1And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2And 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.15.2 came: Heb. to come 3And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.15.3 there…: or, none will hear thee from the king downward 4Absalom 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! 5And 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. 6And 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. 8For 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. 9And 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. 11And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. 12And 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. 14And 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.15.14 bring: Heb. thrust 15And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.15.15 appoint: Heb. choose 16And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.15.16 after…: Heb. at his feet 17And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 18And 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. 20Whereas 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.15.20 go up…: Heb. wander in going 21And 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. 22And 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. 23And 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.15.23 Kidron: Gr. Cedron
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. 25And 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: 26But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. 27The 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. 28See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. 29Zadok 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.15.30 and wept…: Heb. going up and weeping
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: 33Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: 34But 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. 35And 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. 36Behold, 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. 37So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
Abisalomu Akonzekera Zowukira
1Patapita nthawi, Abisalomu anadzipezera galeta ndi akavalo pamodzi ndi amuna makumi asanu amene amathamanga patsogolo pake. 2Iye amadzuka mmamawa ndi kuyima pa njira yopita ku chipata cha mzinda. Munthu wina aliyense akakhala ndi zodandaula zopita nazo kwa mfumu kuti akaweruze, Abisalomu amamuyitana iye ndi kumufunsa kuti, “Kodi ukuchokera ku limodzi mwa mafuko a Israeli?” 3Kenaka Abisalomu amanena kwa iye kuti, “Taona, madandawulo ako ndi abwino ndi oyenera, koma palibe woyimira mfumu woti akumvere.” 4Ndipo Abisalomu amawonjezera kunena kuti, “Ine ndikanangosankhidwa kukhala woweruza mʼdziko muno bwenzi munthu aliyense amene ali ndi madandawulo kapena milandu akubwera kwa ine ndipo ndikanaonetsetsa kuti chilungamo chachitika.”
5Ndipo nthawi zonse amati munthu akasendera pafupi ndi kumugwandira, Abisalomu amatambalitsa dzanja lake, kumuyimiritsa munthuyo ndi kupsompsona. 6Abisalomu amachitira izi Aisraeli onse amene amabwera kwa mfumu kuti adzaweruzidwe ndipo Abisalomuyo anagwira mtima anthu a mu Israeli.
7Patapita zaka zinayi Abisalomu anati kwa mfumu, “Loleni ndipite ku Hebroni kuti ndikakwaniritse lonjezo limene ndinachita kwa Yehova. 8Pamene mtumiki wanu amakhala ku Gesuri ku Aramu, anachita lonjezo ili: ‘Ngati Yehova adzandibweretsadi ku Yerusalemu, ndidzapembedza Yehovayo mu Hebroni.’ ”
9Mfumu inati kwa iye, “Pita mu mtendere” Kotero iye anapita ku Hebroni.
10Ndipo Abisalomu anatuma amithenga ake mwamseri kwa mafuko onse a Israeli kukanena kuti, “Mukangomva kulira kwa malipenga pamenepo munene kuti, ‘Abisalomu ndiye mfumu mu Hebroni.’ ” 11Anthu 200 ochokera mu Yerusalemu anapita naye Abisalomu. Iwo anayitanidwa monga alendo ndipo anapita osadziwa chilichonse pa nkhaniyi. 12Pamene Abisalomu amapereka nsembe, iye anayitanitsanso Ahitofele Mgiloni, mlangizi wa Davide, wa ku Gilo, kotero kuwukiraku kunakula kwambiri, ndipo anthu otsatira Abisalomu anapitirira kuchuluka.
Davide Athawa Abisalomu
13Munthu wina anabweretsa uthenga ndi kudzamuwuza Davide kuti, “Mitima ya Aisraeli onse ili pa Abisalomu.”
14Ndipo Davide anati kwa akuluakulu ake amene anali mu Yerusalemu. “Bwerani! Tiyeni tithawe, mwina palibe adzapulumuke kwa Abisalomu. Tiyeni tichoke msanga, mwina iye adzabwera msanga ndi kutipitirira, nʼkuwononga ife ndi mzinda wathu ndi lupanga.”
15Akuluakulu a mfumu anamuyankha kuti, “Antchito anu ndi okonzeka kuchita chilichonse chimene mbuye wathu mfumu mukufuna kuchita.”
