Absalom Makes Secret Plans Against David
1Some time later, Absalom got a chariot and horses for himself. He also got 50 men to run in front of him. 2He would get up early. He would stand by the side of the road that led to the city gate. Sometimes a person would come with a case for the king to decide. Then Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “I’m from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are based on the law. So you have every right to make them. But the king doesn’t have anyone here who can listen to your case.” 4Absalom would continue, “I wish I were appointed judge in the land! Then anyone who has a case or a claim could come to me. I would make sure they are treated fairly.”
5Sometimes people would approach Absalom and bow down to him. Then he would reach out his hand. He would take hold of them and kiss them. 6Absalom did that to all the Israelites who came to the king with their cases or claims. That’s why the hearts of the people were turned toward him.
7After Absalom had lived in Jerusalem for four years, he went and spoke to the king. He said, “Let me go to Hebron. I want to keep a promise I made to the Lord. 8When I was living at Geshur in Aram, I made a promise. I said, ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I’ll go to Hebron and worship him there.’ ”
9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron.
10Then Absalom sent messengers secretly to all the tribes of Israel. They said, “Listen for the sound of trumpets. As soon as you hear them, say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron.’ ” 11Absalom had taken 200 men from Jerusalem with him to Hebron. He had invited them to be his guests. They went without having any idea what was going to happen. 12While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel. Ahithophel was David’s adviser. He came to Absalom from Giloh, his hometown. The number of people who followed Absalom kept growing. So he became more and more able to carry out his plans against David.
David Runs Away From Absalom
13A messenger came and spoke to David. He told him, “The hearts of the Israelites are turned toward Absalom.”
14Then David spoke to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem. He said, “Come on! We have to leave right away! If we don’t, none of us will escape from Absalom. He’ll move quickly to catch up with us. He’ll destroy us. His men will kill everyone in the city with their swords.”
15The king’s officials answered him, “You are our king and master. We’re ready to do anything you want.”
16The king started out. Everyone in his whole family went with him. But he left ten concubines behind to take care of the palace. 17So the king and all those with him left. They stopped at the edge of the city. 18All of David’s officials marched past him. All the Kerethites and Pelethites marched along with them. And all of the 600 men who had come with him from Gath marched in front of him.
19The king spoke to Ittai. He was from Gath. The king said to him, “Why do you want to come along with us? Go back. Stay with King Absalom. You are an outsider. You left your own country. 20You came to join me only a short time ago. So why should I make you wander around with us now? I don’t even know where I’m going. So go on back. Take your people with you. And may the Lord be kind and faithful to you.”
21But Ittai replied to the king, “You are my king and master. I want to be where you are. It doesn’t matter whether I live or die. And that’s just as sure as the Lord and you are alive.”
22David said to Ittai, “Go ahead then. Keep marching with my men.” So Ittai, the Gittite, kept marching. All his men and their families marched with him.
23All the people in the countryside wept out loud as David and all his followers passed by. The king went across the Kidron Valley. He and all the people with him moved on toward the desert.
24Zadok also went with them. Some of the Levites went with him. They were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark. Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had left the city.
25Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If the Lord is pleased with me, he’ll bring me back. He’ll let me see the ark again. He’ll also let me see Jerusalem again. That’s the place where he lives. 26But suppose he says, ‘I am not pleased with you.’ Then I accept that. Let him do to me what he thinks is best.”
27The king said again to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand? Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you. Also take Abiathar and his son Jonathan with you. 28I’ll wait at the place in the desert where we can go across the Jordan River. I’ll wait there until you send word to let me know what’s happening.” 29So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem. They stayed there.
30But David went on up the Mount of Olives. He was weeping as he went. His head was covered, and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too. And they were weeping as they went up. 31David had been told, “Ahithophel, along with Absalom, is one of the people making secret plans against you.” So David prayed, “Lord, make Ahithophel’s advice look foolish.”
32David arrived at the top of the Mount of Olives. That’s where people used to worship God. Hushai, the Arkite, was there to meet him. His robe was torn. There was dust on his head. 33David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be too much trouble for me. 34So return to the city. Say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I’ll be your servant. In the past, I was your father’s servant. But now I’ll be your servant.’ If you do that, you can help me by making sure Ahithophel’s advice fails. 35Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there with you. Tell them everything you hear in the king’s palace. 36They have their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan there with them. Send them to tell me everything you hear.”
37So David’s trusted friend Hushai went to Jerusalem. He arrived just as Absalom was entering the city.
