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.
Mipango Ya Hila Ya Absalomu
115:1 2Sam 12:11; 1Sam 8:11; 1Fal 1:5; Mit 11:2; 16:18Baada ya muda, Absalomu akajipatia magari ya vita na farasi pamoja na watu hamsini wa kupiga mbio mbele yake. 215:2 Mwa 23:10; 2Sam 19:8; Mit 1:16Akawa anaamka asubuhi na mapema na kusimama kando ya barabara inayoelekea kwenye lango la mji. Wakati wowote alipokuja mtu yeyote mwenye mashtaka yanayohitaji kuletwa mbele ya mfalme kwa maamuzi, Absalomu naye angemwita na kumuuliza, “Wewe unatoka mji upi?” Naye angejibu, “Mtumishi wako anatoka katika mojawapo ya makabila ya Israeli.” 315:3 Mit 12:2Kisha Absalomu angemwambia, “Tazama, malalamiko yako ni ya haki na sawasawa, lakini hakuna mwakilishi wa mfalme wa kukusikiliza.” 415:4 Rum 16:18; Amu 9:29Absalomu aliongeza, “Laiti tu ningeteuliwa kuwa mwamuzi katika nchi. Ndipo kila mmoja mwenye mashtaka au shauri angekuja kwangu nami ningeona kwamba anapata haki.”
515:5 Za 12:2Pia, wakati mtu yeyote alipomkaribia ili kusujudu mbele yake, Absalomu alinyoosha mkono wake na kumshika pia kumbusu. 615:6 2Sam 3:3; Mwa 28:20; 2Sam 13:37-38; Rum 16:18Absalomu akaendelea na tabia hii mbele ya Waisraeli wote waliomjia mfalme kumwomba awape haki; kwa hiyo Absalomu akaiba mioyo ya watu wa Israeli.
715:7 2Sam 2:1Mnamo mwisho wa mwaka wa nne, Absalomu akamwambia mfalme, “Naomba unipe ruhusa niende Hebroni nikatimize nadhiri niliyomwekea Bwana. 815:8 1Fal 1:34, 39; 2Fal 9:13; 1Sam 16:2; Mwa 28:20; 1Sam 1:11; Za 56:12; 2Sam 13:38Wakati mtumishi wako alipokuwa huko Geshuri katika nchi ya Aramu, niliweka nadhiri hii, ‘Ikiwa Bwana atanirudisha Yerusalemu, nitamwabudu Bwana huko Hebroni.’ ”
9Mfalme akamwambia, “Enenda kwa amani.” Hivyo akaenda Hebroni.
1015:10 1Fal 1:34, 39; 2Fal 9:13Kisha Absalomu akatuma wajumbe kwa siri katika makabila yote ya Israeli, kusema, “Mara mtakaposikia sauti ya tarumbeta basi semeni, ‘Absalomu ni mfalme huko Hebroni.’ ” 1115:11 1Sam 9:13; 16:3-5; Mwa 20:5; Mit 14:15; Mt 10:16; Rum 16:18-19Watu mia mbili kutoka Yerusalemu walikuwa wamefuatana na Absalomu. Walikuwa wamealikwa kama wageni nao walikwenda kwa nia njema, pasipo kujua lolote. 1215:12 2Sam 16:15, 23; 17:14; 23:34; 1Nya 27:33; Ay 19:14; Za 41:9; 55:13; Yer 9:4; Yos 15:51; Za 3:1; Mik 7:5-6Wakati Absalomu alipokuwa anatoa dhabihu, pia akatuma aitwe Ahithofeli, Mgiloni, mshauri wa Daudi, aje kutoka Gilo, ambao ndio mji wake wa nyumbani. Kwa hiyo mpango wa hila ukapata nguvu, na idadi ya waliofuatana na Absalomu ikaongezeka.
Kukimbia Kwa Daudi
1315:13 Amu 9:3Mjumbe akaja na kumwambia Daudi, “Mioyo ya watu wa Israeli inaambatana na Absalomu.”
1415:14 1Fal 2:26; Za 132:1; 3; 2Sam 16:9Ndipo Daudi akawaambia maafisa wake wote waliokuwa pamoja naye huko Yerusalemu, “Njooni! Ni lazima tukimbie, la sivyo hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayeokoka kutoka mkononi mwa Absalomu. Ni lazima tuondoke kwa haraka, la sivyo atakuja mbio na kutupata, atatuangamiza na kuupiga mji kwa upanga.”
15Maafisa wa mfalme wakamjibu, “Watumishi wako tu tayari kufanya lolote mfalme bwana wetu analochagua.”
1615:16 2Sam 16:21-22; 20:3; 12:11Mfalme akatoka, pamoja na watu wa nyumbani mwake wakimfuata; lakini akawaacha masuria kumi ili kuangalia jumba la kifalme. 17Hivyo mfalme akaondoka, pamoja na watu wote wakimfuata, wakatua mahali mbali kiasi. 1815:18 1Sam 30:14; 2Sam 20:7, 23; 1Fal 1:34, 44; 1Nya 18:17; 2Sam 8:18Watu wake wote wakatembea, wakampita wakiwa wamefuatana na Wakerethi na Wapelethi wote; pia Wagiti wote mia sita waliokuwa wamefuatana naye kutoka Gathi wakapita mbele ya mfalme.
