2 Samuel 15

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

1Some time later, Absalom got a chariot and horses for himself. He also got fifty men to run ahead of him.

2And 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.

2Absalom got up early and stood by the road to the city gate. People with arguments came there for the king to settle them. Absalom would call to a man and ask, "What town are you from?" The man would say, "I am from one of the tribes of Israel."

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

3Then Absalom said, "Look, your side of the argument is good and fair. But the king has no one here to listen to you."

4Absalom 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!

4He would also say, "I wish someone would make me the judge here. Then everyone with a problem could come to me. I would treat each one fairly."

5And 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.

5When a man came close to bow down to him, Absalom stopped him. He reached out, took hold of the man, and kissed him.

6And 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.

6Absalom did this to every man of Israel who came to the king for help. That is how he won the hearts of the people.

7And 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.

7Four years went by. Then Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go to Hebron. I want to keep a promise I made to the LORD."

NoteThe KJV says "after forty years." That is almost certainly a copying slip for four years, which is what other old copies say.

8For 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.

8"I made that promise while I was living in Geshur, in Syria. I said, 'If the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship him.'"

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

9The king said, "Go in peace." So Absalom got up and went to Hebron.

10But 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.

10But Absalom sent secret messengers all through the tribes of Israel. He told them, "When you hear the horn blow, shout, 'Absalom is king in Hebron!'"

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

11Two hundred men from Jerusalem went along with Absalom as invited guests. They went honestly. They knew nothing about his secret plan.

NoteThe KJV says the men went "in their simplicity." That means they went honestly, with no idea what Absalom was planning.

12And 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.

12While Absalom was giving offerings, he sent for a man named Ahithophel. Ahithophel came from the town of Giloh. He had been King David's adviser, the man who told the king what to do. The secret plan grew strong, and more and more people joined Absalom.

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

13A messenger came to David and said, "The men of Israel have turned to Absalom."

14And 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.

14David said to all his servants in Jerusalem, "Get up. We must run away. If we stay, Absalom will catch us. He will hurt us and attack the city with swords. Hurry and go!"

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

15The king's servants answered, "We are ready. We will do whatever you decide, our lord the king."

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

16So the king left, and his whole household followed him. He left ten women behind to take care of the palace.

NoteThe KJV calls these ten women "concubines." They lived with the king like wives, but they did not have the honor or rights that a wife had.

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

17The king went out with all the people following him. They stopped at the last house on the way out.

18And 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.

18All his servants marched past him. So did the Cherethites and the Pelethites, who were his special guards. Six hundred men from the city of Gath marched past the king too.

19Then 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.

19The king said to Ittai, a man from Gath, "Why are you coming with us? Go back and stay with the new king. You came here from another country, far from your home."

20Whereas 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.

20"You only came here yesterday. Why should I make you wander around with us? I do not even know where I am going. Go back, and take your countrymen with you. May God be kind and faithful to you."

21And 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.

21Ittai answered the king, "As surely as the LORD lives, and as you live, I will stay with you. Wherever you are, I will be there too, whether it means life or death."

22And 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.

22David said to Ittai, "Then come along." So Ittai marched on with all his men and all the little children with them.

23And 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.

23Everyone out in the countryside cried out loud as the people went by. The king crossed the Kidron brook, and all the people crossed it too. They headed toward the empty desert land.

24And 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.

24Zadok the priest was there as well. The Levites with him carried the ark of God's covenant. The ark was the special box that showed God was with his people. They set the ark down, and Abiathar gave offerings until everyone had left the city.

25And 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:

25The king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If the LORD is pleased with me, he will bring me back. Then I will see the ark and God's house again."

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

26"But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' then here I am. He may do to me whatever seems right to him."

27The 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.

27The king also said to Zadok the priest, "You are a seer, a man God shows things to. Go back to the city in peace. Take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan with you."

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

28"I will wait at the river crossings out in the desert. I will stay there until you send me news."

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

29So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. They stayed there.

30And 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.

30David walked up the Mount of Olives, crying as he climbed. His head was covered and his feet were bare. All the people with him covered their heads too. They cried as they walked up the hill.

31And 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.

31Someone told David, "Ahithophel has joined Absalom's secret plan." David prayed, "LORD, please turn Ahithophel's advice into foolish advice."

32And 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:

32David reached the top of the hill, where he used to worship God. Hushai the Archite came there to meet him. Hushai's coat was torn, and he had dirt on his head.

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

33David said to him, "If you come along with me, you will only be a load for me to carry."

34But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, 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 mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

34"Instead, go back to the city. Say to Absalom, 'I will serve you, my king. I served your father before, and now I will serve you.' Then you can ruin Ahithophel's advice for me."

35And 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.

35"Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. Tell them everything you hear in the king's house."

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

36"Their two sons are with them, Ahimaaz and Jonathan. Send those two to me with everything you hear."

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

37So Hushai, David's friend, went into the city. Absalom was arriving in Jerusalem at the same time.