Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1After this, Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run before him.

1Now it came about after this that Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him.

2He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for settlement, Absalom called out to him and asked, "What city are you from?" If he replied, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,"

2Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way to the gate; and when any man had a suit to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, "From what city are you?" And he would say, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."

3Absalom said to him, "Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you."

3Then Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king."

4He added, "If only someone would appoint me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would make sure he received justice."

4Moreover, Absalom would say, "Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice."

5When a person approached to pay homage to him, Absalom reached out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him.

5And when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.

6Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

6In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel.

7When four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I made to the LORD.

7Now it came about at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

8For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram, saying: If the LORD really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron."

8"For your servant vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, 'If the LORD shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.'"

9"Go in peace," the king said to him. So he went to Hebron.

9The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose and went to Hebron.

10Then Absalom sent agents throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: "When you hear the sound of the ram's horn, you are to say, 'Absalom has become king in Hebron!'"

10But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'"

11Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They had been invited and were going innocently, for they did not know the whole situation.

11Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, who were invited and went innocently, and they did not know anything.

12While he was offering the sacrifices, Absalom sent for David's adviser Ahithophel the Gilonite, from his city of Giloh. So the conspiracy grew strong, and the people supporting Absalom continued to increase.

12And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13Then an informer came to David and reported, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom."

13Then a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom."

14David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, "Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! Leave quickly, or he will overtake us quickly, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword."

14David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise and let us flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Go in haste, or he will overtake us quickly and bring down calamity on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword."

15The king's servants said to the king, "Whatever my lord the king decides, we are your servants."

15Then the king's servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses."

16Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

16So the king went out and all his household with him. But the king left ten concubines to keep the house.

17So the king set out, and all the people followed him. They stopped at the last house

17The king went out and all the people with him, and they stopped at the last house.

18while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the people of Gath--six hundred men who came with him from there--marched past the king.

18Now all his servants passed on beside him, all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had come with him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19The king said to Ittai of Gath, "Why are you also going with us? Go back and stay with the new king since you're both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.

19Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why will you also go with us? Return and remain with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile; return to your own place.

20Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you kindness and faithfulness."

20"You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander with us, while I go where I will? Return and take back your brothers; mercy and truth be with you."

21But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, "As the LORD lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!"

21But Ittai answered the king and said, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be."

22"March on," David replied to Ittai. So Ittai of Gath marched past with all his men and the dependents who were with him.

22Therefore David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over." So Ittai the Gittite passed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

23Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly while all the people were marching out of the city. As the king was crossing the Kidron Valley, all the people were marching past on the road that leads to the wilderness.

23While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people passed over. The king also passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness.

24Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had finished marching past.

24Now behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar came up until all the people had finished passing from the city.

25Then the king instructed Zadok, "Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor with the LORD, he will bring me back and allow me to see both it and its dwelling place.

25The king said to Zadok, "Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the LORD, then He will bring me back again and show me both it and His habitation.

26However, if he should say, 'I do not delight in you,' then here I am--he can do with me whatever pleases him."

26"But if He should say thus, 'I have no delight in you,' behold, here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him."

27The king also said to the priest Zadok, "Look, return to the city in peace and your two sons with you: your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan.

27The king said also to Zadok the priest, "Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace and your two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28Remember, I'll wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me."

28"See, I am going to wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me."

29So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

29Therefore Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there.

30David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. All of the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they ascended.

30And David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went, and his head was covered and he walked barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his head and went up weeping as they went.

31Then someone reported to David: "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." "LORD," David pleaded, "please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!"

31Now someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O LORD, I pray, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness."

32When David came to the summit where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.

32It happened as David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, that behold, Hushai the Archite met him with his coat torn and dust on his head.

33David said to him, "If you go away with me, you'll be a burden to me,

33David said to him, "If you pass over with me, then you will be a burden to me.

34but if you return to the city and tell Absalom, 'I will be your servant, Your Majesty! Previously, I was your father's servant, but now I will be your servant,' then you can counteract Ahithophel's counsel for me.

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 in time past, so I will now be your servant,' then you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me.

35Won't the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Report everything you hear from the palace to the priests Zadok and Abiathar.

35"Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So it shall be that whatever you hear from the king's house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36Take note: their two sons are there with them--Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan. Send them to tell me everything you hear."

36"Behold their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them you shall send me everything that you hear."

37So Hushai, David's personal adviser, entered Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.

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

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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