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1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron.

8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.

9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.

17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.

21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

23 And 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.

24 And 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.

25 And 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:

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

27 The 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.

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

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

30 And 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.

31 And 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.

32 And 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:

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

34 But 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.

35 And 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.

36 Behold, 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.

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

<html><b>And [an enfourage of] fifty men etc.</b> All of them had their thighs removed and the heals of their feet cut out.¹<i class=“footnote”>Sanhedrin 21a. Rashi there explains that not having thighs enabled them to run faster and not having heels enabled them to step on sharp objects without any sensation of pain.</i></html>

<html><b>Avsholom rose early.</b> Every morning. <b>From one of the tribes of Yisroel.</b> From so and so tribe.</html>

<html><b>And I will judge him righteously.</b> [Targum Yonosan translates:] “And I will judge him truthfully.”</html>

<html><b>At the end of forty years.</b> [After] Yisroel had asked Shmuel for a king this rebellion and weakening of the kingdom occurred.²<i class=“footnote”>This is the opinion of Rebe Nehuroi in the name of Rebbe Yohoshua brought in Temurah 14b. Rashi is explaining that these forty years are not describing how long Avsholom was engaged in his intriguing against the king. Rather, the verse is informing us that forty years after their improper request, the kingdom was weakened.</i> <b>I would like to go.</b> To Chevron. <b>And fulfill the vows [of bringing sacrifices]</b> Our Rabbis said, “[Avsholom wanted] to bring lambs from Chevron³<i class=“footnote”>Ibid.</i> because there, the lambs were fat.”⁴<i class=“footnote”>Rashi there brings the Talmud in Menachos 87a that discusses the quality of the lambs of Chevron.</i></html>

<html><b>Invited and leaving in innovence.</b> It is explained in the Yerushalmi tractate of Sotah⁵<i class=“footnote”>Chapter 1, halach 8.</i> that he [Avsholom] requested of his father that he [Dovid] write [a document] for him that any two people that he request go with him, should go. He [proceeded] to show it [the document] to two people here and afterwords to two other people and in this way to many.⁶<i class=“footnote”>But he implied to Dovid that only two men would go. He kept using the same document for more and more pairs of men.</i></html>

<html><b>Far away.</b> [Targum Yonasan translates:] “in a far away place.”</html>

<html><b>By him.</b> Near him, He stood in place and they passed by.</html>

<html><b>With the king.</b> With Avsholom. <b>Because you are a foreigner.</b> We are fleeing without provisions and food, and because you are a foreigner you will not find people that will have pity on you. <b>And even if you are estranged [from Avsholom].</b> And even if you are exiled from the king [Avsholom] because you do not want to be with him, then return to your home because it is not good to go with me because you [just] came yesterday.⁷<i class=“footnote”>This verse blends into verse 20 where Dovid explains more about why it is disadvantageous for Itai to stay with him.</i></html>

<html><b>And should I today cause you to move with us.</b> I have no place that I can settle you there to escape because I am going to where circumstances have me go each day. When I hear that the pursuers are here I flee here. And so Yonasan translates [the verse], “And if you are estranged [from Avsholom] you can go home” [as:] “And if you you are estranged go [back] to your city.” <b>I will consider it kindness and truth.</b> I will credit you the favor of kindness and truth that you have done for me.</html>

<html><b>“Go and pass”</b> Together with the rest of the people now that you do not want to part from me.</html>

<html><b>And all the people were passing.</b> From the king and onwards according to his location they are called passers by.⁸<i class=“footnote”>Even though he was also passing by, since they were ahead of him, they are called passers by relative to his location.</i></html>

<html><b>They set down.</b> Like, “They stopped,”⁹<i class=“footnote”>Previously in 6:17.</i> [Yonasan translates:] “They stopped the Ark.” They stood it off to one side and the people passed by because Dovid wanted it brought with him. <b>And Evyosor went off [to the side]</b> until [all the people] finished etc. This is a shortened verse they set down the Ark of God until all the people finished travelling.¹⁰<i class=“footnote”>The words <span>ויעל אביתר</span> need to be placed at the end of the verse for interpretation.</i> <b>Evyosor went off [to the side].</b> That day he was removed from the Kohanite service.¹¹<i class=“footnote”>As the Kohen Gadol.</i> because He inquired of the Urim and Tumim but was not answered,¹²<i class=“footnote”>This showed that he was no longer qualified for this lofty position. The Urim and Tumim lit up certain letters on the kohen Gadol’s breastplate as a means for God to communicate to His people. See Shemos 28:30.</i> Tzodok then replaced him. This is what we learned in Seder Olam in tractate Yuma.¹³<i class=“footnote”></i></html>

<html><b>If you see this [as right].</b> I you see this as a good idea, “return to the city etc. <b>Your two sons with you.</b> It will be in their power to inform me what they hear in the king's palace. And based on what they inform me I can escape.</html>

<html><b>The heights of Mount Olives.</b> On Mount Olives. <b>Was covered.</b> “Covered” in the manner of mourners. <b>Covered.</b> [Yonasan translates:] “Covered.”</html>

<html><b>Dovid was told [by an informer].</b> Dovid was told by the informer. <b>Ruin.</b> Ruin as we find “The tool talks too much”.¹⁴<i class=“footnote”>Koheles 10:14.</i></html>

<html><b>Arrived at the summit.</b> At the mountain's summit. <b>Where he used to bow down to Elokim.</b> Where he used to bow down. When he used to come to Yerusholoyim he would see from that [vantage] point the tent in which the Ark was [placed] and he would bow down.</html>

<html><b>Previously, I was your father's servant.</b> This is like [saying], Previously I was your father's servant. It is a verse that [must be] cut.¹⁵<i class=“footnote”>The word <span>וַאֲנִי</span> needs to be “cut out” and placed in front of the phrase.</i></html>

<html><b>Was going to come to Yerosholoyim.</b> Started thinking about coming to Yerusholoyim.¹⁶<i class=“footnote”><span>יָבוֹא</span> denotes he will come in the future.</i></html>