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.

24 Zadoke was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the arkf of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiatharg offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling placeh again. 26 But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.i”

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand?j Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan.k You and Abiathar return with your two sons. 28 I will wait at the fordsl in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weepingm as he went; his headn was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, “Ahithophelo is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”