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And Absalom answered Joab, Look, I sent to you, saying, Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, Why have I come from Geshur? it were better for me to be there still. Now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.

So Joab came to the king, and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.

And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and 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, Of what city are you? And he said, Your slave is of one of the tribes of Israel.

And on this manner Absalom did to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

For your slave vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.

And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

And David said to all his slaves that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, or else he will overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, Why do you also go with us? return, and abide with the king: for you are a foreigner, and also an exile; [return] to your own place.

And 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 be, whether for death or for life, even there also will your slave be.

but if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be your slave, O king; as I have been your father's slave in time past, so I will now be your slave; then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

And the king said to Ziba, What do you mean by these? And Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.

And the king said, And where is your master's son? And Ziba said to the king, Look, he abides at Jerusalem; for he said, Today will the house of Israel restore to me the kingdom of my father.

And David said to Abishai, and to all his slaves, Look, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life: how much more [may] this Benjamite now [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has bidden him.

It may be that Yahweh will look at the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will requite me good for [his] cursing of me this day.

And even he that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will completely melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those that are with him are valiant men.

But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person.

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Yahweh had determined to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.

And it came to pass, after they departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.

and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

But the people said, You shall not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you are ready to succor us out of the city.