16. And HaMelech went forth, and all his Bais after him. And HaMelech left ten nashim, which were pilagshim (concubines), to be shomer over the Bais (palace).
17. And HaMelech went forth, and kol haAm after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18. And all his avadim passed on by his yad; and all the Kereti, and all the Peleti, and all the Gittim, six hundred men which came after him from Gat, passed on before HaMelech.
19. Then said HaMelech to Ittai the Gitti, Why goest thou also with us? Return to thy place, and abide with HaMelech; for thou art a nokhri (foreigner), and also an exile.
20. Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee wander about with us? Seeing I go to where I may, shuv (return thou), and take back thy brethren; chesed and emes be with thee.
21. And Ittai answered HaMelech, and said, As Hashem liveth, and as adoni HaMelech liveth, surely in what makom adoni HaMelech shall be, whether in mavet or chayyim, even there also will thy eved be [Ruth 1:17].
22. And Dovid said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gitti passed over, and all his anashim, and all the little ones that were with him.
23. And kol ha'aretz wept with a kol gadol (loud voice), and kol haAm crossed over; HaMelech also himself crossed over the brook Kidron, and kol haAm crossed over, toward the derech of the midbar.
24. And hinei Tzadok also, and all the Levi'im were with him, bearing the Aron Brit HaElohim; and they set down the Aron HaElohim; and Evyatar (Abiathar) went up, until kol HaAm had done passing out of the Ir.
25. And HaMelech said unto Tzadok, Carry back the Aron HaElohim into the Ir; if I shall find chen (grace) in the eyes of Hashem, He will bring me again, and show me both Him, and His habitation;
26. But if He thus say, I have no delight in thee; hinei, here am I, let Him do to me as seemeth tov unto Him.
27. HaMelech said also unto Tzadok HaKohen, Art not thou the Ro'eh (seer)? Return into the Ir in shalom, and your two banim with you, Achima'atz binecha, and Yonatan Ben Evyatar (Abiathar).
28. See, I will tarry in the fords of the wilderness, until there come davar from you to inform me.