2Samuel:15-17

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* And it came to pass after this , that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses , and fifty men to run before him . * And Absalom rose up early , and stood beside the way of the gate : and it was so , that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment , then Absalom called unto him , and said , Of what city art thou ? And he said , Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel . * And Absalom said unto him , See , thy matters are good and right ; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee . * Absalom said moreover , Oh that I were made judge in the land , that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me , and I would do him justice ! * And it was so , that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance , he put forth his hand , and took him , and kissed him . * And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment : so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel . * And it came to pass after forty years , that Absalom said unto the king , I pray thee , let me go and pay my vow , which I have vowed unto the LORD , in Hebron . * For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria , saying , If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem , then I will serve the LORD . * And the king said unto him , Go in peace . So he arose , and went to Hebron . * But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel , saying , As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet , then ye shall say , Absalom reigneth in Hebron . * And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem , that were called ; and they went in their simplicity , and they knew not any thing . * And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite , David 's counsellor , from his city , even from Giloh , while he offered sacrifices . And the conspiracy was strong ; for the people increased continually with Absalom . * And there came a messenger to David , saying , The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom . * And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem , Arise , and let us flee ; for we shall not else escape from Absalom : make speed to depart , lest he overtake us suddenly , and bring evil upon us , and smite the city with the edge of the sword . * And the king 's servants said unto the king , Behold , thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint . * And the king went forth , and all his household after him . And the king left ten women , which were concubines , to keep the house . * And the king went forth , and all the people after him , and tarried in a place that was far off . * And all his servants passed on beside him ; and all the Cherethites , and all the Pelethites , and all the Gittites , six hundred men which came after him from Gath , passed on before the king . * Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite , Wherefore goest thou also with us ? return to thy place , and abide with the king : for thou art a stranger , and also an exile . * Whereas thou camest but yesterday , should I this day make thee go up and down with us ? seeing I go whither I may , return thou , and take back thy brethren : mercy and truth be with thee . * And Ittai answered the king , and said , As the LORD liveth , and as my lord the king liveth , surely in what place my lord the king shall be , whether in death or life , even there also will thy servant be . * And David said to Ittai , Go and pass over . And Ittai the Gittite passed over , and all his men , and all the little ones that were with him . * And all 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 . * 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 . * 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 : * 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 . * 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 . * See , I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness , until there come word from you to certify me . * Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem : and they tarried there . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 : * Unto whom David said , If thou passest on with me , then thou shalt be a burden unto 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * So Hushai David 's friend came into the city , and Absalom came into Jerusalem . * And when David was a little past the top of the hill , behold , Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him , with a couple of asses saddled , and upon them two hundred loaves of bread , and an hundred bunches of raisins , and an hundred of summer fruits , and a bottle of wine . * And the king said unto Ziba , What meanest thou by these ? And Ziba said , The asses be for the king 's household to ride on ; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat ; and the wine , that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink . * And the king said , And where is thy master 's son ? And Ziba said unto the king , Behold , he abideth at Jerusalem : for he said , To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father . * Then said the king to Ziba , Behold , thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth . And Ziba said , I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight , my lord , O king . * And when king David came to Bahurim , behold , thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul , whose name was Shimei , the son of Gera : he came forth , and cursed still as he came . * And he cast stones at David , and at all the servants of king David : and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left . * And thus said Shimei when he cursed , Come out , come out , thou bloody man , and thou man of Belial : * The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul , in whose stead thou hast reigned ; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son : and , behold , thou art taken in thy mischief , because thou art a bloody man . * Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king , Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king ? let me go over , I pray thee , and take off his head . * And the king said , What have I to do with you , ye sons of Zeruiah ? so let him curse , because the LORD hath said unto him , Curse David . Who shall then say , Wherefore hast thou done so ? * And David said to Abishai , and to all his servants , Behold , my son , which came forth of my bowels , seeketh my life : how much more now may this Benjamite do it ? let him alone , and let him curse ; for the LORD hath bidden him . * It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction , and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day . * And as David and his men went by the way , Shimei went along on the hill 's side over against him , and cursed as he went , and threw stones at him , and cast dust . * And the king , and all the people that were with him , came weary , and refreshed themselves there . * And Absalom , and all the people the men of Israel , came to Jerusalem , and Ahithophel with him . * And it came to pass , when Hushai the Archite , David 's friend , was come unto Absalom , that Hushai said unto Absalom , God save the king , God save the king . * And Absalom said to Hushai , Is this thy kindness to thy friend ? why wentest thou not with thy friend ? * And Hushai said unto Absalom , Nay ; but whom the LORD , and this people , and all the men of Israel , choose , his will I be , and with him will I abide . * And again , whom should I serve ? should I not serve in the presence of his son ? as I have served in thy father 's presence , so will I be in thy presence . * Then said Absalom to Ahithophel , Give counsel among you what we shall do . * And Ahithophel said unto Absalom , Go in unto thy father 's concubines , which he hath left to keep the house ; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father : then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong . * So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house ; and Absalom went in unto his father 's concubines in the sight of all Israel . * And the counsel of Ahithophel , which he counselled in those days , was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God : so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom . * Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom , Let me now choose out twelve thousand men , and I will arise and pursue after David this night : * And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed , and will make him afraid : and all the people that are with him shall flee ; and I will smite the king only : * And I will bring back all the people unto thee : the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned : so all the people shall be in peace . * And the saying pleased Absalom well , and all the elders of Israel . * Then said Absalom , Call now Hushai the Archite also , and let us hear likewise what he saith . * And when Hushai was come to Absalom , Absalom spake unto him , saying , Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner : shall we do after his saying ? if not ; speak thou . * And Hushai said unto Absalom , The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time . * For , said Hushai , thou knowest thy father and his men , that they be mighty men , and they be chafed in their minds , as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field : and thy father is a man of war , and will not lodge with the people . * Behold , he is hid now in some pit , or in some other place : and it will come to pass , when some of them be overthrown at the first , that whosoever heareth it will say , There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom . * And he also that is valiant , whose heart is as the heart of a lion , shall utterly melt : for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man , and they which be with him are valiant men . * Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee , from Dan even to Beersheba , as the sand that is by the sea for multitude ; and that thou go to battle in thine own person . * So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found , and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground : and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one . * Moreover , if he be gotten into a city , then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city , and we will draw it into the river , until there be not one small stone found there . * And Absalom and all the men of Israel said , The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel . For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel , to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * And the woman took and spread a covering over the well 's mouth , and spread ground corn thereon ; and the thing was not known . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed , he saddled his ass , and arose , and gat him home to his house , to his city , and put his household in order , and hanged himself , and died , and was buried in the sepulchre of his father . * Then David came to Mahanaim . And Absalom passed over Jordan , he and all the men of Israel with him . * And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab : which Amasa was a man 's son , whose name was Ithra an Israelite , that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash , sister to Zeruiah Joab 's mother . * So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead . * And it came to pass , when David was come to Mahanaim , that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon , and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar , and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim , * Brought beds , and basons , and earthen vessels , and wheat , and barley , and flour , and parched corn , and beans , and lentiles , and parched pulse , * And honey , and butter , and sheep , and cheese of kine , for David , and for the people that were with him , to eat : for they said , The people is hungry , and weary , and thirsty , in the wilderness . * And David numbered the people that were with him , and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them .

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