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mark the period before the conspiracy actually broke out, and find their typical
counterpart in the treachery of Judas Iscariot.^15 Read in this light, these Psalms afford
an insight into the whole history of this risings political as well as religious. Other two
Psalms, 3 and 63, refer to David's flight; while the later events in, and the overthrow of
the conspiracy, form the historical background of Psalms 61, 39, and 62.
When leaving Jerusalem in their flight, the king and his followers made a halt at "the
far house."^16 Besides his family, servants and officials, his body-guard (the Cherethi
and Pelethi), and the six hundred tried warriors, who had been with him in all his early
wanderings, accompanied him.^17 In that hour of bitterness the king's heart was also
cheered by the presence and steadfast adherence of a brave Philistine chieftain, Ittai,
who had cast in his lot with David and with David's God. He had brought with him to
Jerusalem his family (2 Samuel 15:22) and a band of adherents (ver. 20); and his
fidelity and courage soon raised him to the command of a division in David's army
(18:2).
It was winter, or early spring,^18 when the mournful procession passed through a crowd
of weeping spectators over the Kidron, to take the way of the wilderness that led
towards Jericho and the Jordan.
At the foot of the Mount of Olives they again paused. Here the Levites, headed by
Zadok the priest, put down the Ark, which had accompanied David, until the high-
priest Abiathar, and the rest of the people who were to join the king, came up out of the
city. They were wise as well as good words with which David directed the Ark of God
to be taken back. At the same time he established communication with the city through
the priests.^19 He would wait by "the fords" of the wilderness^20 until the sons of the
two priests should bring him trustworthy tidings by which to guide his further
movements.
It reads almost like prophecy, this description of the procession of weeping mourners,
whom Jerusalem had cast out, going up "the ascent of the olive-trees," and once more
halting at the top, "where it was wont to worship God!"^21
A little before, the alarming news had come that Ahithophel had joined the conspiracy.
But now a welcome sight greeted them. Hushai, the Archite (comp. Joshua 16:2),
David's friend and adviser, came to meet the king, and offered to accompany him. But
the presence of unnecessary non-combatants would manifestly have entailed additional
difficulties, especially if of the age of Hushai. Besides, a man like the Archite might
render David most material service in Jerusalem, if, by feigning to join the
conspirators, he could gain the confidence of Absalom, and so, perhaps, counteract the
dreaded counsels of Ahithophel. Accordingly, Hushai was sent back to the city, there
to act in concert with the priests.
(^)