2 Samuel 15:18-22

15:18 All his servants were leaving with him, ¹  along with all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites – some six hundred men who had come on foot from Gath. They were leaving with ²  the king.

15:19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come with us? Go back and stay with the new ³  king, for you are a foreigner and an exile from your own country. ⁴  15:20 It seems like you arrived just yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men ⁵  with you. May genuine loyal love ⁶  protect ⁷  you!”

15:21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether dead or alive, ⁸  there I ⁹  will be as well!” 15:22 So David said to Ittai, “Come along then.” ¹⁰  So Ittai the Gittite went along, ¹¹  accompanied by all his men and all the dependents ¹²  who were with him.

[15:18]  ¹ tn Heb “crossing over near his hand.”

[15:18]  ² tn Heb “crossing over near the face of.”

[15:19]  ³ tn The word “new” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation to make it clear that David refers to Absalom, not himself.

[15:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “place.”

[15:20]  ⁵ tn Heb “brothers,” but see v. 22.

[15:20]  ⁶ tn Heb “loyal love and truth.” The expression is a hendiadys.

[15:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “be with.”

[15:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “whether for death or for life.”

[15:21]  ⁹ tn Heb “your servant.”

[15:22]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Come and cross over.”

[15:22]  ¹¹ tn Heb “crossed over.”

[15:22]  ¹² tn Heb “all the little ones.”