Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Samuel 15:13–23, “And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. 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. And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.”
Some people who were loyal to king David brought him a message saying that the people from Israel were following Absalom in Hebron. David didn’t change his usual plan of action and decided to trust the Lord to care for his interests. He chose to leave Jerusalem with his advisors and his two guards regiments, the Cherethites and the Pelethites and head away from Jerusalem. David didn’t want to have a large, bloody battle in Jerusalem so that the city would be destroyed or badly damaged. He though it would be better to leave the city and try to entice Absalom to come out to another place for the showdown. Ittai, the Gittite didn’t come from Israel but was one of David’s friends and supporters. David encouraged Ittai to stay in Jerusalem so that he wouldn’t face death or injury in an Israeli battle that didn’t really involve his loyalties. However, Ittai was loyal to David and said that he would prefer to be with David. The king left some of his concubines, slave women, behind to look after his home while he was away. They all moved over the brook Kidron, Jerusalem had steep valleys to in places but this exit gave David a much easier retreat.
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