2. Samuel 15 | Bibelen på hverdagsdansk

Bibelen på hverdagsdansk

Absaloms sammensværgelse

1 Efter at Absalom var blevet taget til nåde, anskaffede han sig en fornem vogn og prægtige heste. Han fik sig også en livvagt på 50 mand, som løb foran vognen. 2 Hver morgen tog han opstilling ved vejen til paladsets port, og når så nogen kom for at få kongens afgørelse i en retssag, standsede Absalom ham, spurgte, hvor han var fra, og udtrykte interesse for hans sag. 3 „Det er da klart, at du har ret!” ville han så sige. „Men kongen har ikke nogen, der vil høre på dig. 4 Hvis jeg var dommer i landet, kunne folk, der følte sig uretfærdigt behandlet, komme til mig, så skulle jeg nok skaffe dem deres ret.” 5 Når nogen gjorde mine til at kaste sig ned for Absalom i underdanig respekt, standsede han dem og omfavnede dem i stedet for. 6 På den måde vandt han israelitternes hjerter. 7-8 Der gik fire år. Så sagde Absalom til kongen: „Giv mig tilladelse til at tage til Hebron og ofre til Herren, så jeg kan opfylde et løfte, jeg engang gav Herren i Geshur i Aram. Dengang lovede jeg ham, at hvis han ville hjælpe mig tilbage til Jerusalem, ville jeg til gengæld bringe ham et offer i Hebron.” 9 „Godt,” svarede kongen, „tag du bare af sted og opfyld dit løfte.” Så rejste Absalom til Hebron. 10 Men han havde allerede i hemmelighed sendt besked ud til lederne i alle Israels stammer: „Når I hører trompetfanfaren, skal I råbe: ‚Absalom er kronet til konge i Hebron.’ ” 11 Han havde desuden inviteret 200 mænd fra Jerusalem med til offerfesten. De anede intet om hans planer. 12 Under festen sendte han desuden bud efter Ahitofel, Davids øverste rådgiver, der boede i Gilo. Ahitofel gik over på Absaloms side, og flere og flere fulgte efter, så sammensværgelsen voksede sig stærk.

David flygter fra Jerusalem

13 En af kong Davids mænd skyndte sig til Jerusalem for at fortælle ham, at Absalom havde lavet en sammensværgelse imod ham, og at alle Israels stammer havde givet ham deres støtte. 14 „Så må vi flygte med det samme,” var Davids spontane reaktion. „Hvis vi skynder os af sted, inden Absalom kommer tilbage til Jerusalem, kan vi nå at redde byen og os selv.” 15 „Vi er med dig!” svarede hans mænd. „Vi vil følge dig i tykt og tyndt!” 16 Så tog kongen af sted sammen med hele sin husstand, bortset fra ti medhustruer, der blev hjemme for at tage sig af opgaverne i paladset. 17-18 I udkanten af byen gjorde David holdt, så hans trofaste støtter, der bestod af hans livvagt og de 600 mænd, som var fulgt med ham fra Gat, kunne passere ham og gå i forvejen. 19-20 Men pludselig vendte kongen sig til Ittaj, der var leder for de 600 gatitter. „Hvad vil I egentlig med for?” spurgte han Ittaj. „Bliv i Jerusalem og slut jer til kong Absalom, for I bor her jo som fremmede i eksil. Der er ingen grund til, at I flygter sammen med os—hvem ved hvorhen? Nej, vend om og tag dine folk med dig. Må Herren vise jer barmhjertighed!” 21 Men Ittaj svarede: „Jeg sværger ved den levende Gud, at vi vil følge med dig, uanset hvad der sker—også selv om det kan betyde døden for os!” 22 „Godt,” svarede David, „så følg med os!” Da fulgte Ittaj og hans 600 mænd samt deres familier med ham. 23 Dyb sorg sænkede sig over byen, da kongen og hans følge krydsede Kedrondalen og fortsatte i retning af ørkenen. 24 Præsten Zadok og alle levitterne fulgte med. De havde taget pagtens ark med, og den stillede de i vejkanten, indtil hele følget var gået forbi. Præsten Ebjatar var også fulgt med. 25 David befalede nu Zadok at føre arken tilbage til byen. „Hvis jeg finder nåde for Herrens øjne,” tilføjede han, „så vil jeg en dag vende tilbage og gense arken og det hellige telt! 26 Men hvis Herren har forkastet mig, så lad ham gøre ved mig, hvad han mener, er det bedste. 27 Du og Ebjatar kan trygt vende tilbage til byen sammen med din søn Ahima’atz og Ebjatars søn, Jonatan. Men hold øjne og ører åbne. 28 Jeg vil vente ved Jordanflodens vadested, indtil vi hører nyt fra jer om, hvad der sker i Jerusalem.” 29 Så bar Zadok og Ebjatar Guds Ark tilbage til Jerusalem og blev i byen. 30 David og hans følge fortsatte ad vejen op over Olivenbjerget.^[1] De gik med tildækkede hoveder og bare fødder, og de græd alle sammen. 31 Da David fik at vide, at hans egen rådgiver, Ahitofel, havde sluttet sig til Absalom, bad han: „Herre, lad Ahitofel give Absalom dårlige råd!” 32 På toppen af Olivenbjerget, hvor man plejede at ofre til Gud, ventede Davids ven, arkitten Hushaj, på dem. Han havde i fortvivlelse flænget sit tøj og drysset jord på hovedet. 33-34 Men David sagde til ham: „Det giver kun problemer, hvis du går med os. Vend hellere tilbage til Jerusalem og sig til Absalom: ‚Jeg ønsker at være din rådgiver og tjene dig, sådan som jeg tjente din far.’ På den måde kan du være med til at sabotere Ahitofels planer. 35-36 I byen har jeg også præsterne Zadok og Ebjatar. Dem skal du holde underrettet om alt, hvad du hører i kongens palads. De kan så sende deres sønner Ahima’atz og Jonatan til mig med besked om, hvad der foregår.” 37 Så vendte Davids ven Hushaj tilbage til byen, og han nåede frem samtidig med Absalom.

King James Version

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so , that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! 5 And it was so , that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. 6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. 8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD. 9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David' counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. 13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. 14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. 15 And the king' servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. 16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. 17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. 20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. 21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be. 22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. 24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. 25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: 26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. 27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there. 30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. 31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. 32 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount , where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: 33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: 34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father' servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. 35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king' house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok' son , and Jonathan Abiathar' son ; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear. 37 So Hushai David' friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.