13 Eventually, someone went and told David, “The loyalty of the Israeli people is turning towards Abshalom.”

14 So David told his servants, “Pack up quickly and let’s get out of here, or else we won’t be able to escape from Abshalom. Be fast in case he’s heading here soon and overtakes us. That would be a massacre and the whole city would die from their swords.”

15 “Your servants here will do everything you tell us,” they replied to the king. 16 So the king left ten of his slave-wives to look after the palace, but he left with all his family.

17 So the king departed with all his people, and they stopped at the last house. 18 Then all his servants passed beside him to go ahead, along with his bodyguards (the Kerethites and the Felethites) and six hundred Gittites (from Gat). 19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “You don’t have to come with us. You’re a foreigner and an exile from your place, so you could go back and stay with the new king. 20 You haven’t been here long, and we don’t even know where we’re going. I certainly need to leave but you can return with your relatives. May Yahweh show kindness and faithfulness to you all.”

21 “As Yahweh lives, and as my master the king lives,” Ittai answered the king, “wherever my master the king goes, your servant will certainly be there also, whether it means life or death.”

22 “Okay, go ahead then,” David told Ittai. So Ittai and all his men and their families went with David. 23 All the people along the road cried when they saw them walking by. The king and all the others crossed the Kidron riverbed and went up the hill toward the wilderness.

24 What a sight! Even Tsadok and all the Levites with him were carrying the box with God’s agreement in it, and when they put it down again, the priest Evyatar caught up to them and waited until all the people had finished exiting the city. 25 But the king told Tsadok, “Take the sacred chest back into the city. If Yahweh favours me, then he’ll help me return, and he’ll let me see it and his place of residence again. 26 But if Yahweh says that he isn’t pleased with me, then he’ll do to me whatever he thinks best. 27 Aren’t you a prophet? Return to the city in peace, along with your son Ahimaats and Evyatar’s son Yonatan. 28 Listen, I’ll wait at the fords in the wilderness until I get your message.” 29 So Tsadok and Evyatar carried the sacred chest back to Yerushalem, then they remained there.

30 As David was going up the Mount of Olives, he was walking barefoot with his head covered. He was weeping as were the people with him—they too had their heads covered and were weeping. 31 David knew that Ahitofel was among the people conspiring with Abshalom, so he prayed, “Please, Yahweh, make Ahitofel give foolish advice.”

32 When David reached the summit (where people frequently worship God), Hushay (the Arkite) met him there. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head. 33 David told him, “If you come with me, you’ll be a burden to me, 34 but if you return to the city and tell Abshalom, ‘I’m your servant, my king. I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I’ll be your servant,’ then you’ll be able to oppose Ahitofel’s counsel for me. 35 The priests Tsadok and Evyatar are already there, so tell them everything you hear in the palace. 36 Also Tsadok’s son Ahimaats and Evyatar’s son Yonatan are there. Tell them everything you hear, then send them to report it to me.

37 So David’s friend Hushay slipped back into Yerushalem just as Abshalom was entering the city.