In recent years, Ittai (pronounced It-tay-eye) has become one of my favorite biblical personages.2 Samuel 15:13-31
And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
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.
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.
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.
And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:
But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
That he was a Philistine believer at the time of the scripture reading, holds our minds in enough fascination, but to discover that he was also the son of Achish, king of Gath, and that with his immigration as a Jewish proselyte he brought 600 Philistine warriors and their families with him, his conversion is incredible.
His appearance in Jerusalem scant days before David's hasty departure as his son, Absalom prepared to overthrow David's reign and assasinate him in the process, would seem on the surface to be the worst possible timing for Ittai. Actually, as always with God, Ittai's coming was Divinely and perfectly timed, and he would prominently figure into David's "salvation" and Absalom's military debacle.
Unquestionably, David and Ittai would have met, and formed a "Jonathan-like" alliance during the two or three years that David had spent in Gath, running for his life from an apostate Saul, and serving Achish (the king of Gath, and Ittai's father). At this time, Ittai had witnessed the presence and character of David's God in him, and at some point, became a believer, also planning at some time in the future to migrate to Israel when David eventually became king.
When he came, with 600 "Gibborim" (a Phistine word meaning "heros; mighty men") and all of their families, it appeared on the surface to be a most inopportune time, a time of Absalom's deception and mutiny, with David's life and throne on the line.
When David offered a "free pass", a honorable way out, to Ittai, his reply was a personal testimony of his conversion ("As the Lord God 'yahweh' lives"), but also an instant commitment of his life and that of his 600 warriors to the protection and honor of David! "Wherever you go and are, I will be right there by your side". My admiration knows no bounds to this kind of devotion! To God and to David! What a God Who provokes such brave devotion and selfless courage! He continues to dwell in the hearts of godly and devout men today!
By W.L. Boone
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