Shmuel II Perek 15

• Avshalom started his rebellion against Dovid, his father.

• Avshalom prepared horses and chariots and an entourage of 50 people that would follow him wherever he went.

• Avshalom would regularly get up early in the morning and sit by the courts. Avshalom would first validate the legitimacy of the petitioners’ claims. Avshalom would tell them that if he were the judge he would rule in their favor.

• Avshalom gained their support and “stole the hearts of Yisrael.”

• Avshalom asked Dovid for permission to give thanks to Hashem in Chevron for Hashem having returned him to the palace in Yerushalayim.

• Dovid gave his consent.

• Avshalom sent spies throughout the entire land. Avshalom instructed them that at the sound of the shofar they were to shout, “King Avshalom is in Chevron.”

• King Dovid fled for his life from Yerushalayim.

• King Dovid ordered Tsadok and Evyasar (Kohanim) to return the Ark to Yerushalayim and to not bring it with them.

• A man named Itai came and pledged allegiance to Dovid. Dovid sent Itai back to Yerushalayim.

• Dovid also ordered Tsadok and Evyasar to take their children, Achima’atz and Yehonason, to be covert spies for Dovid by Avshalom in Yerushalayim.

• Dovid heard that Achitophel, his chief advisor, had joined Avshalom’s side. Dovid prayed to Hashem that Hashem should not give Achitophel good advice for Avshalom.

• Dovid then ordered Chushai to be a spy for him against Avshalom. Dovid informed Chushai that Tsadok and Avyasar were already there acting as secret agents.

• Dovid told Chushai that his mission was to thwart the advice of Achitophel to Avshalom.