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2 Samuel
15
:
1
After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him.
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2 Samuel
15
:
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, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe.
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2 Samuel
15
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3
Then Absalom would say, "You've really got a strong case here! It's too bad the king doesn't have anyone to hear it.
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2 Samuel
15
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4
I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!"
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2 Samuel
15
:
5
When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn't let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them.
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2 Samuel
15
:
6
Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.
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2 Samuel
15
:
7
After four years, Absalom said to the king, "Let me go to Hebron to offer a sacrifice to the LORD and fulfill a vow I made to him.
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2 Samuel
15
:
8
For while your servant was at Geshur in Aram, I promised to sacrifice to the LORD in Hebron if he would bring me back to Jerusalem."
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2 Samuel
15
:
9
"All right," the king told him. "Go and fulfill your vow." So Absalom went to Hebron.
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2 Samuel
15
:
10
But while he was there, he sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Israel to stir up a rebellion against the king. "As soon as you hear the ram's horn," his message read, "you are to say, 'Absalom has been crowned king in Hebron.'"
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2 Samuel
15
:
11
He took 200 men from Jerusalem with him as guests, but they knew nothing of his intentions.
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2 Samuel
15
:
12
While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, one of David's counselors who lived in Giloh. Soon many others also joined Absalom, and the conspiracy gained momentum.
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2 Samuel
15
:
13
A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, "All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!"
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2 Samuel
15
:
14
"Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!" David urged his men. "Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster."
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2 Samuel
15
:
15
"We are with you," his advisers replied. "Do what you think is best."
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2 Samuel
15
:
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.
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2 Samuel
15
:
17
The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house
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2 Samuel
15
:
18
to let all the king's men move past to lead the way. There were 600 men from Gath who had come with David, along with the king's bodyguard.
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2 Samuel
15
:
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 Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile.
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2 Samuel
15
:
20
You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don't even know where we will go. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you, and may the LORD show you his unfailing love and faithfulness."
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2 Samuel
15
:
21
But Ittai said to the king, "I vow by the LORD and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens--whether it means life or death."
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2 Samuel
15
:
22
David replied, "All right, come with us." So Ittai and all his men and their families went along.
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2 Samuel
15
:
23
Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by. They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness.
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2 Samuel
15
:
24
Zadok and all the Levites also came along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until everyone had passed out of the city.
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2 Samuel
15
:
25
Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. "If the LORD sees fit," David said, "he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again.
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2 Samuel
15
:
26
But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him."
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2 Samuel
15
:
27
The king also told Zadok the priest, "Look, here is my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan.
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2 Samuel
15
:
28
I will stop at the shallows of the Jordan River and wait there for a report from you."
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2 Samuel
15
:
29
So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to the city and stayed there.
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2 Samuel
15
:
30
David 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.
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2 Samuel
15
:
31
When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, "O LORD, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!"
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2 Samuel
15
:
32
When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning.
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2 Samuel
15
:
33
But David told him, "If you go with me, you will only be a burden.
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2 Samuel
15
:
34
Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, '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 Ahithophel's advice.
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2 Samuel
15
:
35
Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king's palace,
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2 Samuel
15
:
36
and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on."
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2 Samuel
15
:
37
So David's friend Hushai returned to Jerusalem, getting there just as Absalom arrived.