¹⁴ Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee,^(A) or none of us will escape from Absalom.^(B) We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”

¹⁵ The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”

¹⁶ The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines^(C) to take care of the palace.