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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//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 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></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="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</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">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">Absalom Rebels against David</h3><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_1"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.1" class="v10_15_1">1</span>Some time later, Absalom got himself a chariot with horses to pull it, and he had 50 men run in front. </span><span class="v10_15_2"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.2" class="v10_15_2">2</span>He would get up early each morning and wait by the side of the road that led to the city gate.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.15.2!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> Anyone who had a complaint to bring to King David would have to go that way, and Absalom would ask each of them, “Where are you from?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_2">If they said, “I'm from a tribe in the north,” </span><span class="v10_15_3"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.3" class="v10_15_3">3</span>Absalom would say, “You deserve to win your case. It's too bad the king doesn't have anyone to hear complaints like yours. </span><span class="v10_15_4"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.4" class="v10_15_4">4</span>I wish someone would make me the judge around here! I would be fair to everyone.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_5"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.5" class="v10_15_5">5</span>Whenever anyone came to Absalom and started bowing down, he would reach out and hug and kiss them. </span><span class="v10_15_6"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.6" class="v10_15_6">6</span>That's how he treated everyone from Israel who brought a complaint to the king. Soon everyone in Israel liked Absalom better than they liked David.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_7"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.7" class="v10_15_7">7</span>Four years<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.15.7!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> later, Absalom said to David, “Please, let me go to Hebron. I have to keep a promise that I made to the <span class="nd">Lord</span>, </span><span class="v10_15_8"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.8" class="v10_15_8">8</span>when I was living with the Arameans in Geshur. I promised that if the <span class="nd">Lord</span> would bring me back to live in Jerusalem, I would worship him in Hebron.”<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.15.8!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_9"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.9" class="v10_15_9">9</span>David gave his permission, and Absalom went to Hebron. </span><span class="v10_15_10"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.10-2Sam.15.12" class="v10_15_10">10-12</span>He took 200 men from Jerusalem with him, but they had no idea what he was going to do. Absalom offered sacrifices in Hebron and sent someone to Gilo to tell David's advisor Ahithophel to come.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_10">More and more people were joining Absalom and supporting his plot. Meanwhile, Absalom had secretly sent some messengers to the northern tribes of Israel. The messengers told everyone, “When you hear the sound of the trumpets, you must shout, ‘Absalom now rules as king in Hebron!’ ”</span></p><h3 class="s1">David Has To Leave Jerusalem</h3><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_13"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.13" class="v10_15_13">13</span>A messenger came and told David, “Everyone in Israel is on Absalom's side!”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_14"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.14" class="v10_15_14">14</span>David's officials were in Jerusalem with him, and he told them, “Let's get out of here! We'll have to leave soon, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry! If he moves fast, he could catch us while we're still here. Then he will kill us and everyone else in the city.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_15"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.15" class="v10_15_15">15</span>The officials said, “Your Majesty, we'll do whatever you say.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_16"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.16-2Sam.15.17" class="v10_15_16">16-17</span>David left behind ten of his wives<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.15.16-2Sam.15.17!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> to take care of the palace, but the rest of his family and his officials and soldiers went with him.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_16">They stopped at the last house at the edge of the city. </span><span class="v10_15_18"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.18" class="v10_15_18">18</span>Then David stood there and watched while his regular troops and his bodyguards<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.15.18!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> marched past. The last group was the 600 soldiers who had followed him from Gath.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.15.18!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> Their commander was Ittai.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_19"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.19" class="v10_15_19">19</span>David spoke to Ittai and said, “You're a foreigner from the town of Gath. You don't have to leave with us. Go back and join the new king! </span><span class="v10_15_20"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.20" class="v10_15_20">20</span>You haven't been with me very long, so why should you have to follow me, when I don't even know where I'm going? Take your soldiers and go back. I pray that the Lord will be<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.15.20!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> kind and faithful to you.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_21"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.21" class="v10_15_21">21</span>Ittai answered, “Your Majesty, just as surely as you and the <span class="nd">Lord</span> live, I will go where you go, no matter if it costs me my life.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_22"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.22" class="v10_15_22">22</span>“Then come on!” David said.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_22">So Ittai and all his men and their families walked on past David.</span></p><h3 class="s1">David Sends the Sacred Chest Back to Jerusalem</h3><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_23"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.23" class="v10_15_23">23</span>The people of Jerusalem were crying and moaning as David and everyone with him passed by. He led them across Kidron Valley<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.15.23!