2 Samuel 15:1-21 ▼

1 After this, Absalo prepared him charettes & horses, and fiftie men to runne before him.

2 And Absalom rose vp early, and stoode in the place of the entring in of the gate: And euery man that had any matter and came to the king for iudgement, him did Absalom cal vnto him, and sayde: Of what citie art thou? He aunswered: Thy seruaunt is of one of the tribes of Israel.

3 And Absalom said vnto him: See, thy matters are good and righteous, but there is no man deputed of the king to heare thee.

4 Absalom sayde moreouer: Oh, that I were made iudge in the land, that euery man which hath any plea and matter in the lawe, might come to me, and that I might do him iustice.

5 And when any man came nye to him, and dyd him obeysaunce, he put foorth his hande, and toke him to him, and kissed him.

6 And on this maner dyd Absalom to al Israel that came to the king for iudgement: so Absalom stale the heartes of the men of Israel.

7 And after fourtie yeres, Absalom said vnto the king: I pray thee let me go to Hebron, & pay my vowe which I haue vowed vnto the Lorde:

8 For thy seruaunt vowed a vowe (when I was in Gesur in Siria) saying: If the Lorde shall bring me againe in deede to Hierusalem, I wil serue the Lorde.

9 And the king said vnto him: Go in peace. And so he arose, and went to Hebron.

10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying: Assoone as ye heare the voyce of the trumpet blow, ye shall say, Absalom raigneth in Hebro.

11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Hierusalem, that were called: And they went with pure heartes, not knowing of any thing.

12 And Absalom sent for Ahithopel the Gilonite Dauids counseller, fro his citie Gilo, while he offered sacrifices, and there was wrought strong treason: For the people went and increased with Absalom.

13 And ther came a messenger to Dauid, and sayde: The heartes of the men of Israel are turned after Absalom.

14 And Dauid said vnto all his seruautes that were with him at Hierusalem: Up, that we may flee, for we shall not els escape from Absalom: Make speede to departe, lest he come sodenly & catche vs, and bring euyll vpon vs, and smyte the citie with the edge of the sworde.

15 And the kinges seruauntes sayd vnto him: Beholde, thy seruauntes are redy to do whatsoeuer my lord the king shall appoynt.

16 And the king departed, and al his housholde at his feete: And the king left ten concubines to kepe the house.

17 And the king went foorth and all the people at his feete, and taried in a place that was farre of.

18 And al his seruauntes went about him: and all the Cerethites, and all the Phelethites, and all the Gethites, euen sixe hundred men whiche were come after him from Geth, went before the king.

19 Then sayde the king to Ithai the Gethite: Wherfore commest thou with vs? Returne, and abyde with the king, for thou art a straunger, depart therfore to thy place.

20 Thou camest yesterday, and should I vnquiet thee to day to go with vs? I will go whyther I can: Therfore returne thou, & cary againe thy brethren: Mercy and trueth be with thee.

21 And Ithai aunswered the king, & said: As the Lord lyueth, and as my lord the king lyueth, in what place my lorde the king shalbe, whether in death or lyfe, euen there also will thy seruaunt be.