1 After|strong="H0310" this|strong="H3651", Absalom|strong="H0053" got a|strong="H1961" chariot|strong="H4818" and|strong="H0376" horses|strong="H5483" for|strong="H3651" himself|strong="H6440". He|strong="H0310" had|strong="H1961" 50 men|strong="H0376" run|strong="H7323" in|strong="H0376" front|strong="H6440" of|strong="H0376" him|strong="H0310" while|strong="H1961" he|strong="H0310" drove the|strong="H6440" chariot|strong="H4818".
2 Absalom|strong="H0053" would|strong="H3478" get|strong="H0935" up|strong="H7925" early|strong="H7925" and|strong="H0935" stand|strong="H5975" near|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" gate|strong="H8179". He|strong="H0834" would|strong="H3478" watch for|strong="H5921" anyone|strong="H3605" with|strong="H0413" problems who|strong="H0834" was|strong="H1961" going|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H3027" for|strong="H5921" judgment|strong="H4941". Then|strong="H1961" Absalom|strong="H0053" would|strong="H3478" talk to|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413" and|strong="H0935" say|strong="H0559", “What|strong="H0834" city|strong="H5892" are|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" from|strong="H0935"?” They|strong="H0834" would|strong="H3478" say|strong="H0559" they|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" from|strong="H0935" such|strong="H2088" and|strong="H0935" such|strong="H2088" tribe|strong="H7626" in|strong="H5921" Israel|strong="H3478".
3 Then|strong="H0853" Absalom|strong="H0053" would|strong="H0053" say|strong="H0559", “Look|strong="H7200", you|strong="H0853" are|strong="H1697" right|strong="H5228", but|strong="H7200" King|strong="H4428" David will|strong="H4428" not|strong="H0369" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0853".”
4 Absalom|strong="H0053" would|strong="H0053" also|strong="H0935" say|strong="H0559", “Oh|strong="H4310", I|strong="H0834" wish|strong="H4310" someone|strong="H0376" would|strong="H0053" make|strong="H7760" me|strong="H5921" a|strong="H1961" judge|strong="H8199" in|strong="H5921" this|strong="H0834" country|strong="H0776"! Then|strong="H1961" I|strong="H0834" could|strong="H4310" help everyone|strong="H3605" who|strong="H0834" comes|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0559" me|strong="H5921" with|strong="H5921" a|strong="H1961" problem. I|strong="H0834" would|strong="H0053" help them|strong="H5921" get|strong="H0935" a|strong="H1961" fair solution to|strong="H0559" their|strong="H3605" problem.”
5 And|strong="H3027" if|strong="H0376" anyone|strong="H0376" came|strong="H1961" to|strong="H1961" Absalom and|strong="H3027" started|strong="H1961" to|strong="H1961" bow|strong="H7812" down|strong="H7812" to|strong="H1961" him|strong="H7971", Absalom would|strong="H0376" treat|strong="H1961" him|strong="H7971" like|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" close|strong="H7126" friend|strong="H0376"—he|strong="H0853" would|strong="H0376" reach|strong="H1961" out|strong="H2388" and|strong="H3027" touch him|strong="H7971" and|strong="H3027" kiss him|strong="H7971".
6 Absalom|strong="H0053" did|strong="H6213" that|strong="H0834" to|strong="H0413" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" who|strong="H0834" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" David for|strong="H0413" judgment|strong="H4941". In|strong="H0935" this|strong="H2088" way|strong="H1697" Absalom|strong="H0053" won|strong="H1589" the|strong="H3605" hearts|strong="H3820" of|strong="H4428" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0376" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478".
7 After|strong="H7093" four|strong="H0705" years|strong="H8141", Absalom|strong="H0053" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" David, “Please|strong="H4994" let|strong="H4994" me|strong="H0413" go|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" Hebron|strong="H2275" to|strong="H0413" complete a|strong="H1961" special promise|strong="H3068" that|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0834" made|strong="H5087" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068".
8 I|strong="H3588" made|strong="H5087" that|strong="H3588" promise|strong="H3068" while|strong="H3588" I|strong="H3588" was|strong="H3068" still|strong="H7725" living|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" Geshur|strong="H1650" in|strong="H3427" Aram|strong="H0758". I|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559", ‘If|strong="H0518" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" brings me|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0559" Jerusalem|strong="H3389", I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3068" serve|strong="H5647" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" in|strong="H3427" a|strong="H3588" special way.’”
