for judgment:{H4941} so Absalom{H53} stole{H1589} the hearts{H3820} of the men{H582} of Israel.{H3478}

And it came to pass at the end{H7093} of forty{H705} years,{H8141} that Absalom{H53} said{H559} unto the king,{H4428} I pray thee, let me go{H3212} and pay{H7999} my vow,{H5088} which I have vowed{H5087} unto Jehovah,{H3068} in Hebron.{H2275}

For thy servant{H5650} vowed{H5087} a vow{H5088} while I abode{H3427} at Geshur{H1650} in Syria,{H758} saying,{H559} If Jehovah{H3068} shall indeed bring me again{H7725} to Jerusalem,{H3389} then I will serve{H5647} Jehovah.{H3068}

And the king{H4428} said{H559} unto him, Go{H3212} in peace.{H7965} So he arose,{H6965} and went{H3212} to Hebron.{H2275}

But Absalom{H53} sent{H7971} spies{H7270} throughout all the tribes{H7626} of Israel,{H3478} saying,{H559} As soon as ye hear{H8085} the sound{H6963} of the trumpet,{H7782} then ye shall say,{H559} Absalom{H53} is king{H4427} in Hebron.{H2275}

And with Absalom{H53} went{H1980} two hundred{H3967} men{H376} out of Jerusalem,{H3389} that were invited,{H7121} and went{H1980} in their simplicity;{H8537} and they knew{H3045} not anything.{H1697}

And Absalom{H53} sent{H7971} for Ahithophel{H302} the Gilonite,{H1526} David's{H1732} counsellor,{H3289} from his city,{H5892} even from Giloh,{H1542} while he was offering{H2076} the sacrifices.{H2077} And the conspiracy{H7195} was strong;{H533} for the people{H5971} increased{H7227} continually{H1980} with Absalom.{H53}

And there came{H935} a messenger{H5046} to David,{H1732} saying,{H559} The hearts{H3820} of the men{H376} of Israel{H3478} are after{H310} Absalom.{H53}

And David{H1732} said{H559} unto all his servants{H5650} that were with him at Jerusalem,{H3389} Arise,{H6965} and let us flee;{H1272} for else none of us shall escape{H6413} from{H6440} Absalom:{H53} make speed{H4116} to depart,{H3212} lest he overtake{H5381} us quickly,{H4116} and bring{H5080} down evil{H7451} upon us, and smite{H5221} the city{H5892} with the edge{H6310} of the sword.{H2719}

And the king's{H4428} servants{H5650} said{H559} unto the king,{H4428} Behold, thy servants{H5650} are ready to do whatsoever my lord{H113} the king{H4428} shall choose.{H977}

And the king{H4428} went forth,{H3318} and all his household{H1004} after{H7272} him. And the king{H4428} left{H5800} ten{H6235} women,{H802} that were concubines,{H6370} to keep{H8104} the house.{H1004}

And the king{H4428} went forth,{H3318} and all the people{H5971} after{H7272} him; and they tarried{H5975} in{H1004} Beth-merhak.{H4801}

And all his servants{H5650} passed on{H5674} beside{H3027} him; and all the Cherethites,{H3774} and all the Pelethites,{H6432} and all the Gittites,{H1663} six{H8337} hundred{H3967} men{H376} that came{H935} after{H7272} him from Gath,{H1661} passed on{H5674} before{H6440} the king.{H4428}

Then said{H559} the king{H4428} to Ittai{H863} the Gittite,{H1663} Wherefore goest{H3212} thou also with us? return,{H7725} and abide{H3427} with the king:{H4428} for thou art a foreigner,{H5237} and also an exile;{H1540} [return] to thine own place.{H4725}

Whereas thou camest{H935} but yesterday,{H8543} should I this day{H3117} make thee go{H3212} up and down{H5128} with us, seeing I go{H1980} whither I may? return{H7725} thou, and take back{H7725} thy brethren;{H251} mercy{H2617} and truth{H571} be with thee.

And Ittai{H863} answered{H6030} the king,{H4428} and said,{H559} As Jehovah{H3068} liveth,{H2416} and as my lord{H3068} the king{H4428} liveth,{H2416} surely in what place{H4725} my lord{H113} the king{H4428} shall be, whether for death{H4194} or for life,{H2416} even there also will thy servant{H5650} be.

