2 Samuel 15:1-21 ▼

1 Some time later, Absalom (my father is peace) provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.

2 He (my father is peace) would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God),”

3 Absalom (my father is peace) would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.”

4 And he (my father is peace) would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”

5 Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.

6 Absalom (my father is peace) did this to all the Israelites (God prevails) who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 After four [forty] years had passed, Absalom (my father is peace) said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron (association) to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD {YHWH}.

8 For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur (proud beholder) of Aram (exalted), saying: ‘If indeed the LORD {YHWH} brings me back to Jerusalem (city of peace), I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’

9 “Go in peace,” said the king. So Absalom got up and went to Hebron (association).

10 Then Absalom (my father is peace) sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God) with this message: “When you⁺ hear the sound of the horn, you⁺ are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron (association)!’”

11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem (city of peace) accompanied Absalom (my father is peace). They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter.

12 While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he (my father is peace) sent for Ahithophel (my brother is folly) the Gilonite (gentilic of preceding), David’s (beloved) counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh (exile). So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.

13 Then a messenger came to David (beloved) and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) are with Absalom (my father is peace).”

14 And David (beloved) said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem (city of peace), “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom (my father is peace)! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”

15 The king’s servants replied, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.”

16 Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

17 So the king set out with all the people following him. He stopped at the last house,

18 and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites (executioners) and Pelethites (couriers), and six hundred Gittites (belonging to Gath) who had followed him from Gath (winepress).

19 Then the king said to Ittai (with me) the Gittite (belonging to Gath), “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.

20 In fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.

21 But Ittai (with me) answered the king, “As surely as the LORD {YHWH} lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”