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.
Abšāloms rīko sazvērestību
1 Pēc tam Abšāloms sagādāja sev kararatus, zirgus un piecdesmit skrējējus – lai skrien viņam pa priekšu. 2 Abšāloms cēlās agri un nostājās pie ceļa, kas veda uz pilsētu. Ikvienu vīru, kas nāca pie ķēniņa iztiesāt kādu strīdu, Abšāloms pasauca un vaicāja: “No kādas pilsētas tu esi?” Kad tas atbildēja: tavs kalps ir no tādas un tādas Israēla cilts, – 3 Abšāloms tam teica: “Redzi, tava lieta ir taisna un pareiza, bet pie ķēniņa tevi neviens neuzklausīs.” 4 Abšāloms sacīja: “Ja mani ieceltu šai zemei par tiesnesi, tad ikvienam, kas strīdus dēļ nāktu pie manis, es spriestu tiesu pēc taisnības.” 5 Kad kāds pienāca, lai zemotos viņam, viņš izstiepa roku, satvēra to un skūpstīja. 6 Tā Abšāloms rīkojās ar visiem israēliešiem, kas nāca pie ķēniņa uz tiesu – Abšāloms zaga Israēla vīru sirdis.
7 Kad Abšālomam bija apritējuši četrdesmit gadi, viņš teica ķēniņam: “Ļauj jel man doties uz Hebronu un izpildīt solījumu, ko esmu devis Kungam. 8 Dzīvodams Arāma Gešūrā, tavs kalps deva solījumu: ja tiešām Kungs pārvedīs mani Jeruzālemē, tad es viņam kalpošu.” 9 Ķēniņš viņam teica: “Ej ar mieru!” Un viņš cēlās un gāja uz Hebronu. 10 Abšāloms slepus sūtīja visām Israēla ciltīm ziņu: “Tiklīdz izdzirdēsiet raga skaņu, sauciet: Abšāloms ir ķēniņš Hebronā!” 11 Abšālomam līdzi gāja divi simti vīru no Jeruzālemes, kas bija aicināti. Tie gāja bez viltus, neko no tā visa nezinādami. 12 Pa to laiku, kamēr Abšāloms pienesa upurus, viņš sūtīja pēc Dāvida padomdevēja gīlonieša Ahītofela uz viņa pilsētu Gilo. Sazvērestība bija plaša, un aizvien vairāk ļaužu pievienojās Abšālomam.
Dāvids bēg no Jeruzālemes
13 Pie Dāvida ieradās ziņnesis un teica: “Israēla vīru sirdis ir ar Abšālomu.” 14 Dāvids sacīja visiem saviem kalpiem, kas bija pie viņa Jeruzālemē: “Celieties, bēgsim! – jo neviens no mums neizglābsies no Abšāloma. Steidzieties projām, pirms viņš mūs pārsteidz – viņš mums uzgrūdīs postu un pilsētu izkaus ar zobenu!” 15 Ķēniņa kalpi atbildēja ķēniņam: “Lai ko mūsu kungs, ķēniņš, izvēlētos, tavi kalpi ir ar tevi!” 16 Ķēniņš devās prom un viss viņa nams tam pa pēdām, un ķēniņš atstāja desmit blakussievas pieskatīt māju. 17 Ķēniņš gāja un visi ļaudis tam pa pēdām, un pie galējā nama tie apstājās. 18 Visi viņa kalpi nogāja viņam garām – visi krētieši un peletieši , un visi gatieši – seši simti vīru, kas bija nākuši viņam līdzi no Gatas, soļoja garām ķēniņam. 19 Ķēniņš teica gatietim Itajam: “Kāpēc arī tev nākt ar mums? Atgriezies, paliec pie tā ķēniņa, jo tu esi svešinieks un bēglis no savas zemes. 20 Tikai vakar tu esi atnācis, vai jau šodien man likt tev doties mums līdzi bēgļu gaitās? Es eju savu ceļu, bet tu atgriezies un pievienojies saviem brāļiem. Žēlastība un uzticība ar tevi!” 21 Itajs atbildēja ķēniņam: “Dzīvs Kungs un dzīvs mans kungs, ķēniņš! – Lai kur būtu mans kungs, ķēniņš, – vai nāvē, vai dzīvībā, tur būs arī tavs kalps!” 22 Dāvids teica Itajam: “Nāc un soļo uz priekšu!” Un gatietis Itajs soļoja viņam garām un visi viņa ļaudis, un visi mazie bērni, kas bija kopā ar viņu. 23 Visa zeme raudāja skaļā balsī, kad ļaudis soļoja garām ķēniņam. Ķēniņš šķērsoja Kidronas strautu, un tad pāri gāja visi ļaudis, dodamies ceļā uz tuksnesi. 24 Un, redzi, arī Cādoks līdz ar visiem levītiem, kas nesa Dieva derības šķirstu, – viņi novietoja Dieva šķirstu, un Ebjātārs bija uzkāpis augšā, kamēr visi ļaudis atstāja pilsētu. 25 Ķēniņš teica Cādokam: “Nes Dieva šķirstu atpakaļ uz pilsētu. Ja esmu guvis Kunga vēlību, viņš ļaus man atgriezties un skatīt gan to, gan viņa mājvietu. 26 Bet, ja viņš sacīs: tu esi man netīkams! – tad es esmu šeit, lai viņš man dara, kā uzskata par labu.” 27 Un vēl ķēniņš teica priesterim Cādokam: “Zini, ko, atgriezies pilsētā ar mieru un tāpat tavs dēls Ahīmaacs un Ebjātāra dēls Jonatāns – abi jūsu dēli lai iet jums līdzi. 28 Redziet, es gaidīšu pie tuksneša pārejām, līdz saņemšu ziņu no jums.” 29 Cādoks un Ebjātārs nogādāja Dieva šķirstu atpakaļ Jeruzālemē un arī paši palika tur.
30 Bet Dāvids kāpa augšup pa Olīvkalna nogāzi, kāpa raudādams. Galva tam bija apsegta, un viņš gāja basām kājām. Un visi ļaudis, kas ar viņu, kāpa augšup, galvas apseguši un raudādami. 31 Dāvidam pastāstīja: “Ahītofels ir starp sazvērniekiem kopā ar Abšālomu.” Dāvids teica: “Kungs, jel padari muļķīgu Ahītofela padomu!”
Hūšajs
32 Kad Dāvids sasniedza virsotni, kur viņi zemojās Dievam, redzi, arkietis Hūšajs nāca viņam pretī pārplēstā apģērbā, un pīšļi tam bija uz galvas. 33 Dāvids viņam teica: “Ja tu nāksi man līdzi, tu būsi man par nastu, 34 bet, ja atgriezīsies pilsētā un teiksi Abšālomam: es būšu tavs kalps, ķēniņ! Es kalpoju tavam tēvam līdz šim, un tagad es kalpošu tev, – tu sagrozīsi Ahītofela padomu man par labu. 35 Vai tad tur kopā ar tevi nebūs priesteri Cādoks un Ebjātārs? Visu, ko dzirdēsi runājam ķēniņa namā, tu pastāsti priesteriem Cādokam un Ebjātāram. 36 Redzi, abi viņu dēli tur ir kopā ar viņiem – Cādoka Ahīmaacs un Ebjātāra Jonatāns. Ar viņiem sūtiet man visas ziņas, ko uzzināsiet!” 37 Un Dāvida draugs Hūšajs atgriezās pilsētā tobrīd, kad Abšāloms nāca iekšā Jeruzālemē.
