15. The king’s officers said to him, “We will do anything you say.”
16. The king set out with everyone in his house, but he left ten slave women to take care of the palace.
17. The king left with all his people following him, and they stopped at a house far away.
18. All the king’s servants passed by him—the Kerethites and Pelethites, all those from Gath, and the six hundred men who had followed him.
19. The king said to Ittai, a man from Gath, “Why are you also going with us? Turn back and stay with King Absalom because you are a foreigner. This is not your homeland.
20. You joined me only a short time ago. Should I make you wander with us when I don’t even know where I’m going? Turn back and take your brothers with you. May kindness and loyalty be shown to you.”
21. But Ittai said to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will stay with you, whether it means life or death.”
22. David said to Ittai, “Go, march on.” So Ittai from Gath and all his people with their children marched on.
23. All the people cried loudly as everyone passed by. King David crossed the Kidron Valley, and then all the people went on to the desert.
24. Zadok and all the Levites with him carried the Ark of the Agreement with God. They set it down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had left the city.
25. The king said to Zadok, “Take the Ark of God back into the city. If the Lord is pleased with me, he will bring me back and will let me see both it and Jerusalem again.
26. But if the Lord says he is not pleased with me, I am ready. He can do what he wants with me.”
27. The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Go back to the city in peace and take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan with you.
28. I will wait near the crossings into the desert until I hear from you.”
29. So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.