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2 Samuel 15

15
Absalom Leads a Rebellion
1It happened afterward that Absalom made himself a chariot with horses and fifty men running before him. 2Absalom used to rise early in the morning, and he stood beside#Literally “on hand of” the road at the gate; anyone#Literally “every man” who had a legal dispute to bring to the king for judgment Absalom would call to him and say, “Where are you from?”#Literally “Where from this city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right, but for you there is no hearing with the king.” 4Then Absalom would say, “Oh, that someone would#Literally “Who will …?” appoint me as judge in the land, that anyone#Literally “every man” might come to me who had a legal dispute or a case, and I would give him justice.” 5It happened whenever anyone drew near to do obeisance to him, that he would stretch his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6Absalom did like this to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts#Hebrew “heart” of the people of Israel.
7It happened at the end of four#So LXX, followed by Syriac and Vulgate; MT has “forty” years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to Yahweh in Hebron, 8for your servant made a vow while I was staying in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If Yahweh will indeed let me return#Literally (following Qere) “If returning Yahweh will return me” to Jerusalem, then I will worship Yahweh.’ ” 9Then the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron. 10Then Absalom sent scouts throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “When you hear the sound of the trumpet, you shall shout ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’ ” 11Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom as invited guests, going in their innocence as they did not know anything. 12Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, the advisor of David, from his city Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. The conspiracy grew in strength,#Literally “became strong” and the people were going and increasing#Literally “many” with Absalom.
David Flees from Jerusalem
13Then the messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts#Hebrew “heart” of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14Then David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Get up and let us flee, for there will be no escape for us from Absalom! Hurry to go, otherwise he will come quickly and overtake us! And he will bring disaster on us and evil! He will attack the city with the edge of the sword!” 15Then the servants of the king said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king chooses, your servants are ready to act!”#Literally “here are your servants” 16The king went out with#Hebrew “and” all his household following him,#Literally “at his feet” but the king left behind ten concubines to look after the house. 17So the king went out with#Hebrew “and” all the people following him,#Literally “at his feet” and they stopped at the last house.#Literally “at the house of the distance” 18All his servants were passing by him:#Literally “on his hand” all of the Kerethites and all of the Pelethites and all of the Gittites—six hundred men who had followed him#Literally “who had come at his feet” from Gath—passing before the king.#Literally “on the face of the king” 19The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also coming with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner; moreover, you are an exile. You are far from your place.#Literally “You as far as your place” 20Yesterday when you came and today,#Literally “the day” I have caused you to wander by going with us. Now I am going to where I am going; return and let your brothers return. May loyal love and faithfulness be with you.” 21But Ittai answered the king and said, “As Yahweh lives#Literally “The life of Yahweh” and my lord the king lives,#Literally “the life of my lord the king” surely in the place wherever my lord the king shall be, if for death or if for life, surely there your servant will be.” 22Then David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over and all his men and all of the little children who were with him. 23All of the land was weeping with a loud voice as all the people were passing by and the king was crossing through the Wadi Kidron, and all the people were passing on the road to the wilderness.#Literally “on the face of the road with the wilderness”
The Priests Offer Sacrifices for David
24Suddenly Zadok was there, and all of the Levites with him, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people passed out of the city. 25The king said to Zadok, “Let the ark of God return to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yawheh, he will let me return and let me see him in his dwelling place. 26But if he says, ‘I take no pleasure in you,’ then I am ready.#Literally “here I am” Let him do to me that which is good in his eyes. 27Then the king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer? Return to the city in peace, with Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons with you. 28See, I am waiting at the fords of the wilderness until a word comes from you all to inform me.” 29So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and they remained there.
Hushai Offers to Serve King David
30Now David was going up on the Ascent of the Olives, weeping as he went,#Literally “going up and weeping” with his head covered and going barefoot. All the people who were with him each covered their head and wept as they went.#Literally “going up and weeping” 31Now David was told, “Ahithophel was among the conspirators with Absalom.” Then David said, “Please frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel, O Yahweh.” 32It happened that as David was coming up to the summit where he used to worship God, suddenly Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him. His coat was torn and dirt was on his head. 33David said to him, “If you move on with me, you will be a burden to me, 34but if you want to return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I am your servant, O king. I used to be a servant of your father, but from then and now I will be your servant,’ then you can frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be with you there? It shall be that all the words you hear from the house of the king you shall tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36Look, there with them are their two sons, Ahimaaz of Zadok and Jonathan of Abiathar. You shall send to me by means of them#Literally “by their hand” all the words that you hear.” 37So Hushai the friend of David came to the city as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

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2 Samuel 15: LEB

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