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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>2 Samuel 15 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_samuel/15.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/2_samuel/15-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</a> > 2 Samuel 15</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_samuel/14.htm" title="2 Samuel 14">◄</a> 2 Samuel 15 <a href="../2_samuel/16.htm" title="2 Samuel 16">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/2_samuel/15.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="hdg">Absalom’s Rebellion</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>After four years,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a> Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron to offer a sacrifice to the LORD and fulfill a vow I made to him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>For while your servant was at Geshur in Aram, I promised to sacrifice to the LORD in Hebron<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a> if he would bring me back to Jerusalem.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>“All right,” the king told him. “Go and fulfill your vow.”</p><p class="reg">So Absalom went to Hebron. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>But while he was there, he sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Israel to stir up a rebellion against the king. “As soon as you hear the ram’s horn,” his message read, “you are to say, ‘Absalom has been crowned king in Hebron.’” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>He took 200 men from Jerusalem with him as guests, but they knew nothing of his intentions. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, one of David’s counselors who lived in Giloh. Soon many others also joined Absalom, and the conspiracy gained momentum.</p><p class="hdg">David Escapes from Jerusalem</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>“Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>“We are with you,” his advisers replied. “Do what you think is best.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>to let all the king’s men move past to lead the way. There were 600 men from Gath who had come with David, along with the king’s bodyguard.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">c</span></a></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Then the king turned and said to Ittai, a leader of the men from Gath, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don’t even know where we will go. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you, and may the LORD show you his unfailing love and faithfulness.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">d</span></a>”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by the LORD and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>David replied, “All right, come with us.” So Ittai and all his men and their families went along.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by. They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Zadok and all the Levites also came along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">e</span></a> until everyone had passed out of the city.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. “If the LORD sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">f</span></a> again. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>The king also told Zadok the priest, “Look,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">g</span></a> here is my plan. You and Abiathar<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">h</span></a> should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>I will stop at the shallows of the Jordan River<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">i</span></a> and wait there for a report from you.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to the city and stayed there.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, “O LORD, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>But David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king’s palace, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/15-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>So David’s friend Hushai returned to Jerusalem, getting there just as Absalom arrived.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:7 </span><span class="ft">As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads </span><span class="it">forty years.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:8 </span><span class="ft">As in some Greek manuscripts; Hebrew lacks </span><span class="it">in Hebron.</span><br><span class="fn">c</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:18 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">the Kerethites and Pelethites.</span><br><span class="fn">d</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:20 </span><span class="ft">As in Greek version; Hebrew reads </span><span class="it">and may unfailing love and faithfulness go with you.</span><br><span class="fn">e</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:24 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">Abiathar went up.</span><br><span class="fn">f</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:25 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">and his dwelling place.</span><br><span class="fn">g</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:27a </span><span class="ft">As in Greek version; Hebrew reads </span><span class="it">Are you a seer?</span><span class="ft"> or </span><span class="it">Do you see?</span><br><span class="fn">h</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:27b </span><span class="ft">Hebrew lacks </span><span class="it">and Abiathar;</span><span class="ft"> compare 15:29.</span><br><span class="fn">i</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:28 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">at the crossing points of the wilderness.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. 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