2 Samuel 15:20
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. 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.
The words belong to David's flight from Jerusalem during the insurrection and rebellion of his cherished son Absalom. They were spoken to Ittai the Gittite as David went out of the gate in humility and sorrow, driven from his throne and his palace and the ark of God. Behind him the people followed in a long sad procession like a funeral train, including his bodyguard of Cherethites and Pelethites and six hundred Gittites from Gath under Ittai. The appeal expresses unselfish unwillingness that strangers who had sought his protection should become involved in his calamity, and surprise that they were ready to make such a sacrifice for him. Because Ittai had come only yesterday and had arrived only recently, David urged him not to go up and down wandering with him toward an unknown destination, but to return to his place and take back his brethren with a blessing of mercy and truth upon him. The flight pressed on until David and his company, exhausted by grief and travel, stopped by the Jordan for a brief rest before being roused to cross the deep, swift river at night with women and children while pursued by Absalom's forces.