2 Samuel chapter 15 verses 13 through 37 David flees Jerusalem and a messenger came to David saying the hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem arise and let us and let us flee, or else there will be no escape

for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us,

and strike the city with the edge of the sword. And the king's servants said to the king,

Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides. So the king went out,

and all his household after him,

and the king left ten concubines to keep the house, and the king went out and all the people after

him, and they halted at the last house. And all his servants passed by him, and all the

Carathites, and all the Pelothites, and all the six hundred Gitt who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king.

Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, why do you also go with us?

Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also in exile from your home.

You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us?

Since I go, I know not where.

Go back and take your brothers with you,

and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.

But Itai answered the king,

As the Lord lives, and as my Lord the king lives,

wherever my Lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your

servant be. And David said to Itai, go then, pass on. So Itai the Gittite passed on with all his men

and all the little ones who were with him, and all the land wept aloud as all the people passed

by, and the king crossed the brook hydron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness.

And Debyathar came up, and behold, Zedok came also with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God,

and they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city.

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