1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so , that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! 5 And it was so , that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. 6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 ¶ And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. 8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD. 9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10 ¶ But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
13 ¶ And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. 14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. 15 And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. 16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. 17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19 ¶ Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. 20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. 21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be. 22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. 23 And 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.
24 ¶ And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were 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 had done passing out of the city. 25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: 26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. 27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
30 ¶ And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
31 ¶ And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32 ¶ And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount , where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: 33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: 34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. 35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok’s son , and Jonathan Abiathar’s son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear. 37 So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
1 Καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἐποίησεν ἑαυτῷ Αβεσσαλωμ ἅρματα καὶ ἵππους καὶ πεντήκοντα ἄνδρας παρατρέχειν ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ. 2 καὶ ὤρθρισεν Αβεσσαλωμ καὶ ἔστη ἀνὰ χεῖρα τῆς ὁδοῦ τῆς πύλης, καὶ ἐγένετο πᾶς ἀνήρ, ᾧ ἐγένετο κρίσις, ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα εἰς κρίσιν, καὶ ἐβόησεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Αβεσσαλωμ καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτῷ Ἐκ ποίας πόλεως σὺ εἶ; καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀνήρ Ἐκ μιᾶς φυλῶν Ισραηλ ὁ δοῦλός σου. 3 καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Αβεσσαλωμ Ἰδοὺ οἱ λόγοι σου ἀγαθοὶ καὶ εὔκολοι, καὶ ἀκούων οὐκ ἔστιν σοι παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως· 4 καὶ εἶπεν Αβεσσαλωμ Τίς με καταστήσει κριτὴν ἐν τῇ γῇ, καὶ ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ ἐλεύσεται πᾶς ἀνήρ, ᾧ ἐὰν ᾖ ἀντιλογία καὶ κρίσις, καὶ δικαιώσω αὐτόν; 5 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἐγγίζειν ἄνδρα τοῦ προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ καὶ ἐξέτεινεν τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπελαμβάνετο αὐτοῦ καὶ κατεφίλησεν αὐτόν. 6 καὶ ἐποίησεν Αβεσσαλωμ κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο παντὶ Ισραηλ τοῖς παραγινομένοις εἰς κρίσιν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, καὶ ἰδιοποιεῖτο Αβεσσαλωμ τὴν καρδίαν ἀνδρῶν Ισραηλ.
7 Καὶ ἐγένετο ἀπὸ τέλους τεσσαράκοντα ἐτῶν καὶ εἶπεν Αβεσσαλωμ πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ Πορεύσομαι δὴ καὶ ἀποτείσω τὰς εὐχάς μου, ἃς ηὐξάμην τῷ κυρίῳ, ἐν Χεβρων· 8 ὅτι εὐχὴν ηὔξατο ὁ δοῦλός σου ἐν τῷ οἰκεῖν με ἐν Γεδσουρ ἐν Συρίᾳ λέγων Ἐὰν ἐπιστρέφων ἐπιστρέψῃ με κύριος εἰς Ιερουσαλημ, καὶ λατρεύσω τῷ κυρίῳ. 9 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ βασιλεύς Βάδιζε εἰς εἰρήνην· καὶ ἀναστὰς ἐπορεύθη εἰς Χεβρων. 10 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Αβεσσαλωμ κατασκόπους ἐν πάσαις φυλαῖς Ισραηλ λέγων Ἐν τῷ ἀκοῦσαι ὑμᾶς τὴν φωνὴν τῆς κερατίνης καὶ ἐρεῖτε Βεβασίλευκεν βασιλεὺς Αβεσσαλωμ ἐν Χεβρων. 11 καὶ μετὰ Αβεσσαλωμ ἐπορεύθησαν διακόσιοι ἄνδρες ἐξ Ιερουσαλημ κλητοὶ καὶ πορευόμενοι τῇ ἁπλότητι αὐτῶν καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν πᾶν ῥῆμα. 12 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Αβεσσαλωμ καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸν Αχιτοφελ τὸν Γελμωναῖον τὸν σύμβουλον Δαυιδ ἐκ τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ ἐκ Γωλα ἐν τῷ θυσιάζειν αὐτόν. καὶ ἐγένετο σύστρεμμα ἰσχυρόν, καὶ ὁ λαὸς πορευόμενος καὶ πολὺς μετὰ Αβεσσαλωμ.