Absalom Atuateɛ
1Yei akyi no, Absalom tɔɔ teaseɛnam ne apɔnkɔ, na ɔbɔɔ mmarima aduonum paa sɛ wɔbɛdi nʼanim. 2Adekyeɛ biara, ɔsɔre ntɛm na wakɔtena kuropɔn no ɛpono ano. Na sɛ nnipa bi de asɛm bɛto ɔhene no anim sɛ ɔmmu ho atɛn a, Absalom bɛbisa faako a wɔfirie, na wɔakyerɛ abusuakuo a wɔfiri mu. 3Na Absalom bɛka sɛ, “Wʼasɛm yɛ dɛ deɛ, nanso ɔhene nni obiara a ɔbɛtie. 4Sɛ meyɛ ɔtemmufoɔ anka mepɛ. Anka nnipa de wɔn nsɛm bɛba mʼanim, na mabu wɔn atɛn.”
5Sɛ nnipa pɛ sɛ wɔkoto no a, Absalom mma wɔn nyɛ saa na mmom ɔsɔ wɔn nsa, yɛ wɔn atuu. 6Absalom yɛɛ saa de nyaa Israelfoɔ no nyinaa wɔ nʼafa.
7Mfirinhyia ɛnan akyi, Absalom ka kyerɛɛ ɔhene no sɛ, “Ma menkɔ Hebron na menkɔbɔ afɔdeɛ mma Awurade sɛdeɛ mahyɛ no bɔ no. 8Ɛberɛ a na mewɔ Gesur no na mehyɛɛ saa bɔ no sɛ, ‘Sɛ Awurade de me sane ba Yerusalem a, mɛbɔ afɔdeɛ ama no wɔ Hebron.’ ”
9Ɔhene no kaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ, kɔ na kɔdi wo bɔhyɛ so.” Enti, Absalom kɔɔ Hebron.
10Ɛberɛ a ɔwɔ hɔ no, ɔfaa sum ase somaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Israel afanan nyinaa kɔhwanyanee ɔmanfoɔ de tiaa ɔhene no. Ne nkra ne sɛ, “Sɛ mote totorobɛnto nne pɛ a, monka sɛ, ‘Absalom adi ɔhene wɔ Hebron.’ ” 11Absalom faa mmarima ahanu firii Yerusalem kaa ne ho a na wɔnnim Absalom nsusuiɛ yi ho hwee. 12Ɛberɛ a Absalom rebɔ afɔdeɛ no, ɔsoma ma wɔkɔfaa Giloni Ahitofel a na ɔyɛ Dawid fotufoɔ firi ne kurom Gilo baeɛ. Ankyɛre nnipa bebree no ara bɛkaa Absalom ho, na atirisopam no mu yɛɛ den.
Dawid Dwane Firi Yerusalem
13Ankyɛre, ɔbɔfoɔ bi baa Yerusalem bɛka kyerɛɛ ɔhene Dawid sɛ, “Israel nyinaa atu di Absalom akyi sɛ wɔayɛ dɔm atia wo.”
14Ɛhɔ ara, Dawid ka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima sɛ, “Monyɛ no ntɛm na yɛnnwane mfiri ha, ansa na waduru ha, sɛdeɛ amanehunu bɛpare yɛn ne Yerusalem kuro mu no nyinaa.”
15Nʼafotufoɔ no buaa sɛ, “Yɛgyina wʼakyi. Biribiara a wogye di sɛ ɛyɛ no, yɛ.”
16Enti, ɔhene no ne ne fiefoɔ sii so kɔɔ prɛko pɛ a wannya biribiara wɔ akyire sɛ ne mpenafoɔ edu bi a wɔbɛhwɛ nʼahemfie no so. 17Ɔhene no ne ne nkurɔfoɔ no faa fam, na wɔfaa kuropɔn no fa bi, 18maa Dawid akodɔm no bɛtwaa wɔn ho dii wɔn anim. Nnipa a wɔkaa Dawid ho kɔeɛ no yɛ Gitifoɔ ahansia a wɔfiri Gat a ne banbɔfoɔ nso ka ho.
19Na ɔhene no bisaa Gatni Itai a ɔyɛ ɔsafohene no sɛ, “Adɛn enti na woka yɛn ho rekɔ? Sane kɔka wo nkurɔfoɔ ho, na monkɔ ɔhene Absalom nkyɛn, ɛfiri sɛ, woyɛ ɔhɔhoɔ wɔ Israel ne ɔmamfrani a wɔatwa wo asuo. 20Woduruu ha nnora nko ara. Na ɛsɛ sɛ mehyɛ wo na wo ne yɛn kyini anaa? Me mpo, mennim baabi a yɛbɛkorɔ. Sane wʼakyi na kɔfa wʼakodɔm ka wo ho, na Awurade nkyerɛ wo ne dɔ ne ne nokorɛ.”
