David Flees from Jerusalem

15:13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!”18 15:14 So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem,19 “Come on!20 Let’s escape!21 Otherwise no one will be delivered from Absalom! Go immediately, or else he will quickly overtake us and bring22 disaster on us and kill the city’s residents with the sword.”23 15:15 The king’s servants replied to the king, “We will do whatever our lord the king decides.”24

15:16 So the king and all the members of his royal court25 set out on foot, though the king left behind ten concubines26 to attend to the palace. 15:17 The king and all the people set out on foot, pausing27 at a spot28 some distance away. 15:18 All his servants were leaving with him,29 along with all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites—some six hundred men who had come on foot from Gath. They were leaving with30 the king.

15:19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come with us? Go back and stay with the new31 king, for you are a foreigner and an exile from your own country.32 15:20 It seems like you arrived just yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men33 with you. May genuine loyal love34 protect35 you!”

15:21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether dead or alive,36 there I37 will be as well!” 15:22 So David said to Ittai, “Come along then.”38 So Ittai the Gittite went along,39 accompanied by all his men and all the dependents40 who were with him.

15:23 All the land was weeping loudly41 as all these people were leaving.42 As the king was crossing over the Kidron Valley, all the people were leaving43 on the road that leads to the desert. 15:24 Zadok and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. When they positioned the ark of God, Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving44 the city.

15:25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back to the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s sight he will bring me back and enable me to see both it and his dwelling place again. 15:26 However, if he should say, ‘I do not take pleasure in you,’ then he will deal with me in a way that he considers appropriate.”45

15:27 The king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer?46 Go back to the city in peace! Your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan may go with you and Abiathar.47 15:28 Look, I will be waiting at the fords of the desert until word from you48 reaches me.” 15:29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there.

15:30 As David was going up the Mount of Olives, he was weeping as he went; his head was covered and his feet were bare. All the people who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went up. 15:31 Now David49 had been told, “Ahithophel has sided with the conspirators who are with Absalom. So David prayed,50 “Make the advice of Ahithophel foolish, O Lord!”

15:32 When David reached the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite met him with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. 15:33 David said to him, “If you leave51 with me you will be a burden to me. 15:34 But you will be able to counter the advice of Ahithophel if you go back to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king! Previously I was your father’s servant, and now I will be your servant.’ 15:35 Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you.52 Everything you hear in the king’s palace53 you must tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 15:36 Furthermore, their two sons are there with them, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You must send them to me with any information you hear.”54

15:37 So David’s friend Hushai arrived in the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.