2 Samuel 15
Absalom Revolts
against David |
1 |
And it came to pass after this, that
Ab'salom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run
before him.
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2 |
And Ab'salom 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 Ab'salom
called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he
said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of
Israel.
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3 |
And Ab'salom said unto him, See, thy
matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
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4 |
Ab'salom 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!
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5 |
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.
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6 |
And on this manner did Ab'salom to all
Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Ab'salom stole the
hearts of the men of Israel.
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7 |
And it came to pass after forty years,
that Ab'salom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my
vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in
Hebron.
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8 |
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.
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9 |
And the king said unto him, Go in peace.
So he arose, and went to Hebron.
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10 |
But Ab'salom sent spies throughout all
the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the
trumpet, then ye shall say, Ab'salom reigneth in Hebron.
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11 |
And with Ab'salom went two hundred men
out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their
simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
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12 |
And Ab'salom sent for Ahith'ophel the
Gi'lonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh,
while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the
people increased continually with Ab'salom.
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13 |
And there came a messenger to David,
saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after
Ab'salom.
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14 |
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 Ab'salom: make speed to depart,
lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the
city with the edge of the sword.
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15 |
And the king's servants said unto the
king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord
the king shall appoint.
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16 |
And the king went forth, and all his
household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
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17 |
And the king went forth, and all the
people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
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18 |
And all his servants passed on beside
him; and all the Cher'ethites, and all the Pel'ethites, and all the
Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on
before the king.
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19 |
Then said the king to It'tai 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.
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20 |
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.
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21 |
And It'tai 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.
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22 |
And David said to It'tai, Go and pass
over. And It'tai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all
the little ones that were with him.
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23 |
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.
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24 |
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 Abi'athar went up, until all the
people had done passing out of the city.
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25 |
And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back
the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of
the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:
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26 |
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.
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27 |
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, Ahim'a-az thy son, and Jonathan the son of
Abi'athar.
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28 |
See, I will tarry in the plain of the
wilderness, Ps. 63.1--0.1 until
there come word from you to certify me.
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29 |
Zadok therefore and Abi'athar carried the
ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
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30 |
And David went up by the ascent of mount Ol'ivet, 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.
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31 |
And one told David, saying,
Ahith'ophel is among the conspirators with Ab'salom. And
David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the
counsel of Ahith'ophel into foolishness.
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32 |
And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped
God, behold, Hu'shai the Archite came to meet him with his coat
rent, and earth upon his head:
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33 |
unto whom David said, If thou passest on
with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
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34 |
but if thou return to the city, and say
unto Ab'salom, 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
Ahith'ophel.
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35 |
And hast thou not there with thee
Zadok and Abi'athar 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 Abi'athar the priests.
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36 |
Behold, they have there with them
their two sons, Ahim'a-az Zadok's son, and Jonathan
Abi'athar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every
thing that ye can hear.
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37 |
So Hu'shai David's friend came into the
city, and Ab'salom came into Jerusalem.
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