2 Samuel 15:17

13A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”

14David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise! Let’s flee, or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

15The king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”

16The king went out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.

17The king went out, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak.

18All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Return, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner and also an exile. Return to your own place.

20Whereas you came but yesterday, should I today make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you.”

21Ittai answered the king and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king is, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there also.”