2 Samuel 15:23-37

King James Version

²³And 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.

²⁴And 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.

²⁵And 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:

²⁶But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

²⁷The 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.

²⁸See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

²⁹Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

³⁰And 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.

³¹And 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.

³²And 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:

³³Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:

³⁴But 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.

³⁵And 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.

³⁶Behold, 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.

³⁷So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

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2 Samuel 15:23-37

New International Version

²³The whole countryside wept aloud^(A) as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,^(B) and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

²⁴Zadok^(C) was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark^(D) of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar^(E) offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

²⁵Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place^(F) again. ²⁶But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.^(G)”

²⁷The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand?^(H) Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan.^(I) You and Abiathar return with your two sons. ²⁸I will wait at the fords^(J) in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

³⁰But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping^(K) as he went; his head^(L) was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. ³¹Now David had been told, “Ahithophel^(M) is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

³²When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai^(N) the Arkite^(O) was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust^(P) on his head. ³³David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden^(Q) to me. ³⁴But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’^(R) then you can help me by frustrating^(S) Ahithophel’s advice. ³⁵Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace.^(T) ³⁶Their two sons, Ahimaaz^(U) son of Zadok and Jonathan^(V) son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”

³⁷So Hushai,^(W) David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom^(X) was entering the city.

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2 Samuel 15:23-37

New King James Version

²³And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the ^(A)wilderness.

²⁴There was ^(B)Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ^(C)ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and ^(D)Abiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city. ²⁵Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He ^(E)will bring me back and show me both it and ^(F)His dwelling place. ²⁶But if He says thus: ‘I have no ^(G)delight in you,’ here I am, ^(H)let Him do to me as seems good to Him.” ²⁷The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a ^(I)seer?^[a] Return to the city in peace, and ^(J)your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. ²⁸See, ^(K)I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.

³⁰So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he ^(L)had his head covered and went ^(M)barefoot. And all the people who were with him ^(N)covered their heads and went up, ^(O)weeping as they went up. ³¹Then someone told David, saying, ^(P)“Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, ^(Q)turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

³²Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the ^(R)Archite coming to meet him ^(S)with his robe torn and dust on his head. ³³David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become ^(T)a burden to me. ³⁴But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ^(U)‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. ³⁵And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to ^(V)Zadok and Abiathar the priests. ³⁶Indeed they have there ^(W)with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”