¹⁸ All of his staff were going on ahead of^[a] him—that is, all of the special forces^[b] and mercenaries,^[c] all of the Gittites, and 600 men who had come to serve^[d] him from Gath, went on ahead of the king.

¹⁹ Then the king suggested to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you have to go with us? Return and stay with the new^[e] king, since you’re a foreigner and exile. Stay where you want to stay.^{[f] 20} It seems only yesterday that you arrived, so should I make you wander around with us while I go wherever I can? Go back, and take your brothers with you. May gracious love and truth accompany you!”