2 Samuel 15:13-23 - David Flees From Jerusalem

¹³ Then a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

¹⁴ David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, let us flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom! Go in haste, or he will overtake us quickly and bring disaster on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

¹⁵ The king’s servants said to him, “Listen, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” ¹⁶ So the king left, and all his household with him. But the king left behind ten women who were concubines to take care of the house (palace). ¹⁷ The king left, and all the people with him, and they stopped at the last house. ¹⁸ All of David’s servants passed on beside him, and all the Cherethites, Pelethites and the Gittites, six hundred men who had come with him from Gath, passed on before the king.

¹⁹ Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you go with us, too? Go back and stay with the king [of your own country], for you are a foreigner and an exile as well; return to your own place. ²⁰ You came only yesterday, so should I make you wander with us today while I go where I will? Return and take your brothers back with you also. May lovingkindness and faithfulness be with you.”

²¹ But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, most certainly wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or life, there will your servant be also.”

²² So David said to Ittai, “Go on and cross over [the Brook Kidron].” So Ittai the Gittite crossed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. ²³ While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people crossed over. The king also crossed the Brook Kidron, and all the people went on toward the way of the wilderness [that lies between Jerusalem and the Jordan River].