וַיְהִי מֵאַחֲרֵי כֵן וַיַּעַשׂ לוֹ אַבְשָׁלוֹם מֶרְכָּבָה וְסֻסִים וַחֲמִשִּׁים אִישׁ רָצִים לְפָנָיו

It was thereafter that Avshalom prepared for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men running before him. He established himself as the heir to the throne.

וְהִשְׁכִּים אַבְשָׁלוֹם וְעָמַד עַל יַד דֶּרֶךְ הַשָּׁעַר וַיְהִי כָּל הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה לּוֹ רִיב לָבוֹא אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ לַמִּשְׁפָּט וַיִּקְרָא אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֵלָיו וַיֹּאמֶר אֵי מִזֶּה עִיר אַתָּה וַיֹּאמֶר מֵאַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדֶּךָ

Avshalom would rise early and stand alongside the way of the city gate, where the courts were located; any man who had a dispute would come to the king for judgment, and Avshalom would call to him, as though he was interested in his welfare, and say: From what city are you? He, that man, would say: Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel. Each person would specify which region he was from.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אַבְשָׁלוֹם רְאֵה דְבָרֶךָ טוֹבִים וּנְכֹחִים וְשֹׁמֵעַ אֵין לְךָ מֵאֵת הַמֶּלֶךְ

Avshalom would say to him: See, your matter is good and proper, but there is no one to hear you on behalf of the king. The king is too preoccupied to pay attention to your needs.

וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם מִי יְשִׂמֵנִי שֹׁפֵט בָּאָרֶץ וְעָלַי יָבוֹא כָּל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה לּוֹ רִיב וּמִשְׁפָּט וְהִצְדַּקְתִּיו

Avshalom would also say to passersby: If only I were appointed judge in the land, and to me every man who would have a dispute or judgment would come, and I would judge him equitably. Unfortunately, I do not have the power to do anything at present, but I am on your side.

וְהָיָה בִּקְרָב אִישׁ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת לוֹ וְשָׁלַח אֶת יָדוֹ וְהֶחֱזִיק לוֹ וְנָשַׁק לוֹ

It would be that when a man would approach to prostrate himself to him, he, Avshalom, would extend his hand, and grasp him, and kiss him. He put on a display of friendship and affection toward all those who came before the king.

וַיַּעַשׂ אַבְשָׁלוֹם כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה לְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יָבֹאוּ לַמִּשְׁפָּט אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיְגַנֵּב אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶת לֵב אַנְשֵׁי יִשְׂרָאֵל

Avshalom acted in this manner to all Israel who would come for judgment to the king, and Avshalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. People grew fond of this son of the king who treated them so charmingly.

וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵלֲכָה נָּא וַאֲשַׁלֵּם אֶת נִדְרִי אֲשֶׁר נָדַרְתִּי לַה' בְּחֶבְרוֹן

It was at the end of forty years from when Israel first requested a king, or from David’s anointment, or from when David separated himself from Saul, and Avshalom said to the king: Please let me go and pay my vow, perhaps a vow of naziriteship, that I vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.

כִּי נֵדֶר נָדַר עַבְדְּךָ בְּשִׁבְתִּי בִגְשׁוּר בַּאֲרָם לֵאמֹר אִם יָשׁוֹב יְשִׁיבֵנִי ה' ירוּשָׁלִַם וְעָבַדְתִּי אֶת ה'

For your servant took a vow while I lived in Geshur in Aram, saying: If the Lord restores me to Jerusalem, then I will worship the Lord. I will do something in His honor, e.g., bring offerings.

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ לֵךְ בְּשָׁלוֹם וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ חֶבְרוֹנָה

The king said to him: Go in peace. He rose and he went to Hebron. Avshalom deliberately chose Hebron, the capital of Judah and the place where David first reigned.

וַיִּשְׁלַח אַבְשָׁלוֹם מְרַגְּלִים בְּכָל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם אֶת קוֹל הַשֹּׁפָר וַאֲמַרְתֶּם מָלַךְ אַבְשָׁלוֹם בְּחֶבְרוֹן

Avshalom sent spies, agents he had planted, throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying: When you hear the sound of the shofar, know that this is the sign of the commencement of my reign, and you shall say: Avshalom has become king in Hebron.

