1 Some time later, Absalom acquired a chariot and horses to pull it. He hired 50 men to run in front of him to honor him while he was riding around Jerusalem in the chariot. 2 Furthermore, he always rose early each morning and stood by the city gate. Whenever someone came there with a dispute/quarrel that he wanted the king to decide, Absalom would call out to him, asking “What city are you from?” When the person told him what city and tribe he was from, 3 Absalom would say to him, “Listen, I am sure that what you are saying/claiming is right. But there is no one whom the king has appointed/authorized to listen to people like you.” 4 Absalom would then add, “I wish that I were a judge in this land. If I were a judge, anyone who had a dispute could come to me, and I would decide it fairly/justly.”

5 And whenever anyone came near to Absalom to bow respectfully in front of him, Absalom would reach out and embrace him and kiss him. 6 Absalom did this to everyone in Israel who came to the king because of having a dispute with someone. In that way, Absalom persuaded all the Israeli people to be more pleased with him [IDM] than they were pleased with David.

7 Four years later, Absalom went to the king and said, “Please allow me to go to Hebron city, in order that I can do what I promised Yahweh that I would do. 8 When I was living in Geshur, in Syria, I promised Yahweh that if he brought me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him in Hebron.”

9 The king replied, “You may go.” So Absalom went to Hebron.

10 But while he was there, he secretly sent messengers to all the tribes in Israel, to tell them, “When you hear the sound of the trumpets being blown, shout ‘Absalom has become the king at Hebron!’ ” 11 Absalom had taken with him to Hebron 200 men from Jerusalem, but they did not know what Absalom was planning to do. 12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices at Hebron, he sent a message to Ahithophel, from Giloh town, requesting him to come. Ahithophel was one of the king’s advisors. So the number of people who joined Absalom and who were ready to rebel against David became larger.

13 Soon a messenger came to David and said to him, “All [HYP] the Israeli people [SYN] are joining Absalom to rebel against you!”

14 So David said to all his officials, “We must leave immediately if we want to escape from Absalom! We must go quickly, before he and his men arrive. If we do not do that, they will kill us and everyone else in the city!”

15 The king’s officials said, “Okay, your majesty, we are ready to do whatever you decide.”

16 So the king left ten of his slave wives there to take care of the palace, but all the other people in his palace went with him. 17 When they all were leaving the city, they stopped at the last house. 18 The king and his officials stood there while his bodyguards went by in front of him. 600 soldiers from Gath city also walked by in front of him.

19 Then David said to Ittai, the leader of the soldiers from Gath, “◄Why are you going with us?/You should not be going with us.► [RHQ] Go back and stay with Absalom the new king. You are not an Israeli; you are living away from your own land. 20 You have lived here in Israel for only a short time [HYP]. And we do not even know where we will be going. So it is not right [RHQ] for me to force you to wander around with us. And take your troops with you. And I hope/wish that Yahweh will faithfully love and be loyal to you.”

21 But Ittai replied, “Your Majesty, as surely as you live, wherever you go, I will go; I will stay with you, whether they kill me or allow me to live.”

22 David replied to Ittai, “Okay, march with us!” So Ittai and all his troops 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 Valley and then they all went up the hill toward the desert.

24 Abiathar and Zadok, the priests, were walking with them. The descendants of Levi who helped the priests also went with them, carrying the sacred chest that contained the Ten Commandments. But they set it on the ground until all the others had left the city.

25 Then the king said to Zadok, “You and Abiathar take the sacred chest back into the city. If Yahweh is pleased with me, he will some day allow me to return to see it and the place where it is kept. 26 But if he says that he is not pleased with me, then I am willing for him to do to me whatever he thinks is good.”

27 He also said to Zadok, “Listen to what I suggest. You and Abiathar return to the city peacefully/safely, and take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan with you. 28 I will wait in the desert at the place where people can walk across the river, until you send a message to me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the sacred chest back to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.

30 David and those with him went up Olive Tree Hill. David was crying while he walked. He was walking barefoot and had something covering his head to show that he was sorrowful. All those who were going with him also covered their heads and were crying while they walked. 31 Someone told David that Ahithophel had joined with those who were rebelling against David. So David prayed, “Yahweh, cause whatever Ahithophel suggests to Absalom that he should do to be considered to be foolish!”

32 When they arrived at the top of the hill, where there was a place where the people worshiped God, suddenly Hushai, from the Arki people-group, met David. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was very sad. 33 David said to him, “If you go with me, you will not be able to help me. 34 But if you return to the city, you can help me by saying to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will serve you as faithfully as I served your father.’ If you do that and stay near Absalom, you will be able to oppose any advice that Ahithophel gives to Absalom. 35 Zadok and Abiathar the priests are already there [RHQ]. Whatever you hear people say in the king’s palace, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar. 36 Keep in mind that Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan are also there. You can tell them whatever you find out, and send them to report it to me.”

37 So David’s friend Hushai returned to the city, at the same time that Absalom was entering Jerusalem.