13 Now a messenger came to David, saying, ^a“The hearts of the men of Israel are¹ with Absalom.”  ‡

14 So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us ^aflee, 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.”  ‡

16 Then ^athe king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ^bten women, concubines, to keep the house.  ‡

17 And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts.