2 Samuel 15:19

17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

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

Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.

21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, 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.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.
KJV
Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
WEB
Then 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.
ASV
Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile; [return] to thine own place.
DARBY
And the king said to Ittai the Gittite, Why dost thou also go with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king; for thou art a foreigner, and besides, thou hast emigrated to the place where thou [dwellest].
BLB
And the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king, for you [are] a foreigner, and also you [are] an exile from your own place.
ÅB
Da sa kongen til gittitten Ittai: Hvorfor går du og med oss? Vend tilbake og bli hos kongen! For du er en fremmed og tilmed bortført fra ditt hjemsted.
OTB
Da sa kongen til Ittai fra Gat, "Hvorfor går du også med oss? Vend tilbake og bli hos kongen, for du er en utlending og også en flyktning fra ditt eget sted.
B1930
Da sa kongen til gittitten Ittai: Hvorfor går du og med oss? Vend tilbake og bli hos kongen! For du er en fremmed og tilmed bortført fra ditt hjemsted.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Samuel 18:2

    And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

    Read in context
  • Ruth 1:11–13

    And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

    Read in context