13 Καὶ παρεγένετο ὁ ἀπαγγέλλων πρὸς Δαυιδ λέγων Ἐγενήθη ἡ καρδία ἀνδρῶν Ισραηλ ὀπίσω Αβεσσαλωμ. 14 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πᾶσιν τοῖς παισὶν αὐτοῦ τοῖς μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ τοῖς ἐν Ιερουσαλημ Ἀνάστητε καὶ φύγωμεν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν σωτηρία ἀπὸ προσώπου Αβεσσαλωμ· ταχύνατε τοῦ πορευθῆναι, ἵνα μὴ ταχύνῃ καὶ καταλάβῃ ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐξώσῃ ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς τὴν κακίαν καὶ πατάξῃ τὴν πόλιν στόματι μαχαίρης. 15 καὶ εἶπον οἱ παῖδες τοῦ βασιλέως πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Κατὰ πάντα, ὅσα αἱρεῖται ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν ὁ βασιλεύς, ἰδοὺ οἱ παῖδές σου. 16 καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ πᾶς ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτῶν· καὶ ἀφῆκεν ὁ βασιλεὺς δέκα γυναῖκας τῶν παλλακῶν αὐτοῦ φυλάσσειν τὸν οἶκον. 17 καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ πάντες οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ πεζῇ καὶ ἔστησαν ἐν οἴκῳ τῷ μακράν. 18 καὶ πάντες οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ ἀνὰ χεῖρα αὐτοῦ παρῆγον καὶ πᾶς ὁ Χεττι καὶ πᾶς ὁ Φελετθι καὶ ἔστησαν ἐπὶ τῆς ἐλαίας ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ· καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς παρεπορεύετο ἐχόμενος αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν καὶ πάντες οἱ ἁδροὶ καὶ πάντες οἱ μαχηταί, ἑξακόσιοι ἄνδρες, καὶ παρῆσαν ἐπὶ χεῖρα αὐτοῦ· καὶ πᾶς ὁ Χερεθθι καὶ πᾶς ὁ Φελεθθι καὶ πάντες οἱ Γεθθαῖοι, ἑξακόσιοι ἄνδρες οἱ ἐλθόντες τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτῶν ἐκ Γεθ, πορευόμενοι ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τοῦ βασιλέως. 19 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς Εθθι τὸν Γεθθαῖον Ἵνα τί πορεύῃ καὶ σὺ μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν; ἐπίστρεφε καὶ οἴκει μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως, ὅτι ξένος εἶ σὺ καὶ ὅτι μετῴκηκας σὺ ἐκ τοῦ τόπου σου. 20 εἰ ἐχθὲς παραγέγονας, καὶ σήμερον κινήσω σε μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν καί γε μεταναστήσεις τὸν τόπον σου; ἐχθὲς ἡ ἐξέλευσίς σου, καὶ σήμερον μετακινήσω σε μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν τοῦ πορευθῆναι; καὶ ἐγὼ πορεύσομαι οὗ ἂν ἐγὼ πορευθῶ. ἐπιστρέφου καὶ ἐπίστρεψον τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου μετὰ σοῦ, καὶ κύριος ποιήσει μετὰ σοῦ ἔλεος καὶ ἀλήθειαν. 21 καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Εθθι τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ εἶπεν Ζῇ κύριος καὶ ζῇ ὁ κύριός μου ὁ βασιλεύς, ὅτι εἰς τὸν τόπον, οὗ ἐὰν ᾖ ὁ κύριός μου, καὶ ἐὰν εἰς θάνατον καὶ ἐὰν εἰς ζωήν, ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ δοῦλός σου. 22 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς Εθθι Δεῦρο καὶ διάβαινε μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ· καὶ παρῆλθεν Εθθι ὁ Γεθθαῖος καὶ πάντες οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος ὁ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ. 