REBELLION AND SORROW. 211

the conspiracy of Absalom the unhappy king would
see the fulfilment of the prophecy; and he would
think he must submit to the punishment which his
sin had deserved. Then Absalom’s party was such
a numerous one, that the greater number of the inha-
bitants of Jerusalem might have been among them;
and had David been sure of their fidelity, his love for
that city might make him unwilling to have it ex-
posed to a seige. Whatever his reasons were for
leaving, there can be no doubt that he left with a sor-
rowful heart. Among those who accompanied him
were six hundred men from Gath, a city of the Philis-
tines. They had left their own country, had entered
David’s service, and had embraced the Jewish religion.
The king of Israel was unwilling that these people
should suffer with him. They were foreigners, bound
to him by no tie but their own choice. So he told
their leader, Ittai, that he ought to remain in the city
and serve the new king. The reply of Ittai the Gittite
was a very noble one,—“ 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.” The example of this Philis-
tine teaches us to consider only if the course we pursue be
right, and being satisfied of that, to regard not the dangers
and difficulties which may surround its followers. The
priests next came with the ark, but at David’s request
they carried it back into the city. The priests he knew
were faithful to him, but he did not think Absalom