1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

3And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

4Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

5And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

8For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

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

10But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

11And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

12And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

14And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

15And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

16And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.

17And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

18And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

20Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.

21And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

22And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

23And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

24And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were 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 done passing out of the city.

25And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

26But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

27The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

29Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

30And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

31And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

32And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

33Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:

34But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

35And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

37So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

1And it came to passe after this, that Absalom prepared him charets and horses, and fiftie men to runne before him.

2And Absalom rose vp earely, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controuersie, came to the king for iudgment, then Absalom called vnto him, and said, Of what citie art thou? And he said, Thy seruant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

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

4Absalom said moreouer, Oh that I were made Iudge in the land, that euery man which hath any suit or cause, might come vnto me, and I would do him iustice.

5And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him, to doe him obeisance, he put foorth his hand, and tooke him, and kissed him.

6And on this maner did Absalom to all Israel, that came to the King for iudgement: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 And it came to passe after fourtie yeeres, that Absalom said vnto the king, I pray thee, let mee goe and pay my vow which I haue vowed vnto the Lord in Hebron.

8For thy seruant vowed a vowe while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring mee againe in deed to Ierusalem, then I will serue the Lord.

9And the king said vnto him, Goe in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

10 But Absalom sent spies thorowout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soone as yee heare the sound of the trumpet, then yee shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

11And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Ierusalem, that were called, and they went in their simplicitie, and they knew not any thing.

12And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, Dauids counseller, from his citie, euen from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices: and the conspiracie was strong, for the people encreased continually with Absalom.

13 And there came a messenger to Dauid, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

14And Dauid said vnto all his seruants that were with him at Ierusalem, Arise, and let vs flee; for wee shall not else escape from Absalom: make speede to depart, lest hee ouertake vs suddenly, and bring euill vpon vs, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

15And the kings seruants said vnto the king, Behold, thy seruants are readie to doe whatsoeuer my lord the king shall appoint.

16And the king went foorth, and all his houshold after him: and the King left tenne women, which were concubines, to keepe the house.

17And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and taried in a place that was farre off.

18And all his seruants passed on beside him: and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, sixe hundred men, which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with vs? Returne to thy place, and abide with the King: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

20Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee goe vp and downe with vs? Seeing I goe whither I may, returne thou, and take backe thy brethren: mercie and trueth be with thee.

21And Ittai answered the King, and said, As the Lord liueth, and as my lord the king liueth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, euen there also will thy seruant be.

22And Dauid said to Ittai, Goe, and passe ouer. And Ittai the Gittite passed ouer, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

23And all the countrey wept with a loude voice, and all the people passed ouer: the King also himselfe passed ouer the brooke Kidron, and all the people passed ouer, toward the way of the wildernesse.

24 And loe, Zadok also, and all the Leuites were with him, bearing the Arke of the Couenant of God, and they set downe the Arke of God; and Abiathar went vp, vntill all the people had done passing out of the citie.

25And the King said vnto Zadok, Cary backe the Arke of God into the citie: if I shall finde fauour in the eyes of the Lord, he wil bring me againe, and shew me both it, and his habitation.

26But if he thus say, I haue no delight in thee: beholde, here am I, let him doe to me, as seemeth good vnto him.

27The king said also vnto Zadok the Priest, Art not thou a Seer? Returne into the citie in peace, and your two sonnes with you, Ahimaaz thy sonne, and Ionathan the sonne of Abiathar.

28See, I will tarie in the plaine of the wildernesse, vntill there come word from you to certifie me.

29Zadok therefore and Abiathar caried the Arke of God againe to Ierusalem; and they taried there.

30 And Dauid went vp by the ascent of mount Oliuet, and wept as he went vp, and had his head couered, and he went barefoote, and all the people that was with him, couered euery man his head, and they went vp, weeping as they went vp.

31 And one tolde Dauid, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And Dauid sayde, O Lord, I pray thee turne the counsell of Ahithophel into foolishnesse.

32 And it came to passe, that when Dauid was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him, with his coat rent, and earth vpon his head:

33Unto whom Dauid said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden vnto me.

34But if thou returne to the citie, and say vnto Absalom, I wil be thy seruant, O king: as I haue bene thy fathers seruant hitherto, so will I now also be thy seruant: then mayest thou for mee defeat the counsell of Ahithophel.

35And hast thou not there with thee Zadok, and Abiathar the Priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soeuer thou shalt heare out of the kings house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the Priests.