9 King|strong="H4428" David said|strong="H0559", “Go|strong="H6965" in|strong="H4428" peace|strong="H7965".”
10 But|strong="H8085" he|strong="H0853" also|strong="H0853" sent|strong="H7971" spies|strong="H7270" to|strong="H0559" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" tribes|strong="H7626" of|strong="H7626" Israel|strong="H3478". They|strong="H0559" told|strong="H0559" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H8085", “When|strong="H8085" you|strong="H3605" hear|strong="H8085" the|strong="H3605" trumpet|strong="H7782", say|strong="H0559", ‘Absalom|strong="H0053" is|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4427" in|strong="H3478" Hebron|strong="H2275"!’”
11 Absalom|strong="H0053" invited|strong="H7121" 200 men|strong="H0376" to|strong="H1980" go|strong="H1980" with|strong="H0854" him|strong="H0854". They|strong="H3808" left|strong="H1980" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" with|strong="H0854" him|strong="H0854", but|strong="H3808" they|strong="H3808" did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" know|strong="H3045" what|strong="H1697" he|strong="H3808" was|strong="H0376" planning.
12 Ahithophel|strong="H0302" was|strong="H1961" one|strong="H1961" of|strong="H2077" David’s|strong="H1732" advisors. He|strong="H1732" was|strong="H1961" from|strong="H1980" the|strong="H0853" town|strong="H5892" of|strong="H2077" Giloh|strong="H1542". While|strong="H1961" Absalom|strong="H0053" was|strong="H1961" offering|strong="H2076" sacrifices|strong="H2077", he|strong="H1732" invited Ahithophel|strong="H0302" to|strong="H1980" join|strong="H1980". Absalom’s|strong="H0053" plans were|strong="H1961" working very|strong="H7227" well and|strong="H1980" more|strong="H7227" and|strong="H1980" more|strong="H7227" people|strong="H5971" began|strong="H1961" to|strong="H1980" support him|strong="H7971".
13 A|strong="H1961" man|strong="H0376" came|strong="H0935" in|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" tell|strong="H5046" the|strong="H0559" news|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732". The|strong="H0559" man|strong="H0376" said|strong="H0559", “The|strong="H0559" people|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Israel|strong="H3478" are|strong="H3478" beginning to|strong="H0413" follow|strong="H0310" Absalom|strong="H0053".”
14 Then|strong="H1961" David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" all|strong="H3605" of|strong="H6440" his|strong="H3605" officers|strong="H5650" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" still|strong="H0559" in|strong="H5921" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" with|strong="H0854" him|strong="H5921", “Come|strong="H1961" on|strong="H5921", we|strong="H3588" cannot|strong="H3808" let|strong="H1961" him|strong="H5921" trap us|strong="H5921" here|strong="H5921" in|strong="H5921" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". Hurry|strong="H4116" up|strong="H6965", before|strong="H6440" he|strong="H0834" catches us|strong="H5921". He|strong="H0834" will|strong="H1961" destroy|strong="H5221" us|strong="H5921" all|strong="H3605", and|strong="H6965" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" destroyed|strong="H5221" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" battle.”
15 The|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" officers|strong="H5650" told|strong="H0559" him|strong="H0413", “We|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" do|strong="H3605" whatever|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" tell|strong="H0559" us|strong="H0413".”
16 King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H5800" left|strong="H3318" with|strong="H1004" everyone|strong="H3605" in|strong="H1004" his|strong="H3605" family|strong="H1004", except ten|strong="H6235" of|strong="H4428" his|strong="H3605" slave women|strong="H0802". He|strong="H0853" left|strong="H3318" them|strong="H0853" to|strong="H8104" take|strong="H8104" care|strong="H8104" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" house|strong="H1004".
17 The|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" left|strong="H3318" with|strong="H3605" everyone|strong="H3605" in|strong="H4428" his|strong="H3605" house following|strong="H7272" him|strong="H3605" on|strong="H5975" foot|strong="H7272". They|strong="H5971" stopped|strong="H5975" at|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" last|strong="H5975" house.
18 All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" officers|strong="H5650" passed|strong="H5674" by|strong="H5921" him|strong="H5921". And|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Kerethites, all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Pelethites|strong="H6432", and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" Gittites|strong="H1663" (600 men|strong="H0376" from|strong="H0935" Gath|strong="H1661") passed|strong="H5674" by|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428".
