Absalom’s Conspiracy
1In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. 2He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.” 4And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”
5Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. 6Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.
7At the end of four15:7 Some Septuagint manuscripts, Syriac and Josephus; Hebrew forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the Lord. 8While your servant was living at Geshur in Aram, I made this vow: ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron.15:8 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew does not have in Hebron.’ ”
9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron.
10Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’ ” 11Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. 12While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.
David Flees
13A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”
14Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”
15The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”
16The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. 17So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. 18All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.
19The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. 20You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew May kindness and faithfulness be with you
21But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”
22David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.
23The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.
24Zadok was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.
25Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. 26But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.”
27The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand? Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You and Abiathar return with your two sons. 28I will wait at the fords in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.
30But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
32When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. 33David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. 34But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice. 35Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace. 36Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”
37So Hushai, David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.
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.