36Behold, they haue there with them their two sonnes, Ahimaaz Zadoks sonne, and Ionathan Abiathars sonne: and by them ye shall send vnto me euery thing that ye can heare.

37So Hushai Dauids friend came into the citie, and Absalom came into Ierusalem.

I == 2nd Sam 12:11 ; 1st Kings 1:5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV ==Judg 9:29

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == Rom 16:18

 

 

 

VII == 1st Sam 16:1

 

 

VIII == Gen 28:20-21 ; 1st Sam 16:2 ; 2nd Sam 13:38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XI == Gen 20:5 ; 1st Sam 9:13 ; 16:3 , 5

 

 

XII == Josh 15:51 ; Ps 3:1 ; 41:9 ; 55:12-14

 

 

 

XIII == Judg 9:3 ; 2nd sam 15:6

 

XIV == 2nd Sam 19:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVI == 2nd Sam 16:21-22

 

 

 

 

 

XVIII == 2nd Sam 8:18

 

 

 

XIX == 2nd Sam 18:2

 

 

 

XX == 1st Sam 23:13

 

 

XXI == Ruth 1:16-17 ; Prov 17:17 ; 18:24

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXIII == 2nd Sam 16:2 ; John18:1

 

 

XXIV == Num 4:15

 

 

 

XXV == Ps 43:3

 

 

 

XXVI == Num 14:8 ; 1st Sam 3:18 ; 2nd Sam 22:20 ; 1st Kings 10:9 ; 2nd Chr 9:8 ; Isa 62:4

XXVII == 1st Sam 9:9 ; 2nd Sam 17:17

 

XXVIII == 2nd Sam 17:16

 

 

 

XXX == 2nd Sam 19:4 ; Esth 6:12 ; Ps 126:6 ; Isa 20:2 , 4 ; Jer 14:3-4

 

 

XXXI == 2nd Sam 16:23 ; 17:14 , 23 ; Ps 3:1-2 ; 55:12

 

 

XXXII == Josh 16:2 ; 2nd Sam 1:2

 

 

XXXII == 2nd Sam 19:35

 

XXXIV == 2nd Sam 16:19

 

 

 

XXXV == 2nd Sam 17:15-16

 

 

 

XXXVI == 2nd Sam 15:27

 

 

 

XXXVII == 2nd Sam 16:15-16 ; 1st Chr 27:33

 

1 After this Absalom provided himself with chariots, horses, and fifty henchmen.

2 Moreover, Absalom used to rise early and stand alongside the road leading to the gate. If someone had a lawsuit to be decided by the king, Absalom would call to him and say, "From what city are you?" And when he replied, "Your servant is of such and such a tribe of Israel," .

3 Absalom would say to him, "Your suit is good and just, but there is no one to hear you in the king's name."

4 And he would continue: "If only I could be appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a lawsuit to be decided might come to me and I would render him justice."

5 Whenever a man approached him to show homage, he would extend his hand, hold him, and kiss him.

6 By behaving in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king for judgment, Absalom was stealing away the loyalties of the men of Israel.

7 After a period of four years, Absalom said to the king: "Allow me to go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the LORD.

8 For while living in Geshur in Aram, your servant made this vow: 'If the LORD ever brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship him in Hebron.'"

9 The king wished him a safe journey, and he went off to Hebron.

10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel to say, "When you hear the sound of the horn, declare Absalom king in Hebron."

11 Two hundred men had accompanied Absalom from Jerusalem. They had been invited and went in good faith, knowing nothing of the plan.

12 Absalom also sent to Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, an invitation to come from his town, Giloh, for the sacrifices he was about to offer. So the conspiracy gained strength, and the people with Absalom increased in numbers.

13 An informant came to David with the report, "The Israelites have transferred their loyalty to Absalom."

14 At this, David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem: "Up! Let us take flight, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Leave quickly, lest he hurry and overtake us, then visit disaster upon us and put the city to the sword."

15 The king's officers answered him, "Your servants are ready, whatever our lord the king chooses to do."

16 Then the king set out, accompanied by his entire household, except for ten concubines whom he left behind to take care of the palace.

17 As the king left the city, with all his officers accompanying him, they halted opposite the ascent of the Mount of Olives, at a distance,

18 while the whole army marched past him.As all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and the six hundred men of Gath who had accompanied him from that city, were passing in review before the king,

19 he said to Ittai the Gittite: "Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and you, too, are an exile from your own country.

20 You came only yesterday, and shall I have you wander about with us today, wherever I have to go? Return and take your brothers with you, and may the LORD be kind and faithful to you."

