1 And it came to pass after this {me’acharei: sequence marker}, that Absalom made for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men running {ratzim: swift footmen} before him.
2 Absalom {Avshalom: king’s son} rose early and stood beside the road at the gate. And it happened that whenever any man had a dispute to come to the king for judgment {mishpat: legal hearing}, Absalom would call to him and say, “From which city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”
3 And Absalom said to him, “See, your claims {divarekha: legal petitions} are good and right, but there is no one appointed by the king {hamelekh: royal judge} to hear you.”
4 And Absalom said, “Who will make me judge {shofet: legal official} in the land, that every man who has a dispute {rib: legal contention} or a case might come to me, and I would declare him right.”
5 And it happened that when a man approached to bow down{hishtachavot: act of reverence} to him, he would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss{nashak: greeting gesture} him.
6 And Absalom did this thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment {mishpat: legal case}, and Absalom stole the heart {lev: inner loyalty} of the men of Israel.
7 And it was at the end of four years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow {nidri: solemn promise} which I vowed to the LORD {YHWH, Recipient of Vows} in Hebron.”
8 “For your servant made a vow {neder: solemn pledge} while I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the LORD {YHWH, Promise Keeper} brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.’”
9 The king {ha-melekh: sovereign ruler} said to him, “Go with peace {beshalom: state of complete well-being}.” Then he rose and journeyed to Hebron.
10 And Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel to say, “When you hear the sound of the trumpet {shofar: ram’s horn}, you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron {Hevron: royal seat}.’”
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem, who had been called {keruim: invited guests} and were walking in their innocence, and they did not know anything about the matter {davar: hidden plan}.
12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel {akhitophel: strategic counselor} the Gilonite, counselor to David, from his city in Giloh, as he was offering the sacrifices; and the conspiracy {qesher: hidden plot} became strong, and the people kept going with Absalom.
13 And the messenger {hammaggid: bearer of tidings} came to David and said, “The heart of each man in Israel is with Absalom {Avshalom: son of David, rebel leader}.”
14 And David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, for there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he hasten and overtake us and bring upon us the disaster {hara’ah: calamity} and strike the city with the edge {charev: weapon’s edge} of the sword.”
15 The servants {avadim: royal attendants} of the king said to him, “Your servants stand ready to carry out whatever my lord the king chooses {bachar: deliberate choice}.”
16 And the king went out with all his household on foot, and he left ten women, concubines {pilagshim: auxiliary wives}, to guard the house {ha-bayit: royal residence}.
17 And the king went out, and all the people traveled on foot {beraglav: by his steps}. They halted at the last house {beit hamerhak: farthest waystation}.
18 And all his servants were passing by his side, and all the Kerethites {keretiy: foreign warriors} and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came on foot from Gath, were passing before the king {melekh: royal leader}.
19 And the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Return and remain with the king, for you are a foreigner {nakhri: outsider status} and an exile {goleh: homeland exile} to your own place.”
20 Yesterday you arrived, and today shall I make you wander with us when I do not know where I am going? And I am going to the place where I am going. Return, and bring your brothers with you. May kindness {chesed: covenant loyalty} and faithfulness {emet: dependable truth} accompany you.
21 And Ittai answered the king and said, “As the LORD {YHWH, Living Sovereign} lives and as my lord the king lives, surely wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, that is where your servant {eved: loyal follower} will be.”
22 And David said to Ittai, “Go on and cross over.” So Ittai the Gittite {gitti: Resident of Gath} crossed over with all his men and all the little ones {taff: Dependent Children} who were with him.
23 And all the land wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed by; and the king crossed the Kidron Valley {Kidron: boundary valley}, and all the people continued on the road toward the wilderness {midbar: arid uncultivated region}.
24 And behold, Zadok also, and all the Levites who were with him, were carrying the ark of the covenant of God {Elohim, Covenant Witness}. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing from the city {ir: main settlement}.
25 And the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God {haelohim: divine presence} to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD {YHWH: Sovereign Restorer}, then He will bring me back and let me see it and its dwelling place {navehu: inner dwelling}.”
26 But if He {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} says, “I have not delighted in you,” here I am; let Him do to me as is good in His eyes {einav: divine perspective}.
27 And the king said to Zadok {tsadok: righteous one} the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace {shalom: safe well-being}, and Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan son of Abiathar, your two sons, be with you.”
28 See, I am lingering at the fords {baavarot: crossing places} in the plains of the wilderness {midbar: desert expanse} until a word comes from you to tell me.
29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God {Elohim: Covenant Guardian} to Jerusalem, and they stayed there {šām: that very place}.
30 And David {david: anointed king in distress} ascended the slope of the Olives, ascending and weeping {vokhe: lamenting aloud}, with his head covered. He walked barefoot, and all the people who were with him each covered his own head, and they went up, ascending and weeping.
31 And David was told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” Then David said, “LORD {YHWH, Hearer of Prayer}, please make foolish {sakel-na: render ineffective} the counsel of Ahithophel.”
32 And it happened that when David came to the summit where he would worship God {Elohim, Worship Focus}, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him, his tunic {kuttanto: Sign of Mourning} torn and dust upon his head.
33 And David said to him, “If you pass over {avar: precise crossing} with me, then you will be a burden {masa: something carried} upon me.”
34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, “I am your servant, O king; I was your father’s servant from then until now, and now I am your servant,” then you will frustrate for me the counsel {atzat: strategic advice} of Ahithophel {Ahithophel: counselor and advisor}.
35 And are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests {kohanim: Levitical ministers} there with you? And it shall be that every matter that you hear from the king’s house {beit-hammelekh: royal residence}, you shall tell to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests.
36 Behold {hinneh: attention marker}, there with them are their two sons, Ahimaaz for Zadok and Jonathan for Abiathar. And you shall send to me by their hand every word {davar: message or report} that you hear.
37 And Hushai, David’s companion {reʿeh: trusted friend}, came to the city, and Absalom also entered Jerusalem {Yerushalayim: royal capital}.