2 Samuel 15:13–23

David Flees

13 A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee,t or none of us will escape from Absalom.u We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”

15 The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”

16 The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubinesv to take care of the palace. 17 So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. 18 All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethitesw and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

19 The king said to Ittaix the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner,y an exile from your homeland. 20 You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wanderz about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”c a

21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord 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.”b

22 David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.

23 The whole countryside wept aloudc as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,d and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.