圣经Afterwards, Absalom prepared chariots and horses for himself, and sent fifty people to run ahead of him.
Absalom often woke up in the morning and stood by the way of the city gate. Whenever there was a dispute that he wanted to seek the king’s judgment, Absalom called him over and asked him, ‘Which city are you from?’. He answered, “My servant is from a certain tribe of Israel.”.
Absalom said to him, “Your matter is reasonable and reasonable, but the king has not appointed anyone to listen to you.”.
Absalom also said, I wish I could be a judge in the land. Whoever comes to me with a dispute for judgment, I will make a just judgment.
If anyone comes near to worship Absalom, Absalom will stretch out his hand to grab him and kiss him.
Absalom did this to all the Israelites who went to the king to seek judgment. So Absalom secretly gained the hearts of the Israelites.
After forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please allow me to go to Hebron and fulfill my vow to the Lord.”.
Because my servant lived in Geshur in Aram and made a vow, saying, If the Lord causes me to return to Jerusalem again, I will serve him.
The king said, “Go in peace.”. Absalom stood up and went to Hebron.
Absalom sent scouts throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, say, Absalom has become king in Hebron.
Absalom invited two hundred people to go with him in Jerusalem, all of whom went truthfully and did not know the truth behind them.
When Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his own city. So the rebellious faction was very strong. Because the number of people who followed Absalom increased day by day.
Someone reported to David that the hearts of the Israelites have turned to Absalom.
David said to his servants who followed him in Jerusalem, “Get up and flee, otherwise we will not be able to escape from Absalom.”. Go quickly, or he may suddenly come and harm us, killing all the people in the city with the sword.
The king’s servants said to the king, “My lord, the king has determined that my servants are willing to do everything.”.
So the king went out with his whole family, but left ten concubines to guard the palace.
When the king went out, all the people followed him and stayed at Bethlehem.
All the king’s servants passed over before him. The Cherethites and Berethites, six hundred people who followed the king from Gath, also passed over before him.
The king said to Ether the Gittite, “You are a fugitive from a foreign land. Why did you go with us?”? You can go back and live with the new king, or go back to your local area.
You haven’t been here many days, how can I ask you to drift with us today without a certain place to live? Why don’t you take your brothers back. May the Lord treat you with love and truth.
Ether said to the king, As the Lord liveth, and as I dare to swear before the king, whether life or death, wherever the king is, my servant will also be.
David said to Ether, “Go and cross the river.”. So the man of Gath, Ether, and all the women and children who were with him, went over.
The locals burst into tears. All the people passed by, and the king also crossed the Jilun River. The people have gone to the wilderness.
Zadok and the Levites who carried the ark of God also came together and put down the ark of God. Abiathar came up and waited for all the people to come out of the city.
The king said to Zadok, “Bring the ark of God back to the city.”. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and see the ark and his dwelling place again.
If he says, I am not pleased with you, see, I am here. May he treat me according to his own will.
And the king said to the priest Zadok, Art not you a seer? You can safely return to the city. Your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan can both go with you.
I am waiting for you to report to me at the ferry crossing in the wilderness.
So Zadok and Abiathar brought the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.
David went up to the Mount of Olives with his head covered and bare feet, crying as he went up. His followers also covered their heads and cried.
Someone told David that Ahithophel was also among the rebels, following Absalom. David prayed, saying, O Lord, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolish.
David arrived at the top of the mountain, where he worshipped God, and saw Hushai the Archite, his clothes torn and his head covered in dust, coming to meet him.
David said to him, “If you go with me, you will burden me.”.
If you return to the city and say to Absalom, O king, I am willing to be your servant. I have always been your father’s servant, and now I am also your servant. In this way, you can sabotage Ahithophel’s plan for me.
Aren’t priests Zadok and Abiathar all there? What do you hear in the palace? Tell the priests Zadok and Abiathar.
Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar were also there. Whatever you hear, you can entrust these two people to report to me.
So David’s friend Hu sifted into the city. Absalom also entered Jerusalem.