16Mfumu inanyamuka pamodzi ndi banja lake lonse. Koma iye anasiya azikazi khumi kuti azisamalira nyumba yaufumu. 17Kotero mfumu inanyamuka pamodzi ndi anthu onse oyitsatira, ndipo anayima pamalo pena chapatalipo. 18Ankhondo ake onse anayamba kuyenda pamaso pa Davide, ndipo Akereti ndi Apeleti, pamodzinso ndi Agiti okwanira 600 amene anamutsata kuchokera ku Gati, nawonso anayenda pamaso pake.
19Mfumu inati kwa Itai Mgiti, “Nʼchifukwa chiyani iwe ukupita ndi ife? Bwerera ndipo ukakhale ndi mfumu Abisalomu. Iwe ndiwe mlendo munthu wothawa kwawo. 20Wangobwera dzulo lomweli, lero ndikutenge kuti uziyendayenda ndi ife, pamene ine sindikudziwa kumene ndikupita? Bwerera, ndipo tenga abale ako. Chifundo ndi kukhulupirika zikhale nawe.”
21Koma Itai anayankha mfumu kuti, “Pali Yehova wamoyo, kulikonse kumene mbuye wanga mfumu mudzakhala, kaya ndi moyo kapena imfa, mtumiki wanu adzakhala komweko.”
22Davide anati kwa Itai, “Tiye pita nafe” Kotero Itai Mgiti anayenda pamodzi ndi anthu ake ndi mabanja amene anali naye.
23Anthu onse a madera ozungulira analira mofuwula pamene anthu onsewo amadutsa. Mfumunso inawoloka chigwa cha Kidroni, ndipo anthu onse anayenda kulowera ku chipululu.
24Zadoki anali nawonso, ndipo Alevi onse amene anali naye ananyamula Bokosi la Chipangano la Mulungu. Iwo anayika pansi Bokosi la Mulungulo ndipo Abiatara ankapereka nsembe mpaka pamene anthu onse anamaliza kutuluka mu mzinda.
25Kenaka mfumu inati kwa Zadoki, “Tenga Bokosi la Mulungu ubwerere nalo mu mzinda. Ngati ndidzapeza chifundo pamaso pa Yehova, adzandibweretsa kuti ndilionenso ndi malo ake okhalamo. 26Koma iye anati, ‘Akapanda kukondwera nane,’ chabwino, andichite chimene chimukomere.”
27Mfumu inatinso kwa wansembe Zadoki, “Kodi siwe mlosi? Bwerera mu mzinda mwamtendere pamodzi ndi mwana wako Ahimaazi ndi Yonatani mwana wa Abiatara. Iwe ndi Abiatara tengani ana anu awiri. 28Ine ndidzadikira powolokera Yorodani ku chipululu mpaka nditalandira mawu ochokera kwa iwe ondiwuza mmene zilili zinthu.” 29Kotero Zadoki ndi Abiatara ananyamula Bokosi la Mulungu lija nabwerera nalo ku Yerusalemu, ndipo anakakhala kumeneko.
30Koma Davide anapitirira ndi kukakwera phiri la Olivi akupita nalira. Anafunda kumutu koma sanavale nsapato. Anthu onse amene anali naye anafundanso kumutu, ndipo nawonso amalira pamene amapita. 31Tsono Davide anamva kuti, “Ahitofele ali pakati pa anthu owukira pamodzi ndi Abisalomu.” Choncho Davide anapemphera, “Inu Yehova, musandutse uphungu wa Ahitofele ukhale uchitsiru.”
32Davide atafika pamwamba pa phiri pomwe anthu ankapembedzerapo Mulungu, Husai Mwariki anadzakumana naye atangʼamba mkanjo wake ndi kudzithira fumbi kumutu. 33Davide anati kwa iye, “Ngati iwe upite ndi ine, udzakhala chondilemetsa. 34Koma ngati ubwerera ku mzinda ndi kukanena kwa Abisalomu kuti, ‘Inu mfumu ine ndidzakhala wantchito wanu.’ Mʼmbuyomu ndinali wantchito wa abambo anu koma tsopano ndidzakhala wantchito wanu. Ukatero udzandithandiza kulepheretsa malangizo a Ahitofele. 35Kodi ansembe, Zadoki ndi Abiatara, sakukhala nawe kumeneko? Ukawawuze zonse zimene umamva mʼnyumba yaufumu. 36Ana awo awiri, Ahimaazi wa Zadoki, ndi Yonatani mwana wa Abiatara ali nawo pamodzi, uzikawatuma kwa ine ndi china chilichonse chimene ukamve.”
37Ndipo Husai bwenzi la Davide anafika ku Yerusalemu pamene Abisalomu amalowa mu mzinda.
