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The Rebellion of Abshalum and the Flight of the King
And it came to pass after this, that Abshalum prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
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2 Shamu'al 15
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The Subversion at the Gate
And Abshalum 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 Abshalum called unto him, and said, "Of what city art thou?" And he said, "Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Yashar'al."
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And Abshalum said unto him, "See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee."
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Abshalum 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!"
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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.
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And on this manner did Abshalum to all Yashar'al that came to the king for judgment: so Abshalum stole the hearts of the men of Yashar'al.
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The Departure to Chabrun
And it came to pass after forty years, that Abshalum said unto the king, "I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, in Chabrun."
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"For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 shall bring me again indeed to Yarushalayim, then I will serve 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄."
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And the king said unto him, "Go in peace." So he arose, and went to Chabrun.
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The Activation of the Coup
But Abshalum sent spies throughout all the tribes of Yashar'al, saying, "As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet (shupar), then ye shall say, Abshalum reigneth in Chabrun."
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And with Abshalum went two hundred men out of Yarushalayim, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
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The Betrayal of Ahithophel
And Abshalum sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, Dawid's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Abshalum.
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The Evacuation of Yarushalayim
And there came a messenger to Dawid, saying, "The hearts of the men of Yashar'al are after Abshalum."
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And Dawid said unto all his servants that were with him at Yarushalayim, "Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Abshalum: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword."
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And the king's servants said unto the king, "Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my adun the king shall appoint."
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And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
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And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
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The Loyal Foreigners
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.
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The Fidelity of Ittai
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."
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"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."
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And Ittai answered the king, and said, "As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 liveth, and as my adun the king liveth, surely in what place my adun the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be."
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And Dawid 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.
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The Weeping of the Land
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.
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The Return of the Ark
And lo Tzadok also, and all the Lawiytes were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of Alahiym: and they set down the ark of Alahiym; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
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And the king said unto Tzadok, "Carry back the ark of Alahiym into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:"
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"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."
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The Intelligence Network
The king said also unto Tzadok the priest, "Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Yonathan the son of Abiathar."
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"See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me."
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Tzadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of Alahiym again to Yarushalayim: and they tarried there.
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The Weeping Ascent of Olives
And Dawid 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.
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The Prayer Against Ahithophel
And one told Dawid, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Abshalum." And Dawid said, "O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."
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The Arrival of Hushai
And it came to pass, that when Dawid was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped Alahiym, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
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Unto whom Dawid said, "If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:"
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The Deployment of the Counter-Counsel
"But if thou return to the city, and say unto Abshalum, 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."
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"And hast thou not there with thee Tzadok 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 Tzadok and Abiathar the priests."
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"Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Tzadok's son, and Yonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear."
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So Hushai Dawid's friend came into the city, and Abshalum came into Yarushalayim.