19 The|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Ittai|strong="H0863" from|strong="H7725" Gath|strong="H1663", “Why|strong="H4100" are|strong="H4100" you|strong="H0859" also|strong="H1571" going|strong="H7725" with|strong="H5973" us|strong="H0413"? You|strong="H0859" are|strong="H4100" a|strong="H3588" foreigner|strong="H5237"; this|strong="H3588" is|strong="H4100" not|strong="H3588" your|strong="H7725" homeland. Go|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" and|strong="H4428" stay|strong="H3427" with|strong="H5973" the|strong="H0559" new king|strong="H4428".
20 You|strong="H0834" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" join|strong="H1980" me|strong="H7725" only yesterday|strong="H8543". You|strong="H0834" don’t need to|strong="H0935" wander|strong="H5128" from|strong="H7725" place|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" place|strong="H0935" with|strong="H5973" me|strong="H7725". Take|strong="H7725" your|strong="H5921" brothers|strong="H0251" and|strong="H1980" go|strong="H1980" back|strong="H7725". Go|strong="H1980" with|strong="H5973" my|strong="H5921" faithful|strong="H2617", loving kindness|strong="H2617".”
21 But|strong="H3588" Ittai|strong="H0863" answered|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428", “As|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" lives|strong="H2416", and|strong="H3068" as|strong="H0834" long as|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" live|strong="H2416", I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" stay with|strong="H3068" you|strong="H0834", in|strong="H3068" life|strong="H2416" or|strong="H0518" death|strong="H4194"!”
22 David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Ittai|strong="H0863", “Then|strong="H0559" come, let’s go|strong="H5674" cross|strong="H5674" Kidron Brook.”
23 All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" were|strong="H0776" crying|strong="H1058" loudly|strong="H6963". Then|strong="H0853" King|strong="H4428" David crossed|strong="H5674" over|strong="H5921" Kidron|strong="H6939" Brook|strong="H5158", and|strong="H0776" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" went|strong="H6440" out|strong="H6440" to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" desert|strong="H4057".
24 Zadok|strong="H6659" and|strong="H0430" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Levites|strong="H3881" with|strong="H0854" him|strong="H0853" were|strong="H3881" carrying|strong="H5375" the|strong="H3605" Box of|strong="H0430" God’s|strong="H0430" Agreement|strong="H1285". They|strong="H5704" set|strong="H3332" down|strong="H3332" God’s|strong="H0430" Holy Box, and|strong="H0430" Abiathar|strong="H0054" said prayers until|strong="H5704" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" had|strong="H0430" left|strong="H5927" Jerusalem.
25 King|strong="H4428" David said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" Zadok|strong="H6659", “Take|strong="H7725" God’s|strong="H0430" Holy Box back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0559" Jerusalem. If|strong="H0518" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" is|strong="H3068" pleased|strong="H5869" with|strong="H3068" me|strong="H7725", he|strong="H0518" will|strong="H3068" bring|strong="H7725" me|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" and|strong="H3068" let me|strong="H7725" see|strong="H7200" Jerusalem and|strong="H3068" his|strong="H3068" Temple.
26 But|strong="H0518" if|strong="H0518" he|strong="H0834" says|strong="H0559" he|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" pleased|strong="H2896" with|strong="H5869" me|strong="H3808", let|strong="H3808" him|strong="H0559" do|strong="H6213" whatever|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" wants to|strong="H0559" me|strong="H3808".”
27 The|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Zadok|strong="H6659" the|strong="H0559" priest|strong="H3548", “You|strong="H0859" are|strong="H1121" a|strong="H7200" seer. Go|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" city|strong="H5892" in|strong="H0413" peace|strong="H7965". Take|strong="H7725" your|strong="H7200" son|strong="H1121" Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" and|strong="H1121" Jonathan|strong="H3083" the|strong="H0559" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Abiathar|strong="H0054".
28 I|strong="H0595" will|strong="H1697" be|strong="H1697" waiting|strong="H5704" near|strong="H5973" the|strong="H0935" places where people|strong="H7200" cross the|strong="H0935" river|strong="H5704" into|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" desert|strong="H4057". I|strong="H0595" will|strong="H1697" wait|strong="H4102" there|strong="H5704" until|strong="H5704" I|strong="H0595" hear|strong="H5046" from|strong="H0935" you|strong="H5704".”
