2 Samuel 15:13-37.

2 Samuel 15:13-37
David Has To Leave Jerusalem

A messenger came and told David, "Everyone in Israel is on Absalom's side!"
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." The
officials said, "Your Majesty, we'll do whatever you say."David left
behind ten of his wives to take care of the palace, but the rest of
his family and his officials and soldiers went with him.

They stopped at the last house at the edge of the city. Then David
stood there and watched while his regular troops and his bodyguards
marched past. The last group was the six hundred soldiers who had
followed him from Gath. Their commander was Ittai.

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!
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 kind and faithful to you."

Ittai answered, "Your Majesty, just as surely as you and the Lord
live, I will go where you go, no matter if it costs me my life."

"Then come on!" David said.

So Ittai and all his men and their families walked on past David.

David Sends the Sacred Chest Back to Jerusalem

The people of Jerusalem were crying and moaning as David and everyone
with him passed by. He led them across Kidron Valley and along the
road toward the desert.

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.

Then David said:

Zadok, take the sacred chest back to Jerusalem. If the Lord is pleased
with me, he will bring me back and let me see it and his tent again.
But if he says he isn't pleased with me, then let him do what he knows
is best.

Zadok, you are a good judge of things, 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. I'll wait at the river crossing in
the desert until I hear from you.

Zadok and Abiathar took the sacred chest back into Jerusalem and
stayed there. 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.

Someone told David, "Ahithophel is helping Absalom plot against you!"

David said, "Please, Lord, keep Ahithophel's plans from working!"

David Sends Hushai Back as a Spy

When David reached the top of the Mount of Olives, he met Hushai the
Archite at a place of worship. Hushai's robe was torn, and dust was on
his head. David told him:

If you come with me, you might slow us down. 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."

Hushai, if you do that, you can help me ruin Ahithophel's plans.
Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you, and you can
tell them everything you hear in the palace. Then have them send
their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what you've heard.

David's advisor Hushai slipped back into Jerusalem, just about the
same time that Absalom was coming in.

God bless you.