14 David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! Leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
15 The king’s servants said to him, “Whatever my lord the king decides, we are your servants.”
16 Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind 10 concubines to take care of the palace.
17 So the king set out, and all the people followed him. They stopped at the last house
18 while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the Gittites — 600 men who came with him from Gath — marched past the king.
19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Go back and stay with the new king since you’re both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.
20 Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”