וְאֶת אַבְשָׁלוֹם הָלְכוּ מָאתַיִם אִישׁ מִירוּשָׁלִַם קְרֻאִים וְהֹלְכִים לְתֻמָּם וְלֹא יָדְעוּ כָּל דָּבָר

With Avshalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem, perhaps to sacrifice offerings in Hebron, who were invited for that purpose, and went innocently; they did not know anything. It never occurred to them that they were in effect supporting a rebellion against the king. Thus, Avshalom arrived in the city accompanied by a very large entourage.

וַיִּשְׁלַח אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶת אֲחִיתֹפֶל הַגִּילֹנִי יוֹעֵץ דָּוִד מֵעִירוֹ מִגִּלֹה בְּזָבְחוֹ אֶת הַזְּבָחִים וַיְהִי הַקֶּשֶׁר אַמִּץ וְהָעָם הוֹלֵךְ וָרָב אֶת אַבְשָׁלוֹם

Avshalom sent for Ahitofel the Gilonite, David’s advisor, from his city, from Gilo, when he was slaughtering offerings. Ahitofel, the king’s advisor and an important individual in his own right, conspired with Avshalom. Ahitofel was considered the wisest person in Israel, and all would accept his counsel (see 16:23). The conspiracy of the rebellion became strong, and the people increasingly were with Avshalom. Throughout the land the populace spoke of the new king Avshalom, and people began to join his ranks.

וַיָּבֹא הַמַּגִּיד אֶל דָּוִד לֵאמֹר הָיָה לֶב אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחֲרֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם

The informant came to David, bringing news from the land, saying: The heart of the men of Israel is after Avshalom. Avshalom has declared himself king, and the people are following him.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד לְכָל עֲבָדָיו אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ בִירוּשָׁלִַם קוּמוּ וְנִבְרָחָה כִּי לֹא תִהְיֶה לָּנוּ פְלֵיטָה מִפְּנֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם מַהֲרוּ לָלֶכֶת פֶּן יְמַהֵר וְהִשִּׂגָנוּ וְהִדִּיחַ עָלֵינוּ אֶת הָרָעָה וְהִכָּה הָעִיר לְפִי חָרֶב

David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem: Rise, and let us flee, as if my son arrives, there will be no remnant for us due to Avshalom. Hasten to go, lest he hasten and overtake us, and bring down harm upon us, and smite the city by the sword. Avshalom has the strength to strike the city, and I cannot protect it from him.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ עַבְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ הִנֵּה עֲבָדֶיךָ

The king’s servants said to the king: Whatever my lord the king will choose, behold, we are your servants. We are with you, ready for your orders.

וַיֵּצֵא הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכָל בֵּיתוֹ בְּרַגְלָיו וַיַּעֲזֹב הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵת עֶשֶׂר נָשִׁים פִּלַגְשִׁים לִשְׁמֹר הַבָּיִת

The king set out with his entire household in his wake. The king left ten concubine women to keep the house. David left them at home under the assumption that no one would touch his quasi-official wives.

וַיֵּצֵא הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכָל הָעָם בְּרַגְלָיו וַיַּעַמְדוּ בֵּית הַמֶּרְחָק

The king set out, and all the people in his wake, and they stopped at a remote house, in a place or house that was located far from the city.

וְכָל עֲבָדָיו עֹבְרִים עַל יָדוֹ וְכָל הַכְּרֵתִי וְכָל הַפְּלֵתִי וְכָל הַגִּתִּים שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר בָּאוּ בְרַגְלוֹ מִגַּת עֹבְרִים עַל פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ

All his servants were passing alongside him, and all the Keretites, and all the Peletites, the king’s guard (see 8:18), and all the Gitites, the Philistines from Gat who had joined David’s army, six hundred men who came with him from Gat, on his account, were passing before the king. This was a kind of roll call, in which all those who remained loyal to the king marched before him.

וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל אִתַּי הַגִּתִּי לָמָּה תֵלֵךְ גַּם אַתָּה אִתָּנוּ שׁוּב וְשֵׁב עִם הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי נָכְרִי אַתָּה וְגַם גֹּלֶה אַתָּה לִמְקוֹמֶךָ

The king said to Itai the Gitite, who perhaps met David when he wandered to Gat, and might have been the commander of the Gitites: Why should you also go with us? Return, and remain with the new king, who would welcome your services; for you are a foreigner, and you are also an exile. You have no connection to our family or our people. There is no reason for you to become involved with the quarrels of a different nation. It is best for you to return to your place.

