15 SHEMU'EL -2- SAMUEL 15

Absalom's Ambition

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:1

  1     ^¶  And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:2

  2    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 to him, and said, Of what city are you? And he said, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Yisrael.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:3

  3    And Absalom said to him, See, your matters are good and right; but there is no man [deputed] of the king to hear you.

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  4    Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which has any suit or cause might come to 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 Absalom to all Yisrael that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Yisrael.

His Conspiracy

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:7

  7     ^¶  And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray you, let me go and pay shalom for my vow, which I have vowed to YAHWEH, in Hebron.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:8

  8    For your servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If YAHWEH shall bring me again indeed to Yerusalem, then I will serve YAHWEH.

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  9    And the king said to him, Go in shalom. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

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  10    But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Yisrael, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the shofar, then you shall say, Absalom reigns in Hebron.

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  11    And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Yerusalem, [that were] called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not anything.

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  12    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.

David Leaves Jerusalem

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:13

  13     ^¶  And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Yisrael are after Absalom.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:14

  14    And David said to all his servants that were with him at Yerusalem, 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.

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  15    And the king's servants said to the king, Behold, your servants [are ready to do] whatsoever my master 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 Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:19

  19    Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore go you also with us? return to your place, and abide with the king: for you are a stranger, and also an exile.

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  20    Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return you, and take back your brethren: mercy and truth be with you.

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  21    And Ittai answered the king, and said, As YAHWEH lives, and as my master the king lives, surely in what place my master the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will your servant be.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:22

  22    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.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:23

  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.

David Sends Back The Ark
2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:24

  24     ^¶  And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of YAHWEH: and they set down the ark of YAHWEH; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:25

  25    And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of YAHWEH into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of YAHWEH, 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 you; behold, [here am] I, let him do to me as seems good to him.

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  27    The king said also to Zadok the kohen, [Are not] you a seer? return into the city in shalom, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:28

  28    See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

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  29    Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of YAHWEH again to Yerusalem: and they tarried there.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:30

  30    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.

He Prays Against Ahithophel's Counsel

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:31

  31     ^¶  And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O YAHWEH, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:32

  32    And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top [of the mount], where he worshipped YAHWEH, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:33

  33    To whom David said, If you pass on with me, then you shall be a burden to me:

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  34    But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I [have been] your father's servant hitherto, so [will] I now also be your servant: then may you for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:35

  35    And [have you] not there with you Zadok and Abiathar the kohenim? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever you shall hear out of the king's house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the kohenim.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:36

  36    Behold, [they have] there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them you shall send to me every thing that you can hear.

2 SHEMU'EL - 2 SAMUEL 15:37

  37    So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Yerusalem.