And David{H1732} said{H559} to Ittai,{H863} Go{H3212} and pass over.{H5674} And Ittai{H863} the Gittite{H1663} passed over,{H5674} and all his men,{H582} and all the little ones{H2945} that were with him.

And all the country{H776} wept{H1058} with a loud{H1419} voice,{H6963} and all the people{H5971} passed over:{H5674} the king{H4428} also himself passed over{H5674} the brook{H5158} Kidron,{H6939} and all the people{H5971} passed over,{H5674} toward{H6440} the way{H1870} of the wilderness.{H4057}

And, lo, Zadok{H6659} also [came], and all the Levites{H3881} with him, bearing{H5375} the ark{H727} of the covenant{H1285} of God;{H430} and they set down{H3332} the ark{H727} of God;{H430} and Abiathar{H54} went up,{H5927} until all the people{H5971} had done{H8552} passing{H5674} out of the city.{H5892}

And the king{H4428} said{H559} unto Zadok,{H6659} Carry back{H7725} the ark{H727} of God{H430} into the city:{H5892} if I shall find{H4672} favor{H2580} in the eyes{H5869} of Jehovah,{H3068} he will bring me again,{H7725} and show{H7200} me both it, and his habitation:{H5116}

but if he say{H559} thus, I have no delight{H2654} in thee; behold, here am I, let him do{H6213} to me as seemeth{H5869} good{H2896} unto him.

The king{H4428} said{H559} also unto Zadok{H6659} the priest,{H3548} Art thou [not] a seer?{H7200} return{H7725} into the city{H5892} in peace,{H7965} and your two{H8147} sons{H1121} with you, Ahimaaz{H290} thy son,{H1121} and Jonathan{H3083} the son{H1121} of Abiathar.{H54}

See,{H7200} I will tarry{H4102} at the fords{H6160} of the wilderness,{H4057} until there come{H935} word{H1697} from you to certify{H5046} me.

Zadok{H6659} therefore and Abiathar{H54} carried{H7725} the ark{H727} of God{H430} again{H7725} to Jerusalem:{H3389} and they abode{H3427} there.

And David{H1732} went up{H5927} by the ascent{H4608} of the [mount of] Olives,{H2132} and wept{H1058} as he went up;{H5927} and he had his head{H7218} covered,{H2645} and went{H1980} barefoot:{H3182} and all the people{H5971} that were with him covered{H2645} every man{H376} his head,{H7218} and they went up,{H5927} weeping{H1058} as they went up.{H5927}

And one told{H5046} David,{H1732} saying,{H559} Ahithophel{H302} is among the conspirators{H7194} with Absalom.{H53} And David{H1732} said,{H559} O Jehovah,{H3068} I pray thee, turn the counsel{H6098} of Ahithophel{H302} into foolishness.{H5528}

And it came to pass, that, when David{H1732} was come{H935} to the top{H7218} [of the ascent], where God{H430} was worshipped,{H7812} behold, Hushai{H2365} the Archite{H757} came to meet{H7125} him with his coat{H3801} rent,{H7167} and earth{H127} upon his head.{H7218}

And David{H1732} said{H559} unto him, If thou passest on{H5674} with me, then thou wilt be a burden{H4853} unto me:

but if thou return{H7725} to the city,{H5892} and say{H559} unto Absalom,{H53} I will be thy servant,{H5650} O king;{H4428} as I have been thy father's{H1} servant{H5650} in time past,{H227} so will I now be thy servant;{H5650} then wilt thou defeat{H6565} for me the counsel{H6098} of Ahithophel.{H302}

And hast thou not there with thee Zadok{H6659} and Abiathar{H54} the priests?{H3548} therefore it shall be, that what thing{H1697} soever thou shalt hear{H8085} out of the king's{H4428} house,{H1004} thou shalt tell{H5046} it to Zadok{H6659} and Abiathar{H54} the priests.{H3548}

Behold, they have there with them their two{H8147} sons,{H1121} Ahimaaz,{H290} Zadok's{H6659} son, and Jonathan,{H3083} Abiathar's{H54} son; and by them{H3027} ye shall send{H7971} unto me everything{H1697} that ye shall hear.{H8085}

So Hushai,{H2365} David's{H1732} friend,{H7463} came{H935} into the city;{H5892} and Absalom{H53} came{H935} into Jerusalem.{H3389}