The Second Book of Samuel Otherwise Called The Second Book of the Kings 15

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1 And it came to pass after this that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses and fifty men to run before him ⚑

2 And Absalom rose up early and stood beside the way of the gate and it was so that when any man that had a controversy came 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 ⚑

3 And Absalom said unto him See thy matters are good and right but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee ⚑

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

5 And it was so that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance he put forth his hand and took him and kissed him ⚑

6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel ⚑

7 And it came to pass after forty years that Absalom said unto the king I pray thee let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed unto the LORD in Hebron ⚑

8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria saying If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem then I will serve the LORD ⚑

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

10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel saying As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet then ye shall say Absalom reigneth in Hebron ⚑

11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem that were called and they went in their simplicity and they knew not any thing ⚑

12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite David’s counsellor from his city even from Giloh while he offered sacrifices And the conspiracy was strong for the people increased continually with Absalom ⚑

13 And there came a messenger to David saying The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom ⚑

14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem Arise and let us flee for we shall not else escape from Absalom make speed to depart lest he overtake us suddenly and bring evil upon us and smite the city with the edge of the sword ⚑

15 And the king’s servants said unto the king Behold thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint ⚑

16 And the king went forth and all his household after him And the king left ten women which were concubines to keep the house ⚑

17 And the king went forth and all the people after him and tarried in a place that was far off ⚑

18 And all his servants passed on beside him and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites six hundred men which came after him from Gath passed on before the king ⚑

19 Then said the king to Ittai 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 ⚑

20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday should I this day make thee go up and down with us seeing I go whither I may return thou and take back thy brethren mercy and truth be with thee ⚑

21 And Ittai answered the king and said As the LORD liveth and as my lord the king liveth surely in what place my lord the king shall be whether in death or life even there also will thy servant be ⚑

22 And David said to Ittai Go and pass over And Ittai the Gittite passed over and all his men and all the little ones that were with him ⚑

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice and all the people passed over the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness ⚑

24 And lo Zadok also and all the Levites were with him bearing 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 ⚑

25 And the king said unto Zadok Carry back the ark of God into the city if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation ⚑

26 But if he thus say I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him ⚑

27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest Art not thou a seer return into the city in peace and your two sons with you Ahimaaz thy son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar ⚑

28 See I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness until there come word from you to certify me ⚑

29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem and they tarried there ⚑

30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet and wept as he went up and had his head covered and he went barefoot and all the people that was with him covered every man his head and they went up weeping as they went up ⚑

31 And one told David saying Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom And David said O LORD I pray thee turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness ⚑

32 And it came to pass that when David was come to the top of the mount where he worshipped God behold Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent and earth upon his head ⚑

33 Unto whom David said If thou passest on with me then thou shalt be a burden unto me ⚑

34 But if thou return to the city and say unto Absalom I will be thy servant O king as I have been thy ather’s servant hitherto so will I now also be thy servant then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel ⚑

35 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 tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests ⚑

36 Behold they have there with them their two sons Ahimaaz Zadok’s son and Jonathan A athar’s son and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear ⚑

37 So Hushai David’s friend came into the city and Absalom came into Jerusalem ⚑

King James Version (1769) with Apocrypha · Crosswire Bible Society / eBible.org (standard text of 1769) · Public Domain

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · public domain