And it came to pass after this that Avshalom made for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men running before him.

And Avshalom would rise early and stand by the way of the gate. And it happened, every man who had a dispute coming to the king for judgment, Avshalom would call to him and say, 'From which city are you?' And he would say, 'From one of the tribes of Yisra'el, your servant.'

And Avshalom would say to him, 'See, your matters are good and right, and there is no one to hear you from the king.'

And Avshalom would say, 'Who will appoint me a judge in the land, and to me will come every man who has a dispute and judgment, and I will justify him.'

And it happened, when a man drew near to bow to him, he would stretch out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.

And Avshalom did this thing to every Yisra'elite who came for judgment to the king, and Avshalom stole the hearts of the men of Yisra'el.

And it came to pass after forty years, and Avshalom said to the king, 'Please let me go and fulfill my vow which I vowed to יהוה in Ḥevron.'

'For your servant vowed a vow when I lived in Aram, saying, If יהוה indeed returns me to Yerushalayim, then I will serve יהוה.'

And the king said to him, 'Go in peace.' And he arose and went to Ḥevron.

And Avshalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Yisra'el, saying, 'As soon as you hear the sound of the shofar, then you shall say, Avshalom has become king in Ḥevron.'

And with Avshalom went two hundred men from Yerushalayim, called, and going in simplicity, and they did not know anything.

And Avshalom sent for Aḥitofel the Giloni, David's counselor, from his city, from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people went and increased with Avshalom.

And a messenger came to David, saying, 'The heart of the men of Yisra'el is with Avshalom.'

And David said to all his servants who were with him in Yerushalayim, 'Arise and let us flee, for there will be no escape for us from the face of Avshalom. Hurry to go, lest he hurry and overtake us, and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.'

And the king's servants said to the king, 'Whatever my Adonai the king chooses, behold, your servants are here.'

And the king went out, and all his household on foot. And the king left ten women, concubines, to guard the house.

And the king went out, and all the people on foot, and they stood at a distance.

And all his servants passed by him, and all the Kreti and all the Pleti, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came with him from Gat, passed before the king.

And the king said to Ittai the Gittite, 'Why will you also go with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your place.'

'You came today, and today I will make you go with us to wander. And I am going where I am going. Return and take your brothers with you; may kindness and faithfulness be with you.'

And Ittai answered the king and said, 'As יהוה lives, and as my Adonai the king lives, surely in the place where my Adonai the king is, whether for death or for life, there your servant will be.'

And David said to Ittai, 'Go and pass over.' And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him.

And all the land was weeping with a loud voice, and all the people were passing over. And the king was passing over the brook of Kidron, and all the people were passing over the way toward the wilderness.

And behold, also Tsadoq and all the Levites were with him, carrying the ark of the covenant of Elohim. And they set down the ark of Elohim, and Evyatar ascended until all the people had finished passing out of the city.

And the king said to Tsadoq, 'Return the ark of Elohim to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of יהוה, then He will bring me back and show me it and its dwelling place.'

And if He says thus, 'I have no delight in you,' behold, here I am; let Him do to me as is good in His eyes.'

And the king said to Tsadoq the priest, 'Are you a seer? Return to the city in peace, and Aḥima'ats your son and Yonatan son of Evyatar, your two sons, with you.'

'See, I am lingering in the plains of the wilderness until a message comes from you to tell me.'

And Tsadoq and Evyatar returned the ark of Elohim to Yerushalayim, and they stayed there.

And David was going up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, going up and weeping, and his head was covered, and he was going barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered each man his head, and they went up, going up and weeping.

And David was told, 'Aḥitofel is among the conspirators with Avshalom.' And David said, 'Please make foolish the counsel of Aḥitofel, יהוה.'

And it happened, David came to the place where one worships Elohim, and behold, Ḥushai the Arkite came to meet him, his tunic torn, and earth on his head.

And David said to him, 'If you pass over with me, then you will be a burden to me.'

'But if you return to the city and say to Avshalom, 'I am your servant, O king; as I was your father's servant, so now I am your servant,' then you will frustrate for me the counsel of Aḥitofel.'

'And are not Tsadoq and Evyatar the priests with you there? And it will be that every word which you hear from the king's house you shall tell to Tsadoq and Evyatar the priests.'

'Behold, with them are their two sons, Aḥima'ats son of Tsadoq, and Yonatan son of Evyatar, and you shall send by their hand to me every word which you hear.'

And Ḥushai, David's friend, came into the city, and Avshalom was coming to Yerushalayim.