e to him, and besought him to give him
leave to go to Hebron, and pay a sacrifice to God, because he vowed it
to him when he fled out of the country. So when David had granted his
request, he went thither, and great multitudes came running together to
him, for he had sent to a great number so to do.

2. Among them came Ahithophel the Gilonite, a counsellor of David's, and
two hundred men out of Jerusalem itself, who knew not his intentions,
but were sent for as to a sacrifice. So he was appointed king by all
of them, which he obtained by this stratagem. As soon as this news was
brought to David, and he was informed of what he did not expect from
his son, he was aftrighted at this his impious and bold undertaking, and
wondered that he was so far from remembering how his offense had been
so lately forgiven him, that he undertook much worse and more wicked
enterprises; first, to deprive him of that kingdom which was given him
of God; and secondly, to take away his own father's life. He therefore
resolved to fly to the parts beyond Jordan: so he called his most
intimate friends together, and communicated to them all that he had
heard of his son's madness. He committed himself to God, to judge
between them about all their actions; and left the care of his royal
palace to his ten concubines, and went away from Jerusalem, being
willingly accompanied by the rest of the multitude, who went hastily
away with him, and particularly by those six hundred armed men, who
had been with him from his first flight in the days of Saul. But he
persuaded Abiathar and Zadok, the high priests, who had determined to go
away with him, as also all the Levites, who were with the ark, to stay
behind, as hoping that God would deliver him without its removal; but
he charged them to let him know privately how all things went on; and
he had their sons, Ahimmaz the son of Zadok, and Jonathan the son of
Abiathar, for faithful ministers in all things; but Ittai the Gitrite
went out with him whether David would let him or not, for he would have
persuaded him to stay, and on that account he appeared the more friendly
to him. But as he was ascending the Mount of Olives barefooted, and
all his company were in tears, it was told him that Ahithophel was with
Absalom, and was of his side. This hearing augmented his grief; and he
besought God earnestly to alienate the mind of Absalom from Ahithophel,
for he was afraid that he should persuade him to follow his perni