21Nanso, Itai ka kyerɛɛ ɔhene no sɛ, “Mede Awurade din ne wo ara wo nkwa ka ntam sɛ, baabiara a wobɛkɔ no, mɛkɔ bi a deɛ ɛbɛsi biara mfa me ho, sɛ ɛyɛ nkwa anaa owuo.”
22Dawid buaa no sɛ, “Ɛyɛ, ka yɛn ho.” Ɛno enti, Itai ne ne mmarima ahansia ne wɔn fiefoɔ kaa wɔn ho kɔeɛ.
23Awerɛhoɔ kɛseɛ sii asase no so, ɛberɛ a ɔhene ne nʼakyidifoɔ resene korɔ no. Wɔtwaa Kidron bɔnhwa no de wɔn ani kyerɛɛ ɛserɛ so.
24Abiatar ne Sadok ne Lewifoɔ no faa Apam Adaka no, na wɔde sii kwankyɛn. Na wɔbɔɔ afɔdeɛ wɔ hɔ kɔsii sɛ obiara seneeɛ.
25Na ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ Sadok sɛ, “Sane fa Onyankopɔn Adaka no kɔ kuropɔn no mu. Sɛ menya Awurade anim adom a, ɔbɛsane de me aba ama mahunu Adaka no ne ne ntomadan no bio. 26Nanso, sɛ ɔne me awie a, ma ɔnyɛ deɛ ɛyɛ ma no.”
27Na ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok sɛ, “Me nhyehyɛeɛ nie: Wo ne Abiatar nyɛ kodɛɛ nsane nkɔ kuropɔn no mu a wo babarima Ahimaas ne Yonatan a ɔyɛ Abiatar babarima ka ho. 28Mɛtwɛn wɔ faako a wɔtwa Asubɔnten Yordan kɔ ɛserɛ no so hɔ kɔsi sɛ mɛte mo nkra. Momma mente asɛm a ɛbɛsi Yerusalem, ansa na makɔ ɛserɛ so.” 29Enti, Sadok ne Abiatar faa Onyankopɔn Adaka no de sane kɔɔ Yerusalem, na wɔtenaa hɔ.
30Dawid faa ɛkwan a ɛkɔ Ngo Bepɔ so no so a, ɔrekɔ no nyinaa, na ɔretwa adwo. Na wakata ne tiri so, ɛnna ne nan sisi fam saa ara a ɛkyerɛ awerɛhoɔdie. Na nnipa a wɔka ne ho no nso katakataa wɔn tiri so, twaa adwo ɛberɛ a wɔgu so reforo bepɔ no. 31Ɛberɛ a obi ka kyerɛɛ Dawid sɛ, afei deɛ ne ɔfotufoɔ Ahitofel taa Absalom akyi no, Dawid bɔɔ mpaeɛ sɛ, “Ao Awurade, ma Ahitofel ntu Absalom ɛfo bɔne!”
32Wɔduruu Ngo Bepɔ no atifi baabi a nnipa som Onyankopɔn no, Dawid hunuu Husai a ɔfiri Arki a ɔretwɛn no. Na Husai asunsuane nʼatadeɛ mu, de dɔteɛ afɔre ne tirim, de kyerɛ awerɛhoɔdie. 33Na Dawid ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sɛ wo ne me kɔ a, wobɛyɛ adesoa ama me. 34Sane kɔ Yerusalem, na ka kyerɛ Absalom sɛ, ‘Afei, mɛyɛ wo fotufoɔ sɛdeɛ da bi hɔ no na meyɛ wʼagya fotufoɔ no.’ Ɛba saa a, wobɛtumi atia Ahitofel afotuo mu, asɛe no. 35Asɔfoɔ Sadok ne Abiatar wɔ hɔ. Ka adwene a wɔafa wɔ me ho, pɛ sɛ wɔkyere me no kyerɛ wɔn, 36na wɔbɛsoma wɔn mmammarima Ahimaas ne Yonatan na wɔabɛhwehwɛ me, aka deɛ ɛrekɔ so akyerɛ me.”
37Enti, Dawid adamfo Husai sane kɔɔ Yerusalem, kɔduruu hɔ berɛ korɔ no a Absalom nso duruu hɔ no mu.