תְּמוֹל בּוֹאֶךָ וְהַיּוֹם אֲנִיעֲךָ עִמָּנוּ לָלֶכֶת וַאֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ עַל אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ שׁוּב וְהָשֵׁב אֶת אַחֶיךָ עִמָּךְ חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת

Yesterday, recently, you arrived, and today I will move you to go on this difficult journey with us, and I am going wherever I will go. I do not know where I am headed, or what will become of us. Return, and return your Gitite brethren with you, in kindness and truth.

וַיַּעַן אִתַּי אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמַר חַי ה' וְחֵי אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה שָּׁם אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אִם לְמָוֶת אִם לְחַיִּים כִּי שָׁם יִהְיֶה עַבְדֶּךָ

Itai answered the king, and said: As the Lord lives and by the life of my lord the king, in the place where my lord the king will be, whether for death or for life, there your servant will be. He swore that he would always remain with David, thereby expressing his deep, personal loyalty to the king.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל אִתַּי לֵךְ וַעֲבֹר וַיַּעֲבֹר אִתַּי הַגִּתִּי וְכָל אֲנָשָׁיו וְכָל הַטַּף אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ

David said to Itai: Go on, pass along with all the others. Itai the Gitite and all his men, and all the children who were with him, passed along. The Philistine battalion, with their families, joined David.

וְכָל הָאָרֶץ בּוֹכִים קוֹל גָּדוֹל וְכָל הָעָם עֹבְרִים וְהַמֶּלֶךְ עֹבֵר בְּנַחַל קִדְרוֹן וְכָל הָעָם עֹבְרִים עַל פְּנֵי דֶרֶךְ אֶת הַמִּדְבָּר

The entire land, all the residents of that area, was weeping in loud voice, and all the people of the king were passing along. The king was passing south of Jerusalem, through the Kidron Valley, and all the people were passing along the way of the wilderness, the road that ran alongside the wilderness.

וְהִנֵּה גַם צָדוֹק וְכָל הַלְוִיִּם אִתּוֹ נֹשְׂאִים אֶת אֲרוֹן בְּרִית הָאֱלֹהִים וַיַּצִּקוּ אֶת אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים וַיַּעַל אֶבְיָתָר עַד תֹּם כָּל הָעָם לַעֲבוֹר מִן הָעִיר

Behold, Tzadok the priest and all the Levites with him were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God, and Evyatar, who was also a priest, went up, until all the people concluded passing from the city. David was accompanied by those who were personally loyal to him, his close servants, and also foreign troops that had ties with David alone, while the priests brought the Ark of God.

וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לְצָדוֹק הָשֵׁב אֶת אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים הָעִיר אִם אֶמְצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי ה'וֶהֱשִׁבַנִי וְהִרְאַנִי אֹתוֹ וְאֶת נָוֵהוּ

The king said to Tzadok: Restore the Ark of God to the city; if I will find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will restore me, and He will allow me to see it, the ark, and His abode.

וְאִם כֹּה יֹאמַר לֹא חָפַצְתִּי בָּךְ הִנְנִי יַעֲשֶׂה לִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר טוֹב בְּעֵינָיו

If, through His orchestration of future events, He will say this: I do not desire you, then here I am; may He do to me as it is good in His eyes. In any case, we should not take the Ark of God with us on our wanderings. Perhaps I will somehow find my way home, but if not, that is a sign that I have not found favor in God’s eyes, and I accept His verdict.

וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל צָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן הֲרוֹאֶה אַתָּה שֻׁבָה הָעִיר בְּשָׁלוֹם וַאֲחִימַעַץ בִּנְךָ וִיהוֹנָתָן בֶּן אֶבְיָתָר שְׁנֵי בְנֵיכֶם אִתְּכֶם

The king said to Tzadok the priest: Do you see? You understand what I am saying; return to the city in peace. I appreciate your loyalty, but you and Evyatar should remain with the ark; and Ahimaatz your son, and Yehonatan son of Evyatar, your two sons, will be with you.

רְאוּ אָנֹכִי מִתְמַהְמֵהַּ בְּעַרְבוֹת הַמִּדְבָּר עַד בּוֹא דָבָר מֵעִמָּכֶם לְהַגִּיד לִי

See, I will tarry in the plains of the wilderness until arrival of word from you to report to me. The younger, faster sons, Ahimaatz and Yehonatan, will update me on events in the city.

וַיָּשֶׁב צָדוֹק וְאֶבְיָתָר אֶת אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים יְרוּשָׁלִָם וַיֵּשְׁבוּ שָׁם

Tzadok and Evyatar restored the Ark of God to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.

