2 Samuel 15:13-17

New King James Version

David Escapes from Jerusalem

¹³ Now a messenger came to David, saying, ^(A)“The hearts of the men of Israel are ^[a]with Absalom.”

¹⁴ So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us ^(B)flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

¹⁵ And the king’s servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.” ¹⁶ Then ^(C)the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ^(D)ten women, concubines, to keep the house. ¹⁷ And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts.