And it came to passafterthis, that Absalompreparedhim chariotsand horses, and fiftymento runbeforehim. And Absalomrose up early, and stoodbesidethe wayof the gate: and it was so , that when anymanthathada controversycametothe kingfor judgment, then Absalomcalleduntohim, and said, Ofwhatcity art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of oneof the tribesof Israel. And Absalomsaiduntohim, See, thy matters are goodand right; but there is noman deputed of the kingto hearthee. Absalomsaidmoreover, Oh thatI were madejudgein the land, that everymanwhichhathany suitor causemight comeuntome, and I would do him justice! And it was so , that when any mancame nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forthhis hand, and tookhim, and kissedhim. And on thismannerdidAbsalomto allIsraelthatcametothe kingfor judgment: so Absalomstolethe heartsof the menof Israel. And it came to passafterfortyyears, that Absalomsaiduntothe king, I pray thee, let me goand paymy vow, whichI have vowedunto the LORD, in Hebron. Forthy servantvoweda vowwhile I abodeat Geshurin Syria, saying, Ifthe LORDshall bring me againindeed to Jerusalem, then I will servethe LORD. And the kingsaidunto him, Goin peace. So he arose, and wentto Hebron. But Absalomsentspiesthroughout allthe tribesof Israel, saying, As soon as ye hearthe soundof the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalomreignethin Hebron. And withAbsalomwenttwo hundredmenout of Jerusalem, that were called; and they wentin their simplicity, and they knewnotanything. And Absalomsentfor Ahithophelthe Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offeredsacrifices. And the conspiracywasstrong; for the peopleincreasedcontinuallywithAbsalom. And there camea messengertoDavid, saying, The heartsof the menof IsraelareafterAbsalom. And Davidsaidunto allhis servantsthat were withhim at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; forwe shallnot else escapefromAbsalom: make speedto depart, lesthe overtakeus suddenly, and bringeviluponus, and smitethe citywith the edgeof the sword. And the king's servantssaiduntothe king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoevermy lordthe kingshall appoint. And the kingwent forth, and allhis householdafterhim. And the kinglefttenwomen, which were concubines, to keepthe house. And the kingwent forth, and allthe peopleafterhim, and tarriedin a placethat was far off. And allhis servantspassed onbesidehim; and allthe Cherethites, and allthe Pelethites, and allthe Gittites, sixhundredmenwhichcameafterhim from Gath, passed onbeforethe king. Then saidthe kingtoIttaithe Gittite, Whereforegoestthoualsowithus? returnto thy place, and abidewiththe king: forthou art a stranger, and alsoan exile. Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this daymake thee go upand downwithus? seeing IgowhitherImay, returnthou, and take backthy brethren: mercyand truth be withthee. And Ittaiansweredthe king, and said, As the LORDliveth, and as my lordthe kingliveth, surelyin whatplacemy lordthe kingshall be, whetherin deathorlife, eventherealso will thy servantbe. And DavidsaidtoIttai, Goand pass over. And Ittaithe Gittitepassed over, and allhis men, and allthe little onesthat were withhim. And allthe countryweptwith a loudvoice, and allthe peoplepassed over: the kingalso himself passed overthe brookKidron, and allthe peoplepassed over, towardthe wayof the wilderness. And loZadokalso, and allthe Levites were withhim, bearingthe arkof the covenantof God: and they set downthe arkof God; and Abiatharwent up, untilallthe peoplehad donepassingout ofthe city. And the kingsaidunto Zadok, Carry backthe arkof Godinto the city: ifI shall findfavorin the eyesof the LORD, he will bring me again, and showme both it, and his habitation: But ifhe thussay, I have nodelightin thee; behold, here am I, let him doto me asseemethgoodunto him. The kingsaidalso untoZadokthe priest, Art not thoua seer? returninto the cityin peace, and your twosonswithyou, Ahimaazthy son, and Jonathanthe sonof Abiathar. See, Iwill tarryin the plainof the wilderness, untilthere comewordfromyou to certifyme. Zadoktherefore and Abiatharcarriedthe arkof Godagain to Jerusalem: and they tarriedthere. And Davidwent upby the ascentof mount Olivet, and weptas he went up, and had his headcovered, and hewentbarefoot: and allthe peoplethat was withhim coveredevery manhis head, and they went up, weepingas they went up. And one toldDavid, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspiratorswithAbsalom. And Davidsaid, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counselof Ahithophelinto foolishness. And it came to pass, that when Davidwas cometothe top of the mount , wherehe worshipedGod, behold, Hushaithe Architecame to meethim with his coatrent, and earthuponhis head: Unto whom Davidsaid, Ifthou passest onwithme, then thou shalt bea burdenuntome: But ifthou returnto the city, and sayunto Absalom, Iwill bethy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servanthitherto, so will Inowalso be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeatthe counselof Ahithophel. And hast thou nottherewiththee Zadokand Abiatharthe priests? therefore it shall be, that whatthingsoeverthou shalt hearout of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadokand Abiatharthe priests. Behold, they have therewiththem their twosons, AhimaazZadok's son , and JonathanAbiathar's son ; and bythem ye shall senduntome everythingthatye can hear. So HushaiDavid's friendcameinto the city, and Absalomcameinto Jerusalem.