¶ And it came to pass after this, that Absalom¹ prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

And Absalom rose up² early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came³ to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters⁴ are good and right; but there is⁵ no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

Absalom said moreover, Oh that I⁶ were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do⁷ him justice!

And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him,⁸ and kissed⁹ him.

And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole¹⁰ the hearts of the men of Israel.

¶ And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go¹² and pay¹³ my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

For thy servant¹⁴ vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur¹⁵ in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve¹⁶ the LORD.

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

¶ But Absalom sent spies¹⁷ throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth¹⁸ in Hebron¹⁹.

And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called²⁰; and they went in their simplicity²¹, and they knew not any thing.

And Absalom sent for Ahithophel²² the Gilonite, David's²³ counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh²⁴, while he offered²⁵ sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people²⁶ increased continually with Absalom.

¶ And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts²⁷ of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise²⁸, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring²⁹ evil upon us, and smite³⁰ the city with the edge of the sword.

And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold,³¹ thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint³².

And the king³³ went forth, and all his household after him.³⁴ And the king left ten women³⁵, which were concubines, to keep the house.

And the king went forth³⁶, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites³⁷, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites³⁸, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

Then said the king to Ittai³⁹ the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

¶ Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down⁴⁰ with us? seeing⁴¹ I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy⁴² and truth be with thee.

And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD⁴³ liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely⁴⁴ 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 Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little⁴⁵ ones that were with him.

And all the country⁴⁶ wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook⁴⁷ Kidron⁴⁸, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

¶ And lo Zadok⁵⁰ also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing⁵¹ the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back⁵² the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring⁵³ me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation⁵⁴:

But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let⁵⁶ him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer⁵⁷? return⁵⁸ into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

⁵⁹See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

¶ And David went up by the ascent⁶⁰ of mount Olivet⁶¹, and wept as he went up⁶², and had his head covered⁶³, and he went barefoot⁶⁴: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping⁶⁵ as they went up.

¶ And one told David, saying, Ahithophel⁶⁶ is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD⁶⁷, I pray thee, turn the counsel⁶⁸ of Ahithophel into foolishness.

And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top⁶⁹ of the mount, where he worshipped⁷⁰ God, behold, Hushai⁷¹ the Archite⁷² came to meet him with his coat rent⁷³, and earth upon his head:

Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou⁷⁴ shalt be a burden unto me:

But if thou return⁷⁵ to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been⁷⁶ thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest⁷⁷ thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell⁷⁸ it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

Behold, they have there with them their two sons⁷⁹, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

So Hushai David's friend⁸⁰ came into the city, and Absalom⁸¹ came into Jerusalem.