2 Samuel 15

1After this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him.Cross-references: Deut 17:16 · 1Sam 8:11 · 2Sam 12:11 · 1Ki 1:5 · 1Ki 1:33 · 1Ki 10:26 · +5 more

2Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. When any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?” He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”Cross-references: Ex 18:14 · Ex 18:16 · Ex 18:26 · Ruth 4:1 · 2Sam 19:8 · 1Ki 3:16 · +3 more

3Absalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you.”Cross-references: Ex 20:12 · Ex 21:17 · Num 16:3 · Num 16:13 · 2Sam 8:15 · Ps 12:2 · +9 more

4Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!”Cross-references: Judg 9:1 · Judg 9:29 · Prov 25:6 · Prov 27:2 · Luke 14:8 · 2Pet 2:19

5It was so, that when any man came near to bow down to him, he stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him.Cross-references: 2Sam 14:33 · Ps 10:9 · Ps 55:21 · Prov 26:25

6Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.Cross-references: Prov 11:9 · Rom 16:18 · 2Pet 2:3

7At the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron.Cross-references: 1Sam 16:1 · 1Sam 16:13 · 2Sam 13:24 · 2Sam 13:38 · Prov 21:27 · Isa 58:4 · +2 more

8For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.’”Cross-references: Gen 28:20 · Josh 24:15 · 1Sam 1:11 · 1Sam 16:2 · 2Sam 13:37 · 2Sam 14:23 · +6 more

9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

10But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’”Cross-references: 2Sam 2:1 · 2Sam 2:11 · 2Sam 3:2 · 2Sam 5:5 · 2Sam 13:28 · 2Sam 14:30 · +8 more

11Two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn’t know anything.Cross-references: Gen 20:5 · 1Sam 9:13 · 1Sam 16:3 · 1Sam 22:15 · Prov 14:15 · Prov 22:3 · +2 more

12Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.Cross-references: Num 23:1 · Num 23:14 · Num 23:30 · Josh 15:51 · 2Sam 15:31 · 2Sam 16:20 · +15 more

13A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”Cross-references: Judg 9:3 · 2Sam 3:36 · 2Sam 15:6 · Ps 62:9 · Matt 21:9 · Matt 27:22

14David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise! Let’s flee, or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”Cross-references: 2Sam 12:11 · 2Sam 19:9 · 2Sam 23:16 · Ps 3:1 · Ps 51:18 · Ps 55:3 · +4 more

15The king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”Cross-references: Prov 18:24 · Luke 22:28 · John 6:66 · John 15:14

16The king went out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.Cross-references: Judg 4:10 · 1Sam 25:27 · 1Sam 25:42 · 2Sam 12:11 · 2Sam 16:21 · 2Sam 20:3 · +2 more

17The king went out, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak.Cross-references: Ps 3:1 · Ps 66:12 · Eccl 10:7

18All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.Cross-references: 1Sam 27:3 · 1Sam 30:14 · 2Sam 6:10 · 2Sam 8:18 · 2Sam 15:19 · 2Sam 18:2 · +4 more

19Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Return, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner and also an exile. Return to your own place.Cross-references: Ruth 1:11 · 2Sam 18:2

20Whereas you came but yesterday, should I today make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you.”Cross-references: 1Sam 23:13 · 2Sam 2:6 · Ps 25:10 · Ps 56:8 · Ps 57:3 · Ps 59:15 · +8 more

21Ittai answered the king and said, “As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king is, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there also.”Cross-references: Ruth 1:16 · 1Sam 20:3 · 1Sam 25:26 · 2Ki 2:2 · 2Ki 2:4 · 2Ki 2:6 · +8 more

22David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him.

23All 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.Cross-references: 2Sam 16:2 · 1Ki 2:37 · 1Ki 15:13 · 2Chr 29:16 · Matt 3:1 · Matt 3:3 · +3 more

24Behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down God’s ark; and Abiathar went up until all the people finished passing out of the city.Cross-references: Num 4:15 · Num 7:9 · Josh 3:3 · Josh 3:6 · Josh 3:15 · Josh 4:16 · +16 more

25The king said to Zadok, “Carry God’s ark back into the city. If I find favor in Yahweh’s eyes, he will bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation;Cross-references: Ex 15:13 · 1Sam 4:3 · 2Sam 6:17 · 2Sam 7:2 · 2Sam 12:10 · Ps 26:8 · +11 more

26but if he says, ‘I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”Cross-references: Num 14:8 · Judg 10:15 · 1Sam 3:18 · 2Sam 22:20 · 1Ki 10:9 · 2Chr 9:8 · +7 more

27The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.Cross-references: 1Sam 9:9 · 2Sam 15:34 · 2Sam 15:36 · 2Sam 17:17 · 2Sam 24:11 · 1Chr 25:5

28Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”Cross-references: 2Sam 15:23 · 2Sam 16:2 · 2Sam 17:1 · 2Sam 17:16

29Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried God’s ark to Jerusalem again; and they stayed there.

30David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. All the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.Cross-references: 2Sam 19:4 · Esth 6:12 · Ps 42:3 · Ps 43:5 · Ps 126:5 · Isa 20:2 · +13 more

31Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”Cross-references: 2Sam 15:12 · 2Sam 16:23 · 2Sam 17:14 · 2Sam 17:23 · Job 5:12 · Job 12:16 · +13 more

32When David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his tunic torn and earth on his head.Cross-references: Josh 16:2 · 2Sam 1:2 · 2Sam 13:19 · 2Sam 15:30 · 2Sam 16:16 · 1Ki 8:44 · +8 more

33David said to him, “If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me;Cross-references: 2Sam 19:35

34but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant; then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’Cross-references: Josh 8:2 · 2Sam 15:20 · 2Sam 16:16 · 2Sam 17:5 · Matt 10:16

35Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.Cross-references: 2Sam 17:15

36Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. Send to me everything that you shall hear by them.”Cross-references: 2Sam 15:27 · 2Sam 17:17 · 2Sam 18:19

37So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.Cross-references: 2Sam 16:15 · 1Chr 27:33