וְדָוִד עֹלֶה בְמַעֲלֵה הַזֵּיתִים עֹלֶה וּבוֹכֶה וְרֹאשׁ לוֹ חָפוּי וְהוּא הֹלֵךְ יָחֵף וְכָל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ חָפוּ אִישׁ רֹאשׁוֹ וְעָלוּ עָלֹה וּבָכֹה

David went up on the ascent of the Mount of Olives; he turned east at the Kidron Valley and passed along the range of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up, and his head was covered, and he was walking barefoot as a sign of mourning, and all the people who were with him, each man covering his head, and they went up, weeping over their dire situation as they went up.

וְדָוִד הִגִּיד לֵאמֹר אֲחִיתֹפֶל בַּקֹּשְׁרִים עִם אַבְשָׁלוֹם וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד סַכֶּל נָא אֶת עֲצַת אֲחִיתֹפֶל ה'

David was told, saying: Ahitofel is among the conspirators with Avshalom. Avshalom was a hasty, charismatic character, but not the cleverest of individuals. Consequently, his collaboration with Ahitofel, who was a levelheaded, intelligent, and perhaps less pretentious person, made David far more worried. David therefore said, in prayer: Please foil the counsel of Ahitofel, Lord.

וַיְהִי דָוִד בָּא עַד הָרֹאשׁ אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה שָׁם לֵאלֹהִים וְהִנֵּה לִקְרָאתוֹ חוּשַׁי הָאַרְכִּי קָרוּעַ כֻּתָּנְתּוֹ וַאֲדָמָה עַל רֹאשׁוֹ

It was as David was coming to the peak of the Mount of Olives, where he would prostrate himself to God, as it was a place of prayer for him, and there may also have been an altar there, and behold, Hushai the Arkite, a friend of the king, and his close confidant, came out and met him, with his tunic torn, and earth on his head. He was mourning in solidarity with David.

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ דָּוִד אִם עָבַרְתָּ אִתִּי וְהָיִתָ עָלַי לְמַשָּׂא

David said to him: If you continue with me, you will be a burden upon me, as you are no longer young and you would be of little assistance in battle;

ואִם הָעִיר תָּשׁוּב וְאָמַרְתָּ לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם עַבְדְּךָ אֲנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶהְיֶה עֶבֶד אָבִיךָ וַאֲנִי מֵאָז וְעַתָּה וַאֲנִי עַבְדֶּךָ וְהֵפַרְתָּה לִי אֵת עֲצַת אֲחִיתֹפֶל

but if you return to the city, and say to Avshalom: I will be your servant, king; as I have always been your father’s servant, now I am your servant, then you will be in a position to counter for me the counsel of Ahitofel. You too are known to be a wise man, and if you approach Avshalom and inform him that you have accepted his rule, then I expect he will appoint you as one of his advisors; he will likely seek to incorporate as many people as possible from my government into his, in order to consolidate his new reign.

וַהֲלוֹא עִמְּךָ שָׁם צָדוֹק וְאֶבְיָתָר הַכֹּהֲנִים וְהָיָה כָּל הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמַע מִבֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ תַּגִּיד לְצָדוֹק וּלְאֶבְיָתָר הַכֹּהֲנִים

Aren’t Tzadok and Evyatar, the priests, with you there? Know that they too are loyal to me, and it shall be that everything that you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Tzadok and Evyatar the priests.

הִנֵּה שָׁם עִמָּם שְׁנֵי בְנֵיהֶם אֲחִימַעַץ לְצָדוֹק וִיהוֹנָתָן לְאֶבְיָתָר וּשְׁלַחְתֶּם בְּיָדָם אֵלַי כָּל דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמָעוּ

Behold, with them are their two sons, Ahimaatz for Tzadok, and Yehonatan for Evyatar; by their hand you shall send to me everything that you hear. I will thereby be informed of fresh developments.

וַיָּבֹא חוּשַׁי רֵעֶה דָוִד הָעִיר וְאַבְשָׁלֹם יָבֹא יְרוּשָׁלִָם

Indeed, Hushai, David’s friend, came back to the city, and Avshalom was also coming to Jerusalem, the capital of the kingdom. David had not yet gone far, while Avshalom had already managed to travel from Hebron to Jerusalem, a distance of more than 30 km. On his way, he had gathered together an army and organized his troops.