2 Samuel 15:11-22

Absalom's Conspiracy

11 With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem c who were invited guests, and they went in their innocence and knew nothing. 12 And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for 1 d Ahithophel the Gilonite, e David's counselor, from his city f Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom g kept increasing.

David Flees Jerusalem

13 And a messenger came to David, saying, h "The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom." 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us i flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword." 15 And the king's servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides." 16 So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left j ten concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house.

18 And k all his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from l Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then the king said to m Ittai the Gittite, "Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go n I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show 2 steadfast love and faithfulness to you." 21 But Ittai answered the king, o "As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, p wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be." 22 And David said to Ittai, "Go then, pass on." So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

  1. Cross References
    1 Samuel 9:13
    As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.
    1 Samuel 16:3
    And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.
    1 Samuel 16:5
    And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
  2. Cross References
    2 Samuel 15:31
    And it was told David, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
    2 Samuel 16:20
    Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel. What shall we do?
    2 Samuel 17:1
    Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
    2 Samuel 17:14
    And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.
    2 Samuel 17:23
    When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.
  3. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 27:33
    Ahithophel was the king's counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend.
    Psalms 41:9
    Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
    Psalms 55:12 - 14
    For it is not an enemy who taunts me - then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me - then I could hide from him.
  4. Cross References
    Joshua 15:51
    Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their villages.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 3:1
    O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me.
  6. Cross References
    Judges 9:3
    And his mother's relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother.
  7. Cross References
    2 Samuel 19:9
    And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.
  8. Cross References
    2 Samuel 16:21 - 22
    Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.
    2 Samuel 20:3
    And David came to his house at Jerusalem. And the king took the ten concubines whom he had left to care for the house and put them in a house under guard and provided for them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as if in widowhood.
  9. Cross References
    2 Samuel 8:18
    And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David's sons were priests.
  10. Cross References
    1 Samuel 27:2
    So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
  11. Cross References
    2 Samuel 18:2
    And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, "I myself will also go out with you.
  12. Cross References
    1 Samuel 23:13
    Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition.
  13. Cross References
    Ruth 3:13
    Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.
  14. Cross References
    Ruth 1:16 - 17
    But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.