21 But Ittai answered the king, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, your servant shall be wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life."

22 So the king said to Ittai, "Go, then, march on." And Ittai the Gittite, with all his men and all the dependents that were with him, marched on.

23 Everyone in the countryside wept aloud as the last of the soldiers went by, and the king crossed the Kidron Valley with all the soldiers moving on ahead of him by way of the Mount of Olives, toward the desert.

24 Zadok, too (with all the Levite bearers of the ark of the covenant of God), and Abiathar brought the ark of God to a halt until the soldiers had marched out of the city.

25 Then the king said to Zadok: "Take the ark of God back to the city. If I find favor with the LORD, he will bring me back and permit me to see it and its lodging.

26 But if he should say, 'I am not pleased with you,' I am ready; let him do to me as he sees fit."

27 The king also said to the priest Zadok: "See to it that you and Abiathar return to the city in peace, and both your sons with you, your own son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar's son Jonathan.

28 Remember, I shall be waiting at the fords near the desert until I receive information from you."

29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there.

30 As David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept without ceasing. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. All those who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went.

31 When David was informed that Ahithophel was among the conspirators with Absalom, he said, "O LORD, turn the counsel of Ahithophel to folly!"

32 When David reached the top, where men used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him, with rent garments and dirt upon his head.

33 David said to him: "If you come with me, you will be a burden to me.

34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'Let me be your servant, O king; I was formerly your father's servant, but now I will be yours,' you will undo for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

35 You will have the priests Zadok and Abiathar there with you. If you hear anything from the royal palace, you shall report it to the priests Zadok and Abiathar,

36 who have there with them both Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan. Through them you shall send on to me whatever you hear."

37 So David's friend Hushai went into the city of Jerusalem as Absalom was about to enter it.

 

v 1-6. Absalom had never repented, and it may be that in his five years of exile and house arrest he was making plans for taking over the government. In addition to revenge, this may have been a part of his reason for killing his older brother Amnon. The second son, Chileab, had apparently died, leaving him next in line. He was aware of David’s leanings toward Solomon, so he decided to take over before David died. In addition to Absalom’s good looks, he had strong charisma with the people. How could David not have realized what was going on. David was old and may not have been meeting the needs of the people, but Absalom made it seem worse, as he wooed the people, saying what he would do if he were in charge. If David had appointed judges earlier, as he did in 1 Chr. 26:29-32, these problems might have been averted.

 

 

 

v 7-9. This should read four years. (Otherwise 40 years after some previous event.) Now in addition to his underhanded scheming, he lies  under the cloak of religion to get the king to approve without suspicion his going to Hebron.

 

 

 

v 10-12. His conspiracy was strong as he covered three areas, 1 People all over to respond to the spies direction.  2. 200 unsuspecting men who would rally around him  were invited to his sacrificial feast.  3. He brought David’s advisor, Ahithophel, who Jewish writers claim was ready to join the revolt because of his disgust with David for his sin with Bathsheba. The strength of the revolt was ultimately because of the Lord’s judgment on David, 12:11. If only people with Absalom’s qualities would use them for the Lord instead of self.

 

v 13-18. As soon as David heard of Absalom’s revolt, he ordered immediate evacuation of his supporters and their families to a safe place. The ten concubines he left to keep house were an indication he had faith he would return. All his servants were loyal to him, as well as 600 men who had joined him at Gath, apparently not the 600 who had joined him in exile as he fled from Saul. They all stopped at about the last house of the city while David reviewed the situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 19-23. Since Ittai, the leader of the Gittites, was not an Israelite, David gave him opportunity to take his men and leave. However, he proclaimed their fervent loyalty, so David allowed them and their families to come along. Ittai later led one of the three armies. Then they passed over the nearby Kidron brook on the way to the wilderness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 24-29. David was not fleeing in confusion, but was carefully laying down the groundwork for victory, should the Lord grant it. David sent back the priests with the ark, as well as their sons who could be messengers to David in the wilderness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 30,31. Absalom rode in a chariot with an escort, v 1,  while David went barefoot. David and his people were all weeping as they ascended the mount of Olives. There he learned that his advisor, Ahithophel, had joined  Absalom, so he called upon God to confound Ahithophel’s advice.

 

v 32-37. While they were stopped at the top of the mount to worship, Hushai, another advisor caught up with them in mourning. He would be just another one to care for in fleeing, so David sent him back to the city to use a white lie or deception to convince Absalom he was on his side. Then Ahimaaz and Jonathan, the sons of the priests,  were to be the messengers.