14. And David saith to all his servants who [are] with him in Jerusalem, `Rise, and we flee, for we have no escape from the face of Absalom; haste to go, lest he hasten, and have overtaken us, and forced on us evil, and smitten the city by themouth of the sword.'
15. And the servants of the king say unto the king, `According to all that my lord the king chooseth--lo, thy servants [do].'
16. And the king goeth out, and all his household at his feet, and the king leaveth ten women--concubines--to keep the house.
17. And the king goeth out, and all the people at his feet, and they stand still at the farthest off house.
18. And all his servants are passing on at his side, and all the Cherethite, and all the Pelethite, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came at his feet from Gath, are passing on at the front of the king.
19. And the king saith unto Ittai the Gittite, `Why dost thou go--thou also--with us? turn back--and abide with the king, for thou [art] a stranger, and also an exile thou--to thy place.
20. Yesterday [is] thy coming in, and to-day I move thee to go with us, and I am going on that which I am going! --turn back, and take back thy brethren with thee, --kindness and truth.'
21. And Ittai answereth the king and saith, `Jehovah liveth, and my lord the king liveth, surely in the place where my lord the king is--if for death, if for life, surely there is thy servant.'
22. And David saith unto Ittai, `Go and pass over;' and Ittai the Gittite passeth over, and all his men, and all the infants who [are] with him.
23. And all the land are weeping--a great voice, and all the people are passing over; and the king is passing over through the brook Kidron, and all the people are passing over on the front of the way of the wilderness;
24. and lo, also Zadok, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God, and they make the ark of God firm, and Abiathar goeth up, till the completion of all the people to pass over out of the city.
25. And the king saith to Zadok, `Take back the ark of God to the city; if I find grace in the eyes of Jehovah, then He hath brought me back, and shewn me it and His habitation;