2nd Shamu'AL (2 Samuel) — 15

Absalum’s Rebellion

1 After this, Absalum bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. 

2 He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalum would ask where in Yashar'AL they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. 

3 Then Absalum would say, “You have really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king does not have anyone to hear it. 

4 I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!”

5 When people tried to bow before him, Absalum would not let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them. 

6 Absalum did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Yashar'AL.

7 After four years, Absalum said to the king, “Let me go to Habrun to offer a sacrifice to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and fulfill a vow I made to him. 

8 For while your servant was at Gashur in Aram, I promised to sacrifice to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH in Habrun if he would bring me back to Yahushalam.”

9 “All right,” the king told him. “Go and fulfill your vow.” So Absalum went to Habrun. 

10 But while he was there, he sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Yashar'AL to stir up a rebellion against the king. “As soon as you hear the ram’s horn,” his message read, “you are to say, ‘Absalum has been crowned king in Habrun.’” 

11 He took two hundred men from Yahushalam with him as guests, but they knew nothing of his intentions. 

12 While Absalum was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithuphal, one of Daud’s counselors who lived in Giluh. Soon many others also joined Absalum, and the conspiracy gained momentum.

Daud Escapes from Yahushalam 

13 A messenger soon arrived in Yahushalam to tell Daud, “All Yashar'AL has joined Absalum in a conspiracy against you!”

14 “Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” Daud urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalum arrives, both we and the city of Yahushalam will be spared from disaster.”

15 “We are with you,” his advisers replied. “Do what you think is best.”

16 So the king and all his household set out at once, he left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace. 

17 The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house 

18 to let all the king’s men move past to lead the way. There were 600 men from Gath who had come with Daud, along with the king’s bodyguard.

19 Then the king turned and said to Ittai, a leader of the men from Gath, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalum, for you are a guest in Yashar'AL, a foreigner in exile. 

20 You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I do not even know where we are going. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you, and may  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH show you his unfailing love and faithfulness.”

21 But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and by your own life that I will go wherever my master the king goes, no matter what happens, whether it means life or death.”

22 Daud replied, “All right, come with us.” So Ittai and all his men and their families went along.

23 Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by. They crossed the Kidrun Valley and then went out toward the wilderness.

24 Zaduk and all the Lauym also came along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of   𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. They set down the Ark of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until everyone had passed out of the city.

25 Then the king instructed Zaduk to take the Ark of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH back into the city. “If  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH sees fit,” Daud said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. 

26 But if 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is through with me, then let Him do what seems best to him.”

27 The king also told Zaduk the Kuhan, “Look, here is my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Yunathan. 

28 I will stop at the shallows of the Yurdan River and wait there for a report from you.” 

29 So Zaduk and Abiathar took the Ark of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH back to the city and stayed there.

30 Daud walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill. 

31 When someone told Daud that his adviser Ahithuphal was now backing Absalum, Daud prayed, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH my ALUAH, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” let Ahithuphal give Absalum foolish advice!”

32 When Daud reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. 

33 But Daud told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden. 

34 Return to Yahushalam and tell Absalum, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithuphal’s advice. 

35 Zaduk and Abiathar, the Kuhanym, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king’s palace, 

36 and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Yunathan to tell me what is going on.”

37 So Daud’s friend Hushai returned to Yahushalam, getting there just as Absalom arrived.