David Forgives Absalom

25 Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. yFrom the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him—when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king’s standard. 27 zTo Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.

28 And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, abut did not see the king’s face. 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come. 30 So he said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.

31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom’s house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

32 And Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, so that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” ’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; but bif there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.”

33 So Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king ckissed Absalom.

Absalom’s Treason

15 After this ait happened that Absalom bprovided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a clawsuit 1came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your 2case is good and right; but there is no 3deputy of the king to hear you.” 4 Moreover Absalom would say, d“Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” 5 And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and ekiss him. 6 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. fSo Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 Now it came to pass gafter 4forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to hHebron and pay the vow which I made to the Lord. 8 iFor your servant jtook a vow kwhile I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’ ”

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

10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom lreigns in Hebron!’ ” 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men minvited from Jerusalem, and they nwent along innocently and did not know anything. 12 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, oDavid’s counselor, from his city—from pGiloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom qcontinually increased in number.

David Escapes from Jerusalem

13 Now a messenger came to David, saying, r“The hearts of the men of Israel are 5with Absalom.”

14 So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us sflee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.” 16 Then tthe king went out with all his household after him. But the king left uten women, concubines, to keep the house. 17 And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts. 18 Then all his servants passed 6before him; vand all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, wsix hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.

19 Then the king said to xIttai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place. 20 In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go yI know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.”

21 But Ittai answered the king and said, z“As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”

22 So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the awilderness.

24 There was bZadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the cark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and dAbiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from 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, He ewill bring me back and show me both it and fHis dwelling place. 26 But if He says thus: ‘I have no gdelight in you,’ here I am, hlet Him do to me as seems good to Him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a iseer? 7Return to the city in peace, and jyour two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, kI will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.

30 So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he lhad his head covered and went mbarefoot. And all the people who were with him ncovered their heads and went up, oweeping as they went up. 31 Then someone told David, saying, p“Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, qturn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

32 Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the rArchite coming to meet him swith his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become ta burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, u‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35 And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to vZadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Indeed they have there wwith them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”

37 So Hushai, xDavid’s friend, went into the city. yAnd Absalom came into Jerusalem.