29 So|strong="H7725" Zadok|strong="H6659" and|strong="H0430" Abiathar|strong="H0054" took|strong="H0853" God’s|strong="H0430" Holy Box back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H7725" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" and|strong="H0430" stayed|strong="H3427" there|strong="H8033".
30 David|strong="H1732" walked|strong="H1980" up|strong="H5927" the|strong="H3605" path to|strong="H1980" the|strong="H3605" Mount|strong="H5927" of|strong="H0376" Olives|strong="H2132". He|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" crying|strong="H1058", his|strong="H3605" head|strong="H7218" was|strong="H0834" covered|strong="H2645", and|strong="H1980" he|strong="H0834" went|strong="H1980" without sandals on|strong="H1980" his|strong="H3605" feet. All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" with|strong="H0854" David|strong="H1732" also|strong="H1732" covered|strong="H2645" their|strong="H3605" heads|strong="H7218" and|strong="H1980" were|strong="H0834" crying|strong="H1058" as|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" walked|strong="H1980" with|strong="H0854" him|strong="H0854".
31 Someone told|strong="H5046" David|strong="H1732", “Ahithophel|strong="H0302" is|strong="H3068" one|strong="H3068" who|strong="H3068" joined|strong="H7194" in|strong="H3068" Absalom’s|strong="H0053" plot against|strong="H5973" you|strong="H5046".” Then|strong="H0853" David|strong="H1732" prayed|strong="H0559", “LORD|strong="H3068", I|strong="H0559" ask|strong="H0559" you|strong="H5046" to|strong="H0559" make|strong="H5046" Ahithophel|strong="H0302" give|strong="H5046" only foolish|strong="H5528" advice|strong="H6098".”
32 When|strong="H1961" David|strong="H1732" got to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0834" top|strong="H7218" of|strong="H0430" the|strong="H0834" mountain, he|strong="H0834" bowed|strong="H7812" down|strong="H7812" to|strong="H0935" worship|strong="H7812" God|strong="H0430". Then|strong="H1961" David|strong="H1732" noticed Hushai|strong="H2365" the|strong="H0834" Arkite|strong="H0757". Hushai’s coat|strong="H3801" was|strong="H1961" torn|strong="H7167", and|strong="H0935" there|strong="H8033" was|strong="H1961" dust|strong="H0127" on|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" head|strong="H7218".
33 David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" Hushai, “If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0518" go|strong="H1961" with|strong="H0854" me|strong="H5921", you|strong="H0518" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" just one|strong="H0518" more|strong="H5921" person to|strong="H0559" care|strong="H5921" for|strong="H5921".
34 But|strong="H0518" if|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0518" go|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0559" Jerusalem, you|strong="H0518" can|strong="H0518" disagree with|strong="H0001" Ahithophel|strong="H0302" and|strong="H4428" make|strong="H7725" his|strong="H7725" advice|strong="H6098" useless. Tell|strong="H0559" Absalom|strong="H0053", ‘King|strong="H4428", I|strong="H0589" am|strong="H0589" your|strong="H7725" servant|strong="H5650". I|strong="H0589" served|strong="H1961" your|strong="H7725" father|strong="H0001", but|strong="H0518" now|strong="H6258" I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H1961" serve|strong="H1961" you|strong="H0518".’
35 The|strong="H3605" priests|strong="H3548" Zadok|strong="H6659" and|strong="H4428" Abiathar|strong="H0054" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" with|strong="H5973" you|strong="H0834". You|strong="H0834" must|strong="H3808" tell|strong="H5046" them|strong="H1961" everything|strong="H3605" you|strong="H0834" hear|strong="H8085" in|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" palace|strong="H1004".
36 Zadok’s|strong="H6659" son|strong="H1121" Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" and|strong="H1121" Abiathar’s|strong="H0054" son|strong="H1121" Jonathan|strong="H3083" will|strong="H0834" be|strong="H1121" with|strong="H5973" them|strong="H0413". You|strong="H0834" can|strong="H0834" send|strong="H7971" them|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" tell|strong="H3605" me|strong="H0413" everything|strong="H3605" you|strong="H0834" hear|strong="H8085".”
37 So|strong="H0935" David’s|strong="H1732" friend|strong="H7463" Hushai|strong="H2365" went|strong="H0935" back|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" city|strong="H5892", just as|strong="H0935" Absalom|strong="H0053" arrived|strong="H0935" in|strong="H0935" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".