II Samuel 15 · שמואל ב

And it came to pass after this, that Avshalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

And Avshalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Avshalom called to him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he would say, Thy servant is of such a one of the tribes of Yisra᾽el.

And Avshalom would say to him, See, thy pleas are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

Avshalom would say moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, and every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!

And when any man came near to him to bow down to him, he put out his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

And in this manner did Avshalom to all Yisra᾽el that came to the king for judgment: so Avshalom stole the hearts of the men of Yisra᾽el.

And it came to pass after forty years, that Avshalom said to the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Ḥevron.

For thy servant vowed a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Aram, saying, If the Lord shall bring me back indeed to Yerushalayim, then I will do service to the Lord.

And the king said to him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Ḥevron.

But Avshalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Yisra᾽el, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the Shofar, then you shall say, Avshalom reigns in Ḥevron.

And with Avshalom went two hundred men out of Yerushalayim, that were invited; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew nothing whatever.

And Avshalom sent Aĥitofel the Giloni, David’s counsellor, from his city, from Gilo, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy became strong, the people increasing continually with Avshalom.

And there came a messenger to David saying, The hearts of the men of Yisra᾽el are after Avshalom.

And David said to all his servants that were with him at Yerushalayim, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not escape from Avshalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

And the king’s servants said to the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king shall choose.

And the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.

And the king went out, and all the people after him, and halted at the last house.

And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Kereti, and the Peleti, and all the Gittim, six hundred men who came after him from Gat, passed on before the king.

Then said the king to Ittay the Gittite, Why dost thou go also with us? return and stay with the king: for thou art a foreigner; and also an exile from thy place.

Thou camest but yesterday, and should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go wherever I can? return thou, and take back thy brethren with thee in loyal kindness and truth.

And Ittay answered the king, and said, As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

And David said to Ittay, Go and pass over. And Ittay the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the wadi Qidron, and all the people passed over, towards the way of the wilderness.

And lo Żadoq also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Evyatar went up, until all the people had finished passing out of the city.

And the king said to Żadoq, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back, and show me both it, and his habitation:

but if he thus says, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seems good in his eyes.

The king said to Żadoq the priest, Dost thou see? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Aĥima῾aż thy son, and Yehonatan the son of Evyatar.

See, I will tarry in the plains of the wilderness, until there come word from you to bring me news.

Żadoq therefore and Evyatar carried back the ark of God to Yerushalayim: and they stayed there.

And David went up by the ascent of the mount of Olives, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went.

And one told David, saying, Aĥitofel is among the conspirators with Avshalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Aĥitofel into foolishness.

And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the hill, where he bowed down to God, behold, Ḥushay the Arkite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

to whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:

but if thou return to the city, and say to Avshalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayst thou defeat for me the counsel of Aĥitofel.

And hast thou not there with thee Żadoq and Evyatar the priests? therefore it shall be, that whatever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Żadoq and Evyatar the priests.

Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Aĥima῾aż, Żadoq’s son, and Yehonatan, Evyatar’s son; and by them you shall send to me every thing that you can hear.

So Ḥushay David’s friend came into the city, and Avshalom came to Yerushalayim.