Absalom’s Conspiracy Against King David, his Father |
2 Samuel 15:1-37 The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks] |
It [happened] after this, that Absalom prepared [for] himself: chariots, horses, & 50 men to run [in front of] him. Absalom rose up early, & stood beside the [gate's road.] And it [happened,] that when any man had a [dispute,] [that] came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him & said, What city are you [from?] And he said, [I,] your servant, [am from] one of the tribes of Israel. |
And Absalom said to him, [I] see, your matters are good & right, but there [isn't a] man [appointed by] the king to hear you. Absalom [also] said, [If] I were made [the] judge in the land, every man [who has] any [dispute] or cause might come to me, & I would [provide] justice [for] him! |
And it [happened,] that when any man came [close to bow] to [Absalom,] he put [out] his hand, & took & kissed him. Absalom did [similar to] this to all [of] Israel [who] came to the king for judgment. So, Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. |
And it [happened] after 40 years, Absalom said to king [David,] I pray [that] you let me go & pay my vow, [that] I have vowed in Hebron, to the Lord. For [I,] your servant, vowed while I [lived] at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord [brings] me [back] again to Jerusalem, then I will indeed serve the Lord. And king [David] said, Go in peace. |
So, [Absalom] arose, & went to Hebron. But Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the trumpet sound, then you shall say, Absalom [rules] in Hebron. |
And with Absalom 200 men, [who] were called, went out of Jerusalem, & they went [out] [calmly,] & they [didn’t know] anything. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel, the Gilonite, David’s [counselor,] from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; & the people [joining] Absalom increased continually. A messenger came there to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are [with] Absalom. |
And David said to all his servants [there] with him [in] Jerusalem, Arise, & let us flee; [or] else we shall not escape from Absalom. [Hurry & leave,] lest [Absalom overtakes] us suddenly, & [harms] us, & [captures] the city with the edge of the sword. |
And king [David’s] servants said, [Look,] your servants are ready to do [whatever] [you,] my lord, the king shall [ask.] And king [David] went [out,] & all his household after him, & [king David,] left 10 [mistresses,] to [take care of] the house. |
And king [David,] & all the people [went out] after him, & [waited] in a place that was far [away.] And all his servants, & all the: Cherethites, Pelethites, Gittites, & 600 men [who followed] after him, from Gath & [went on in front of the] king. Then, the king said to Ittai, the Gittite, [Why] [do] you also [go] with us? |
Return to your place, & [remain] with the king: for you are a stranger, [a.k.a. foreigner,] & also an exile. [Since] you [just came] yesterday, should I make you go up & down [the hills] with us this day? |
Seeing [that] I go [wherever] I may [decide to go,] you, return, & take your brethren back. [May] mercy & truth be with you. And Ittai answered the king, & said, As the Lord [Lives,] & [like] my lord, the king [lives,] [I,] your servant will be in [whatever] place the king shall be, whether in life or death. |
And David said to Ittai, Go & [cross] over, & Ittai the Gittite, & all his men & all the little ones with him, [crossed] over. And all the country wept [loudly,] & all the people & also, the king, himself, [crossed] over the Brook Kidron & [went] toward the [road] of the wilderness. |
[Look,] Zadok also, & all the Levites, [who] were with him, [carrying] the Ark of the Covenant of God. They [put] down the Ark of God; & Abiathar went up until all the people had [finished crossing] [over,] out of the city |
And King [David] said to 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 [back] again, & [show] me both [the Ark,] & His habitation. But if [the Lord says,] I have no delight in you. |
[Look,] here I am, let [God] do to me as [seems] good to Him. King [David] also [asked] Zadok, the priest, Aren’t you a Seer? [1 Samuel 9:9 ([Previous times,] in Israel, when a man went to [inquire from] God, he [said this,] Come, & [let's] go to the Seer. for he, [who] is now called a Prophet, was [previously] called a Seer.)] |
Return into the city in peace, with [these] 2 sons: Ahimaaz, your son, & Jonathan, the son of Abiathar. See, I will [wait] in the plain of the wilderness, until word [comes] from you to [inform] me. Therefore, Zadok & Abiathar carried the Ark of God [back] again to Jerusalem, & they [waited] there. |
And David went barefoot up the [slope] of Mount Olivet, [while crying] as he went, [with] his head covered. And all the people, [who were] with him, [all] covered his head, as they went up [crying.] |
[Someone] told David, saying, Ahithophel, with Absalom [are] among the conspirators, [who secretly plotted to overthrow king David.] And David said, O Lord, I pray [to] You, turn the counsel, [a.k.a. advice,] of Ahithophel into foolishness. It [happened,] when David [came] to the top of the [mountain,] [which is] where he worshiped God. |
[David] [saw] Hushai, the Archite, [who] came to meet [up with] him with his coat [torn,] & [dirt] upon his head [Genesis 37:34 And Jacob [tore] his clothes & put sackcloth [around his waist] & mourned for his son many days.] |
David said to [him,] If you [go] on with me, you [shall] be a burden to me. But if you return to the city, & say to Absalom, I will be your servant, O king, [like] I have been your father’s servant [until now,] so I will [also] now be your servant. Then, you [may] defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. |
And [haven’t] you [been] there with Zadok & Abiathar, the priests? Therefore, it shall [happen,] that [whatever] you [shall] hear [from] the king’s house, you [shall] tell it to Zadok & Abiathar, the priests. |
[See,] they have their 2 sons with them there: Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, & Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. And by them, you shall send to me everything that you [are able to] hear. So, Hushai, David’s friend [went] into the city, & Absalom came into Jerusalem. |