Absalom’s Conspiracy

1And it came to pass after this that Absalom prepared for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before his face. 2And Absalom would rise early and stand by the side of the way of the gate.

And it came to pass, when every man who had a grievance came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “From which city are you?” And he would say, “From one of the tribes of Israel is your servant.” 3And Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right, and there is none from the king to hear you.”

4And Absalom would say, “Who will make me judge in the land, and to me would come every man who has to him a grievance or dispute, and I would give him justice!”

5And it came to pass whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. 6And Absalom acted in this manner toward all Israel who came for judgment to the king. And Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7And it came to pass after four† years that Absalom said to the king, “Let me go, please, and pay the vow that I made to YHWH in Hebron. 8For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If YHWH does surely bring me back to Jerusalem, I will serve YHWH in Hebron.†’”

9And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” And he arose and went to Hebron.

10And Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you⁺ hear the voice of the shofar, you⁺ shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron.’”

11And with Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem, who were called, and they went along in their blamelessness, and did not know the whole matter. 12And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, counselor of David, from his city, from Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices.

And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people continually increased in number with Absalom.

David Flees Jerusalem
(Psalm 3:1–8)

13And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

14And David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we there will not be an escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he hurry and overtake us and swing upon us a disaster and strike the city with the mouth of the sword.”

15And the servants of the king said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king chooses—behold, your servants.”

16And the king went out, and all his household at his feet, and the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.

17And the king went out, and all the people after him, and they stood at the last house. 18And all his servants passed over before his hand, and all the Cherethite, and all the Pelethite, and all the Gittite—six hundred men who had followed at his foot from Gath passed over before the face of the king.

19And 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 you are an exile from your own place. 20Only yesterday you arrived, and today should I make you wander up and down with us, since I go on where I know not? Turn back and take back your brothers with you.” May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.†

21And Ittai answered the king and said, “As YHWH lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely if in whatever place where my lord the king shall be there, whether in death or in life, even there also your servant will be.”

22And David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little children who were with him.

23And all the country wept in a loud voice, and all the people passed over, and the king himself also passed over the Kidron Valley, and all the people passed over, by the face of the way of the wilderness, 24and behold, also Zadok 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 passing over from the city.

25And the king said to Zadok, “Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of YHWH, He will bring me back and show me it and His dwelling place. 26But if thus He says, ‘I have not delighted in you,’ behold, it is I. Let Him do to me as is good in His eyes.”

27And the king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer? Return† to the city in peace, and Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan son of Abiathar, your⁺ two sons with you⁺. 28See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you⁺ to inform me.”

29And Zadok and Abiathar carried back the ark of God to Jerusalem, and they remained there.

David Weeps at the Mount of Olives
(Psalm 63:1–11)

30And David went up by the Ascent of the Olives, going up and weeping, and the head of him was covered, and he went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered each their heads, and went up, going up and weeping.

31And David was told, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.”

And David said, “Turn into foolishness, please, the counsel of Ahithophel, O YHWH.”

32And it came to pass, David having come to the top, where he had worshiped God, that there was coming to meet him Hushai the Archite, with his tunic torn and dust on his head.

33And David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will become a burden to me. 34But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king, and servant of your father as I was from then, and now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

35And is there not with you there Zadok and Abiathar the priests? And it will come to pass that the whole of the matter that you hear from the house of the king, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36Behold, there with them are their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, and you⁺ shall send by their hand to me every word that you⁺ hear.”

37And Hushai friend of David went into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.