015:013 There came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. 015:014 David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword. 015:015 The king's servants said to the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king shall choose. 015:016 The king went forth, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house. 015:017 The king went forth, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak. 015:018 All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. 015:019 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why go you also with us? return, and abide with the king: for you are a foreigner, and also an exile; [return] to your own place. 015:020 Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us, seeing I go where I may? return you, and take back your brothers; mercy and truth be with you. 015:021 Ittai answered the king, and said, As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will your servant be. 015:022 David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him. 015:023 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. 015:024 Behold, Zadok also [came], and all the Levites 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. 015:025 The king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: 015:026 but if he say thus, I have no delight in you; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seems good to him. 015:027 The king said also to Zadok the priest, "Aren't you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 015:028 Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me." 015:029 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there.