²⁴ While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, the watchman^(A) went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked out, he saw a man running alone.

⁸ So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,^(A)” they all came before him.

Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes.