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again indeed to Jerusalem； then I will serve the Lord。〃 The fond father；
comforted with this evidence of piety in his son； dismissed him with his
blessing。 The conspiracy was now fully matured。 Absalom's crowning act of
hypocrisy was designed not only to blind the king but to establish the
confidence of the people； and thus to lead them on to rebellion against the
king whom God had chosen。
Absalom set forth for Hebron； and there went with him 〃two hundred men out
of Jerusalem； that were called； and they went in their simplicity； and they
knew not anything。〃 These men went with Absalom； little thinking that their
love for the son was leading them into rebellion against the father。 Upon
arriving at Hebron； Absalom immediately summoned Ahithophel； one of the
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chief counselors of David； a man in high repute for wisdom； whose opinion
was thought to be as safe and wise as that of an oracle。 Ahithophel joined
the conspirators； and his support made the cause of Absalom appear certain
of success； attracting to his standard many influential men from all parts
of the land。 As the trumpet of revolt was sounded； the prince's spies
throughout the country spread the tidings that Absalom was king； and many of
the people gathered to him。
Meanwhile the alarm was carried to Jerusalem； to the king。 David was
suddenly aroused； to see rebellion breaking out close beside his throne。 His
own sonthe son whom he had loved and trustedhad been planning to seize
his crown and doubtless to take his life。 In his great peril David shook off
the depression that had so long rested upon him； and with the spirit of his
earlier years he prepared to meet this terrible emergency。 Absalom was
mustering his forces at Hebron； only twenty miles away。 The rebels would
soon be at the gates of Jerusalem。
From his palace David looked out upon his capital〃beautiful for situation；
the joy of the whole earth； 。 。 。 the city of the great King。〃 Psalm 48：2。
He shuddered at the thought of exposing it to carnage and devastation。
Should he call to his help the subjects still loyal to his throne； and make
a stand to hold his capital？ Should he permit Jerusalem to be deluged with
blood？ His decision was taken。 The horrors of war should not fall upon the
chosen city。 He would leave Jerusalem； and then test the fidelity of his
people； giving them an opportunity to rally to his support。 In this great
crisis it was his duty to God and to his people to maintain the authority
with which Heaven had invested him。 The issue of the conflict he would trust
with God。
In humility and sorrow David passed out of the gate of Jerusalemdriven
from his throne； from his palace； from the ark of God； by the insurrection
of his cherished son。 The people followed in long； sad procession； like a
funeral train。 David's bodyguard of Cherethites； Pelethites； and six hundred
Gittites from Gath； under the command of Ittai； accompanied the king。 But
David； with characteristic unselfishness； could not consent that these
strangers who had sought his protection should be involved in his calamity。
He expressed surprise that they should be ready to make this sacrifice for
him。 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite； 〃Wherefore goest thou also
with us？ return to thy
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place； and abide with the king： for thou art a stranger； and also an exile。
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。〃
Ittai answered； 〃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。〃 These men had been converted from paganism
to the worship of Jehovah； and nobly they now proved their fidelity to their
God and their king。 David； with grateful heart； accepted their devotion to
his apparently sinking cause； and all passed over the brook Kidron on the
way toward the wilderness。
Again the procession halted。 A company clad in holy vestments was
approaching。 〃And lo Zadok also； and all the Levites were with him； bearing
the ark of the covenant of God。〃 The followers of David looked upon this as
a happy omen。 The presence of that sacred symbol was to them a pledge of
their deliverance and ultimate victory。 It would inspire the people with
courage to rally to the king。 Its absence from Jerusalem would bring terror
to the adherents of Absalom。
At sight of the ark joy and hope for a brief moment thrilled the heart of
David。 But soon other thoughts came to him。 As the appointed ruler of God's
heritage he was under solemn responsibility。 Not personal interests； but the
glory of God and the good of his people； were to be uppermost in the mind of
Israel's king。 God； who dwelt between the cherubim； had said of Jerusalem；
〃This is My rest〃 （Psalm 132：14）； and without divine authority neither
priest nor king had a right to remove therefrom the symbol of His presence。
And David knew that his heart and life must be in harmony with the divine
precepts； else the ark would be the means of disaster rather than of
success。 His great sin was ever before him。 He recognized in this conspiracy
the just judgment of God。 The sword that was not to depart from his house
had been unsheathed。 He knew not what the result of the struggle might be。
It was not for him to remove from the capital of the nation the sacred
statutes which embodied the will of their divine Sovereign； which were the
constitution of the realm and the foundation of its prosperity。
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He commanded Zadok； 〃Carry back the ark of God into the city： if I shall
find favor in the eyes of the Lord； He will bring me again； and show me both
it and His habitation： 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。〃
David added； 〃Art not thou a seer？〃a man appointed of God to instruct the
people。 〃Return into the city in peace； and your two sons with you； Ahimaaz
thy son； and Jonathan the son of Abiathar。 See； I will tarry in the plain of
the wilderness； until there come word from you to certify me。〃 In the city
the priests might do him good service by learning the movements and purposes
of the rebels； and secretly communicating them to the king by their sons；
Ahimaaz and Jonathan。
As the priests turned back toward Jerusalem a deeper shadow fell upon the
departing throng。 Their king a fugitive； themselves outcasts； forsaken even
by the ark of Godthe future was dark with terror and foreboding。 〃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。 And
one told David； saying； Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom。〃
Again David was forced to recognize in his calamities the results of his own
sin。 The defection of Ahithophel； the ablest and most wily of political
lea