1915:19 2Sam 18:2; Mwa 31:15Mfalme akamwambia Itai, Mgiti, “Kwa nini ufuatane na sisi? Rudi ukakae pamoja na Mfalme Absalomu. Wewe ni mgeni, mkimbizi kutoka nchini mwako. 2015:20 1Sam 22:2; 2:6; 23:13Ulikuja jana tu. Nami leo nikufanye utangetange pamoja nasi, wakati sijui niendako? Rudi, nawe ukawachukue watu wa kwenu. Wema na uaminifu na viwe pamoja nawe.”
2115:21 Rut 1:16-17; Mit 17:17; 1Sam 20:3; 2Fal 2:2-6Lakini Itai akamjibu mfalme, “Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo na kama mfalme bwana wangu aishivyo, popote mfalme bwana wangu atakapokuwa, ikiwa ni kuishi au kufa, hapo ndipo mtumishi wako atakapokuwa.”
22Daudi akamwambia Itai, “Songa mbele, endelea.” Kwa hiyo Itai, Mgiti, akaendelea pamoja na watu wake wote, pia jamaa zote waliokuwa pamoja naye.
2315:23 1Sam 11:4; Ay 2:12; 1Fal 2:37; 2Fal 23:12; 2Nya 15:16; 29:16; 30:14; Yer 31:40; Yn 18:1; 2Sam 16:2; Mt 3:1-3Watu wote wa nje ya mji wakalia kwa sauti wakati watu wote walipokuwa wakipita. Mfalme naye akavuka Bonde la Kidroni, nao watu wote wakaelekea jangwani.
2415:24 2Sam 8:17; 19:11; Hes 4:18; 10:33; 1Fal 2:26; 1Sam 22:20Sadoki pia alikuwako, kadhalika Walawi wote waliokuwa pamoja naye walikuwa wamechukua Sanduku la Agano la Mungu. Wakaweka chini Sanduku la Mungu, naye Abiathari akatoa dhabihu mpaka watu wote walipokuwa wameondoka mjini.
2515:25 Kut 15:13; Law 15:31; Za 43:3; 46:4; 84:1; 132:7; 2Sam 6:17Kisha mfalme akamwambia Sadoki, “Rudisha Sanduku la Mungu mjini. Ikiwa nitapata kibali mbele za Bwana, atanirudisha, nami nitaliona Sanduku hili tena pamoja na Maskani yake. 2615:26 Amu 10:15; 2Sam 22:20; 1Fal 10:9; Hes 14:8; 2Nya 9:8; Isa 62:4; 1Sam 3:18Lakini kama yeye atasema, ‘Mimi sipendezwi nawe,’ basi mimi niko tayari; yeye na anifanye chochote aonacho chema kwake.”
2715:27 1Sam 9:9; 2Sam 17:17; 1Fal 1:42; 2Sam 24:11Pia mfalme alimwambia kuhani Sadoki, “Je, wewe si mwonaji? Rudi mjini kwa amani pamoja na mwanao Ahimaasi na Yonathani mwana wa Abiathari. Wewe na Abiathari wachukueni wana wenu wawili. 2815:28 2Sam 17:16Nitasubiri kwenye vivuko katika jangwa mpaka neno litakapotoka kwenu kuniarifu.” 29Kwa hiyo Sadoki na Abiathari wakarudisha Sanduku la Mungu mpaka Yerusalemu na kukaa huko.
3015:30 Hes 25:6; Za 30:5; Es 6:12; Isa 20:2-4; Zek 14:4; Mt 21:1; Lk 19:20; Mdo 1:12; Yer 14:3; Za 126:6; Mt 5:4; Rum 12:15Bali Daudi akaendelea, akapanda Mlima wa Mizeituni, akaenda huku analia, akiwa amefunika kichwa chake na bila viatu miguuni. Watu wote waliokuwa pamoja naye nao wakafunika vichwa vyao, wakawa wanapanda mlima huku wanalia. 3115:31 2Sam 16:23; 17:14, 23; Za 3:1; 55:12Basi Daudi alikuwa ameambiwa, “Ahithofeli alikuwa miongoni mwa washiriki wa shauri baya la Absalomu.” Ndipo Daudi akaomba, akisema, “Ee Bwana, geuza shauri la Ahithofeli kuwa ujinga.”
3215:32 2Sam 16:16; 17:5; 1Fal 4:16; Yos 16:2; 7:6; 2Sam 1:2Daudi alipofika kwenye kilele cha mlima, mahali ambapo watu walikuwa wamezoea kumwabudu Mungu, Hushai, Mwariki, alikuwako huko kumlaki, joho lake likiwa limeraruka na mavumbi kichwani mwake. 3315:33 2Sam 19:35Daudi akamwambia, “Kama ukienda pamoja nami, utakuwa mzigo kwangu. 3415:34 2Sam 16:19; 17:14; Mit 11:14Lakini ikiwa utarudi mjini na kumwambia Absalomu, ‘Nitakuwa mtumishi wako, ee mfalme; nilikuwa mtumishi wa baba yako wakati uliopita, lakini sasa nitakuwa mtumishi wako,’ basi utaweza kunisaidia kwa kupinga shauri la Ahithofeli. 3515:35 2Sam 17:15-16Je, makuhani Sadoki na Abiathari hawatakuwa pamoja nawe? Waambie lolote utakalosikia katika jumba la mfalme. 3615:36 2Sam 18:19; 17:17; 1Fal 1:42Wana wao wawili, Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki na Yonathani mwana wa Abiathari, wako pamoja nao huko. Watume kwangu na lolote utakalosikia.”
3715:37 1Nya 27:33; 2Sam 16:15-17; Mit 17:17Kwa hiyo Hushai, rafiki wa Daudi, akafika Yerusalemu wakati Absalomu alipokuwa anaingia mjini.
