Jonathan

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

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.

NoteThe Levites were one big family group of Israel. Their job was helping with worship. A priest led the worship and brought people's gifts to God. The ark was the special box that showed God was with his people.

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."

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:

NoteGod's house was the special tent in Jerusalem. That is where people came to worship God.

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."

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.

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."

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

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

NoteRiver crossings were shallow spots where people could walk across the water.

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

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

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.

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.

NoteThe Mount of Olives is a hill next to Jerusalem, covered with olive trees. Covering your head and walking without shoes showed everyone you were very sad.

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

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.

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.

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:

NoteTearing your coat and putting dirt on your head showed deep sadness. People did this so others could see how they felt.

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

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

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."

But 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.

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

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

Behold, 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.

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

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

Note"David's friend" was a real job at the palace. The king's friend was a trusted helper who gave him advice.

15Then Hushai went to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. He told them both plans, Ahithophel's and his own.

Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

NoteA priest was a man who served God for the people.

16"Send word to David quickly. Tell him not to stay tonight by the river crossings in the desert. Tell him to cross over at once. If he waits, he and all his people may be destroyed."

Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

NoteA river crossing is a shallow place. People could walk across the water there instead of swimming.

17Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at a spring called En-rogel. They could not let anyone see them go into the city. A servant girl brought them the news. Then they carried it to King David.

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

NoteA spring is a place where water comes up out of the ground. People went there to fill their water jars.

18But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two left fast. They came to a house in Bahurim. The man there had a well in his yard. They climbed down into it.

Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.

NoteA well is a deep hole dug down to water. This one was dry enough for two men to hide inside.

19The man's wife spread a cover over the mouth of the well. She scattered grain on top of the cover. Nobody could tell anything was hidden there.

And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

NoteWomen spread grain outside to dry in the sun. So the grain made the well look like a normal work spot.

20Absalom's servants came to the woman and asked where Ahimaaz and Jonathan were. She said, "They went over the brook." The men looked but could not find them. So they went back to Jerusalem.

And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21After the men left, the two climbed out of the well. They hurried to King David. They said, "Get up and cross the river right now. This is the plan Ahithophel made against you."

And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

22So David and all his people got up. They crossed the Jordan River. By morning light, every single one of them had crossed.

Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

NoteThe Jordan is the big river of that land. Once David crossed it, the river lay between him and his enemies.

41Adonijah and all his guests heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the ram's horn, he asked, "Why is the city making all that noise?"

And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?

42While he was still speaking, Jonathan arrived. He was the son of Abiathar the priest. Adonijah said, "Come in. You are a good man, so you must bring good news."

And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.

43Jonathan answered, "No. Our lord King David has made Solomon king.

And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.

44The king sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada with him. The Cherethites and the Pelethites went too. They put Solomon on the king's own mule.

And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule:

45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet poured oil on him at Gihon to make him king. They came back up cheering, and the whole city is ringing with the sound. That is the noise you heard.

And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.

46And Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne.

And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.

47The king's servants also came to bless our lord King David. They said, 'May your God make Solomon's name even greater than yours. May he make his throne greater than your throne.' And the king bowed low on his bed to worship.

And moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.

NoteDavid was too old and weak to get out of bed. So he bowed where he lay to thank God.

48The king also said, 'Praise the LORD, the God of Israel! Today he has given someone to sit on my throne, and my own eyes have seen it.'"

And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.

49Then all of Adonijah's guests were afraid. They jumped up and hurried away, each man going home.

And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. He got up and ran to the altar and held on to its horns.

And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

NoteAn altar was a stone table where gifts to God were burned. Its top corners stuck up like little horns. Someone in trouble could hold on to them and ask to be kept safe.

51Solomon was told, "Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. He is holding on to the horns of the altar. He says, 'Let King Solomon promise me today that he will not kill me.'"

And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

52Solomon said, "If he shows he is a good man, not one hair on his head will be harmed. But if he does wrong, he will die."

And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

Note"Not one hair on his head will be harmed" was a way of saying he will not be hurt at all.

53So King Solomon sent men to bring Adonijah down from the altar. Adonijah came and bowed low before King Solomon. Solomon said to him, "Go home."

So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.

Note"Go home" meant Adonijah could live. But he had to stop trying to be king.