ULT by section 2SA 15:1

⌂ ← 2SA 15:1–15:37 → ║ ©

The Second Book of Samuel 15

15 And it happened after thus, and Absalom made for himself a chariot and horses. And 50 men were running to his face. 2 And Absalom would rise early, and he would stand beside the hand of the way of the gate. And it happened, each person that a dispute belonged to him to come to the king for judgment, and Absalom called to him, and he said, “From which city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3 And Absalom would say to him, “See, your word is good and straight, but there is not for you someone who will listen from with the king.” 4 And Absalom would say, “Who will appoint me as judge in the land that every person that a dispute or case belongs to him would come to me, and I could declare him to be righteous.”

5 And it was, when a person would draw near to prostrate himself to him that he would send out his hand, and he would take hold of it, and he would kiss it. 6 And Absalom acted according to this word for all Israel who came for judgment to the king. And Absalom stole the heart of the men of Israel.

7 And it happened at the end of four years, and Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go, and I will fulfill my vow that I vowed to Yahweh in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow when I lived in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If Yahweh will certainly bring me to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.”

9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” And he got up, and he went to Hebron.

10 And Absalom sent people who would spy on all the tribes of Israel, saying, “When you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you will say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’” 11 And with Absalom went 200 men from Jerusalem who were called and who walked in their blamelessness, and they did not know the whole matter. 12 And Absalom sent Ahithophel the Gilohite, the person who counseled David, from his city, from Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. And it happened, the conspiracy was strong, and the people were walking and increasingly with Absalom.

13 And the person who declared to David came, saying, “The heart of the man of Israel is behind Absalom.”

14 And David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Get up, and let us flee, for there will not be for us an escape from before the face of Absalom. Hurry to leave lest he hurry and overtake us and swing on us a disaster and strike the city to the mouth of the sword.”

15 And the servants of the king said to the king, “According to everything that my lord the king chooses, look—your servants.”

16 And the king went out and all his family were at his feet. And the king left 10 women, concubines, to guard the house. 17 And the king went out and all the people were at his feet. And they stood at the furthest house. 18 And all his servants were crossing over beside his hand, and all the Kerethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites (600 men who came on his foot from Gath) were crossing over to the face of the king.

19 And the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you yourself also coming with us? Return and live with the king, for you are a foreigner, and also you are an exile to your place. 20 Yesterday was your coming, but today will I make you wander about with us by going? But I am going because I am going. Return and make your brothers return with you—kindness and faithfulness.”

21 And Ittai answered the king, and he said, “By the life of Yahweh and by the life of my lord the king, surely in the place where my lord the king will be there, whether to death or to life, that there your servant will be.”

22 And David said to Ittai, “Go and cross over.” And Ittai the Gittite crossed over and all his men and all the little children who were with him.

23 And the whole land was weeping with a great voice, and all the people were crossing, and the king was crossing the river of Kidron, and all the people were crossing the desert by the face of the way.

24 And look—even Zadok and all the Levites with him were lifting the Box of the Covenant of God, and they set down the Box of God, and Abiathar came up until all the people had finished crossing from the city.

25 And the king said to Zadok, “Make the Box of God return to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, then he will make me return, and he will make me see it and his dwelling place. 26 But if thus he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ look at me—he will do to me just as is good in his eyes.”

27 And the king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a person who sees? Return to the city in peace and Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons, with you. 28 See, I am hesitating at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from with you to inform me.” 29 And Zadok and Abiathar returned the Box of God to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.

30 And David was going up on the Mount of Olives, going up and weeping, and a head for him was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people who were with him, each one, covered his head, and they went up, going up and weeping. 31 And David declared, saying, “Ahithophel is among the people who are conspiring with Absalom.” And David prayed, “Please, Yahweh, make the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

32 And it happened, David came up to the top where he would prostrate himself there to God, and look—meeting him was Hushai the Archite. His tunic was torn and dirt was on his head. 33 And David said to him, “If you cross with me, you will become a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city, and you say to Absalom, ‘I am your servant, O king. I was the servant of your father, and I, previously. But now, and I will be your servant,’ then you will foil the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35 Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? But it will be, every word that you hear from the house of the king declare to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests. 36 Look, there with them are the two of their sons, Ahimaaz belonging to Zadok and Jonathan belonging to Abiathar. And you will send by their hand to me every word that you hear.”

37 And Hushai the friend of David came to the city. And Absalom came to Jerusalem.

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