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and along the road toward the desert.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_24"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.24" class="v10_15_24">24</span>Zadok and Abiathar the priests were there along with several men from the tribe of Levi who were carrying the sacred chest. They set the chest down, and left it there until David and his followers had gone out of the city.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_25"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.25" class="v10_15_25">25</span>Then David said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v10_15_25">Zadok, take the sacred chest back to Jerusalem. If the <span class="nd">Lord</span> is pleased with me, he will bring me back and let me see it and his tent again. </span><span class="v10_15_26"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.26" class="v10_15_26">26</span>But if he says he isn't pleased with me, then let him do what he knows is best.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v10_15_27"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.27" class="v10_15_27">27</span>Zadok, you are a good judge of things,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.15.27!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> so return to the city and don't cause any trouble. Take your son Ahimaaz with you. Abiathar and his son Jonathan will also go back. </span><span class="v10_15_28"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.28" class="v10_15_28">28</span>I'll wait at the river crossing in the desert until I hear from you.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_29"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.29" class="v10_15_29">29</span>Zadok and Abiathar took the sacred chest back into Jerusalem and stayed there. </span><span class="v10_15_30"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.30" class="v10_15_30">30</span>David went on up the slope of the Mount of Olives. He was barefoot and crying, and he covered his head to show his sorrow. Everyone with him was crying, and they covered their heads too.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_31"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.31" class="v10_15_31">31</span>Someone told David, “Ahithophel is helping Absalom plot against you!”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_31">David said, “Please, <span class="nd">Lord</span>, keep Ahithophel's plans from working!”</span></p><h3 class="s1">David Sends Hushai Back as a Spy</h3><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_32"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.32" class="v10_15_32">32</span>When David reached the top of the Mount of Olives, he met Hushai the Archite<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.15.32!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> at a place of worship. Hushai's robe was torn, and dust was on his head.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.15.32!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v10_15_33"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.33" class="v10_15_33">33</span>David told him:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v10_15_33">If you come with me, you might slow us down.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Sam.15.33!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v10_15_34"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.34" class="v10_15_34">34</span>Go back into the city and tell Absalom, “Your Majesty, I am your servant. I will serve you now, just as I served your father in the past.”</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v10_15_34">Hushai, if you do that, you can help me ruin Ahithophel's plans. </span><span class="v10_15_35"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.35" class="v10_15_35">35</span>Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you, and you can tell them everything you hear in the palace. </span><span class="v10_15_36"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.36" class="v10_15_36">36</span>Then they can send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what you've heard.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v10_15_37"><span class="reftext" id="2Sam.15.37" class="v10_15_37">37</span>David's advisor Hushai slipped back into Jerusalem, at just about the same time Absalom was coming in.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.2 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the city gate: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “the entrance to the king's palace.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.7 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Four years: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Hebrew text has “Forty years.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.8 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">in Hebron: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Some manuscripts of one ancient translation; these words are not in the Hebrew text.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.16,17 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">wives: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 3.7.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.18 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">bodyguards: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 8.18.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.18 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the 600 … Gath: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">These were Philistine soldiers who were loyal to David.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.20 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">I pray … be: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One ancient translation; these words are not in the Hebrew text.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.23 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Kidron Valley: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">This was considered the eastern boundary of Jerusalem.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.27 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">you … things: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “You are a prophet” or “You are not a prophet.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.32 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Archite: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Archites were part of the tribe of Benjamin (see Joshua 16.2).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.32 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Hushai's … head: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 1.2.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.33 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">you might slow us down: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hushai was probably very old.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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