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.
Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, 'Why are you coming with us too? Go back to your home and stay with the king, because you are a foreigner and someone who was forced to leave your own country.'
King David is telling a foreign ally that he doesn't need to risk his safety by staying loyal during this dangerous time of rebellion.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel, King David is fleeing Jerusalem because his son Absalom has led a rebellion to seize the throne, forcing David into exile. Ittai the Gittite, a foreigner from Gath who had recently pledged loyalty to David and joined his forces, is among those accompanying the king during this escape. David questions Ittai's decision to follow him, pointing out that as a stranger and exile himself, Ittai might be safer staying behind in the city.
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