Discovery Box2 Samuel 15:11-22 
Context15:11 Now two hundred men had gone with Absalom from Jerusalem. Since they were invited, they went naively and were unaware of what Absalom was planning. 1 15:12 While he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s adviser, 2 to come from his city, Giloh. 3 The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom.
15:13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!” 4 15:14 So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, 5 “Come on! 6 Let’s escape! 7 Otherwise no one will be delivered from Absalom! Go immediately, or else he will quickly overtake us and bring 8 disaster on us and kill the city’s residents with the sword.” 9 15:15 The king’s servants replied to the king, “We will do whatever our lord the king decides.” 10
15:16 So the king and all the members of his royal court 11 set out on foot, though the king left behind ten concubines 12 to attend to the palace. 15:17 The king and all the people set out on foot, pausing 13 at a spot 14 some distance away. 15:18 All his servants were leaving with him, 15 along with all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites – some six hundred men who had come on foot from Gath. They were leaving with 16 the king.
15:19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come with us? Go back and stay with the new 17 king, for you are a foreigner and an exile from your own country. 18 15:20 It seems like you arrived just yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men 19 with you. May genuine loyal love 20 protect 21 you!”
15:21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether dead or alive, 22 there I 23 will be as well!” 15:22 So David said to Ittai, “Come along then.” 24 So Ittai the Gittite went along, 25 accompanied by all his men and all the dependents 26 who were with him.
1 tn Heb “being invited and going naively and they did not know anything.”
2 tn Traditionally, “counselor,” but this term is more often associated with psychological counseling today, so “adviser” was used in the translation instead.
3 tn Heb “Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, the adviser of David, from his city, from Giloh, while he was sacrificing.” It is not entirely clear who (Absalom or Ahithophel) was offering the sacrifices.
4 tn Heb “the heart of the men of Israel is with Absalom.”
5 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
6 tn Heb “Arise!”
7 tn Heb “let’s flee.”
8 tn Heb “thrust.”
9 tn Heb “and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
10 tn Heb “according to all that my lord the king will choose, behold your servants!”
11 tn Heb “and all his house.”
12 tn Heb “women, concubines.”
13 tn Heb “and they stood.”
14 tn Heb “house.”
15 tn Heb “crossing over near his hand.”
16 tn Heb “crossing over near the face of.”
17 tn The word “new” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation to make it clear that David refers to Absalom, not himself.
18 tn Heb “place.”
19 tn Heb “brothers,” but see v. 22.
20 tn Heb “loyal love and truth.” The expression is a hendiadys.
21 tn Heb “be with.”
22 tn Heb “whether for death or for life.”
23 tn Heb “your servant.”
24 tn Heb “Come and cross over.”
25 tn Heb “crossed over.”
26 tn Heb “all the little ones.”
