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2 Samuel
15
:
1
It happened after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
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2 Samuel
15
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2
Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. It was so, that when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, "What city are you from?" He said, "Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel."
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2 Samuel
15
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3
Absalom said to him, "Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you."
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2 Samuel
15
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4
Absalom said moreover, "Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!"
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2 Samuel
15
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5
It was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.
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2 Samuel
15
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6
Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
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2 Samuel
15
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7
It happened 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 Yahweh, in Hebron.
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2 Samuel
15
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8
For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, 'If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.'"
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2 Samuel
15
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9
The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose, and went to Hebron.
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2 Samuel
15
:
10
But 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!'"
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2 Samuel
15
:
11
Two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn't know anything.
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2 Samuel
15
:
12
Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
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2 Samuel
15
:
13
A messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom."
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2 Samuel
15
:
14
David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom. Make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword."
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2 Samuel
15
:
15
The king's servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses."
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2 Samuel
15
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16
The king went forth, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.
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2 Samuel
15
:
17
The king went forth, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak.
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2 Samuel
15
:
18
All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
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2 Samuel
15
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19
Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why do you also go with us? Return, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner, and also an exile. Return to your own place.
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2 Samuel
15
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20
Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you."
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2 Samuel
15
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21
Ittai answered the king, and said, "As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall is, whether for death or for life, even there also will your servant be."
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2 Samuel
15
:
22
David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over." Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him.
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2 Samuel
15
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23
All the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
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2 Samuel
15
:
24
Behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people finished passing out of the city.
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2 Samuel
15
:
25
The king said to Zadok, "Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation;
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2 Samuel
15
:
26
but if he say thus, 'I have no delight in you;' behold, here am I. Let him do to me as seems good to him."
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2 Samuel
15
:
27
The king said also to Zadok the priest, "Aren't you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
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2 Samuel
15
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28
Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me."
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2 Samuel
15
:
29
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem; and they stayed there.
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2 Samuel
15
:
30
David went up by the ascent of the [Mount of] Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people who were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
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2 Samuel
15
:
31
Someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." David said, "Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."
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2 Samuel
15
:
32
It happened that when David had come to the top [of the ascent], where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head.
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2 Samuel
15
:
33
David said to him, "If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me;
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2 Samuel
15
:
34
but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father's servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.'
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2 Samuel
15
:
35
Don't you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore it shall be, that whatever thing you shall hear out of the king's house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
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2 Samuel
15
:
36
Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them you shall send to me everything that you shall hear."
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2 Samuel
15
:
37
So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.