23 καὶ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ ἔκλαιεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ. καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς παρεπορεύοντο ἐν τῷ χειμάρρῳ Κεδρων, καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς διέβη τὸν χειμάρρουν Κεδρων· καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς παρεπορεύοντο ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ὁδοῦ τὴν ἔρημον. — 24 καὶ ἰδοὺ καί γε Σαδωκ καὶ πάντες οἱ Λευῖται μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ αἴροντες τὴν κιβωτὸν διαθήκης κυρίου ἀπὸ Βαιθαρ καὶ ἔστησαν τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἀνέβη Αβιαθαρ, ἕως ἐπαύσατο πᾶς ὁ λαὸς παρελθεῖν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως. 25 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τῷ Σαδωκ Ἀπόστρεψον τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς τὴν πόλιν· ἐὰν εὕρω χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς κυρίου, καὶ ἐπιστρέψει με καὶ δείξει μοι αὐτὴν καὶ τὴν εὐπρέπειαν αὐτῆς· 26 καὶ ἐὰν εἴπῃ οὕτως Οὐκ ἠθέληκα ἐν σοί, ἰδοὺ ἐγώ εἰμι, ποιείτω μοι κατὰ τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ. 27 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τῷ Σαδωκ τῷ ἱερεῖ Ἴδετε σὺ ἐπιστρέφεις εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐν εἰρήνῃ, καὶ Αχιμαας ὁ υἱός σου καὶ Ιωναθαν ὁ υἱὸς Αβιαθαρ οἱ δύο υἱοὶ ὑμῶν μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν· 28 ἴδετε ἐγώ εἰμι στρατεύομαι ἐν Αραβωθ τῆς ἐρήμου ἕως τοῦ ἐλθεῖν ῥῆμα παρ᾽ ὑμῶν τοῦ ἀπαγγεῖλαί μοι. 29 καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν Σαδωκ καὶ Αβιαθαρ τὴν κιβωτὸν εἰς Ιερουσαλημ καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐκεῖ. 30 καὶ Δαυιδ ἀνέβαινεν ἐν τῇ ἀναβάσει τῶν ἐλαιῶν ἀναβαίνων καὶ κλαίων καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν ἐπικεκαλυμμένος καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπορεύετο ἀνυπόδετος, καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐπεκάλυψεν ἀνὴρ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνέβαινον ἀναβαίνοντες καὶ κλαίοντες. — 31 καὶ ἀνηγγέλη Δαυιδ λέγοντες Καὶ Αχιτοφελ ἐν τοῖς συστρεφομένοις μετὰ Αβεσσαλωμ· καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ Διασκέδασον δὴ τὴν βουλὴν Αχιτοφελ, κύριε ὁ θεός μου. 32 καὶ ἦν Δαυιδ ἐρχόμενος ἕως τοῦ Ροως, οὗ προσεκύνησεν ἐκεῖ τῷ θεῷ, καὶ ἰδοὺ εἰς ἀπαντὴν αὐτῷ Χουσι ὁ Αρχι ἑταῖρος Δαυιδ διερρηχὼς τὸν χιτῶνα αὐτοῦ καὶ γῆ ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ. 33 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυιδ Ἐὰν μὲν διαβῇς μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἔσῃ ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ εἴς βάσταγμα· 34 καὶ ἐὰν εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐπιστρέψῃς, καὶ ἐρεῖς τῷ Αβεσσαλωμ Διεληλύθασιν οἱ ἀδελφοί σου, καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς κατόπισθέν μου διελήλυθεν ὁ πατήρ σου, καὶ νῦν παῖς σού εἰμι, βασιλεῦ, ἔασόν με ζῆσαι, παῖς τοῦ πατρός σου ἤμην τότε καὶ ἀρτίως, καὶ νῦν ἐγὼ δοῦλος σός· καὶ διασκεδάσεις μοι τὴν βουλὴν Αχιτοφελ. 35 καὶ ἰδοὺ μετὰ σοῦ ἐκεῖ Σαδωκ καὶ Αβιαθαρ οἱ ἱερεῖς, καὶ ἔσται πᾶν ῥῆμα, ὃ ἐὰν ἀκούσῃς ἐξ οἴκου τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ἀναγγελεῖς τῷ Σαδωκ καὶ τῷ Αβιαθαρ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν· 36 ἰδοὺ ἐκεῖ μετ᾽ αὐτῶν δύο υἱοὶ αὐτῶν, Αχιμαας υἱὸς τῷ Σαδωκ καὶ Ιωναθαν υἱὸς τῷ Αβιαθαρ, καὶ ἀποστελεῖτε ἐν χειρὶ αὐτῶν πρός με πᾶν ῥῆμα, ὃ ἐὰν ἀκούσητε. 37 καὶ εἰσῆλθεν Χουσι ὁ ἑταῖρος Δαυιδ εἰς τὴν πόλιν, καὶ Αβεσσαλωμ εἰσεπορεύετο εἰς Ιερουσαλημ. —