Absalom’s Conspiracy Against King David, his Father |
2 Samuel 15:1-37 The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks] |
It [happened] after this, that Absalom prepared chariots, horses & 50 men to run [in front of] him. Absalom arose early & stood beside the gate [road.] When any man had a [dispute] & came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him & said, What city are you [from?] And he said, [I’m] from one of the tribes of Israel. |
And Absalom said to him, [I] see, your matters are good & right, but the king [doesn’t have a] man [appointed] to hear you. [If] I were made [the] judge in the land, every man [who] has any [dispute] or cause might come to me & I would [provide] justice [for] him! |
It was when any man came [close to bow] to [Absalom,] he would put [out] his hand, took him & kissed him. Absalom did this to all [of] Israel [who] came to the king for judgment. So, Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. |
It [happened] after 40 years, Absalom said to king [David,] I pray [that] you let me go & pay my vow to the Lord in Hebron. For [I,] your servant, vowed while I [lived] at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord [brings] me [back] again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord. King [David] said, Go in peace. |
So, [Absalom] arose & went to Hebron with 200 men called out of Jerusalem & they went out [calmly] & they didn’t know anything. But Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the trumpet sound, then say, Absalom [rules] in Hebron. |
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel, the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from Giloh, his city, while he offered sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong & the people [joining] Absalom increased continually. A messenger came to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are [with] Absalom. |
And David [told] all his servants there with him [in] Jerusalem, Arise & let us flee [or] we shall not escape from Absalom. [Hurry & leave,] lest he [overtakes] us suddenly & [harms] us & [captures] the city with the edge of the sword. |
Anf King [David’s] servants said, [Look,] your servants are ready to do [whatever] you [ask.] and King [David] went [out] & all his household after him & he left 10 [mistresses,] to [take care of] the house. |
[King David] & all his people went [out] & [waited] in a place far [away.] All his servants & all the Cherethites, Pelethites, Gittites & 600 men [who followed] him from Gath &[went on in front of the] king. The king said to Ittai, the Gittite, [Why do you go] with us, [too?] |
Return to [your] place & [stay] with the king: for you are a [foreigner] & also an exile. [Since you just came] yesterday, should I make you go up & down [the hills] with us? |
Seeing [that] I go [wherever I decide to go,] return & take your brethren back. [May] mercy & truth be with you. And Ittai answered the king & said, As the Lord lives & my lord, the king [lives, I,] your servant will be in [whatever] place the king shall be, whether in life or death. |
And David said to Ittai, Go & [cross] over & Ittai & all his men & the little ones with him, [crossed] over. All the country wept [loudly ] & all the people & the king [crossed] over the Brook Kidron & went toward the [road] of the wilderness. |
[Look,] Zadok & also all the Levites [who] were with him, [carrying] the Ark of the Covenant of God. They [put] down the Ark of God & Abiathar went up until all the people of the city had [finished crossing] over. |
And King [David] said to Zadok, Carry back the Ark of God into the city. If I find favor in the [sight] of the Lord, He will bring me [back] again & show me both [the Ark] & His habitation. But if [the Lord says,] I have no delight in you. |
[Look,] here I am, let [God] do to me as [seems] good to Him. King [David] also [asked] Zadok, the priest, Aren’t you a [prophet]? Return into the city in peace with [these] 2 sons: Ahimaaz, your son & Jonathan, the son of Abiathar. |
See, I will [wait] in the plain of the wilderness, until word [comes] from you to [inform] me. Therefore, Zadok & Abiathar carried the Ark of God [back] again to Jerusalem & they [waited] there. |
And David went barefoot up the [side] of Mount Olivet, [while crying] with his head covered. Every man had his head covered as they went up [while crying.] |
[Someone] told David, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. David said, O Lord, I pray [to] You, turns the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. It [happened,] when David came to the top of the [mountain,] where he worshiped God. |
[David saw] Hushai, the Archite, [who] came to meet him with his coat [torn] & [dirt] upon his head [Genesis 37:34 And Jacob [tore] his clothes & put sackcloth [around his waist] & mourned for his son many days.] David said to him, If you [go] on with me, you shall be a burden to me. |
But if you return to the city & say to Absalom, I will be your servant, O king, as I have been your father’s servant [until now,] so I will [also] be your servant. Then, you [might help] me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. |
Haven’t you been there with Zadok & Abiathar, the priests? Therefore, [whatever] you hear [from] the king’s house, you shall tell it to Zadok & Abiathar, the priests. |
[Look,] they have their 2 sons with them there: Ahimaaz, [Zadok’s] son & Jonathan, [Abiathar’s] son. And by them, you shall send to me everything you hear. So, Hushai, David’s friend [went] into the city & Absalom came into Jerusalem. |