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          DASV: 2 Samuel 15    

1 After this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses and fifty
men to run before him.
2 Absalom regularly got up early, and stood beside the
road to the town gate. Whenever anyone brought a legal
case to the king for judgment, then Absalom would call
out to him, "What town are you from?" The person would
respond, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of
Israel."
3 Then Absalom would say to him, "Yes, your claims are
good and right; but there is no representative of the
king to hear you."
4 Absalom would continue, "If only I were made judge in
the land, then everyone who had any case or cause could
come to me, and I would give him justice!"
5 Whenever anyone came near to bow before him, he would
put out his hand, and embrace and kiss him.
6 This is the way Absalom treated everyone in Israel who
came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the
hearts of the people of Israel.

7 After four years, Absalom said to the king, "Please let me
go to Hebron and fulfill my vow that I have made to the LORD.
8 For your servant made a vow while I was living in Geshur
in Aram, saying, 'If the LORD will bring me back again to
Jerusalem, then I will worship the LORD in Hebron.'"
9 The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he got up and
went to Hebron.

10 But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the
tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the trumpet
sound then you should proclaim, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'"
11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom.
They were invited, but went innocently knowing nothing
of his subversion.
12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for
Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, who was
from the town of Giloh. The conspiracy grew strong as
the number of people backing Absalom kept increasing.

13 A messenger came to David saying, "The hearts of the
Israelites have gone over to Absalom."
14 David said to all his servants who were with him in
Jerusalem, "Get up and let us flee, otherwise none of
us will escape from Absalom. Hurry up and leave or he
will soon overtake and bring disaster on us, and strike
the city with the edge of the sword."
15 The king's servants said to the king, "Look, your
servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king
decides."
16 So the king and all his household set out. But the
king left ten concubines to look after the palace.

17 Then the king left with all the people following him,
and they stopped at the last house at the edge of the city.
18 All his officials passed on before him. All the
Cherethites and Pelethites royal guard, and 600 Gittites
who followed him from Gath, led the way before the king.
19 Then the king asked Ittai the Gittite, "Why are you
going with us? Return and stay with the king Absalom,
for you are a foreigner, in exile from your homeland.
20 You came only yesterday. Should I this day force you
to wander around with us, seeing I am not sure where
I am going? Go back, and take back your brothers too.
May kindness and faithfulness be with you."
21 Then Ittai answered the king, "As the LORD lives,
and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the
king is, whether it means death or life, there also
will your servant be."
22 David said to Ittai, "All right, go on then, cross
over." So Ittai the Gittite went along with all his
men and all the little ones who were with him.

23 The whole country wept aloud, and all the people
crossed over. The king also himself crossed over the
Kidron Valley. Then all the people crossed over on
the road that leads to the desert.
24 Zadok also came, along with all the Levites who
were with him carrying the ark of the covenant of God.
They set down the ark of God and Abiathar offered
sacrifices until all the people had finished
leaving the city.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God
back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of
the LORD, then he will bring me back and allow me
to see both the ark and his dwelling place again.
26 But if he says, 'I have no delight in you,' look,
I am here, let him do to me whatever seems best to him."
27 The king asked Zadok the priest, "Aren't you a seer?
Return to the city in peace, you and Abiathar along
with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan
the son of Abiathar.
28 I will wait at the fords of the wilderness, until
word comes from you to inform me."
29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back
into Jerusalem and stayed there.

30 David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives,
weeping as he went. He covered his head and went
barefoot. Everyone who was with him covered their
heads, and went up, weeping as they climbed.
31 Someone told David, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators
siding with Absalom." David prayed, "O LORD, please
turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness."
32 When David reached the summit, where God was worshipped,
Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn,
and dirt on his head.
33 David said to him, "If you go with me, you will
only be a burden to me.
34 But if you return to the city, and tell Absalom,
'I will be your servant, O king, just as I have been
your father's servant in the past, so now I will be
your servant,' then you may be able to counter the
counsel of Ahithophel for me.
35 Won't Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with
you too? Whatever you hear from the king's house,
tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 Look, their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and
Jonathan, Abiathar's son are with them. You can
report to me everything that you hear through them.'"
37 So Hushai, David's friend, went back into the
city just as Absalom was arriving at Jerusalem.

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