שמואל ב, פרק ט״ו, פסוק י״ט

As David flees from his son Absalom, he turns to Ittai the Gittite, a military commander who has only recently joined him. David tries to persuade Ittai to avoid the dangerous journey ahead, offering a series of logical reasons why he should remain behind and stay out of the conflict.

David advises Ittai to stay with the king. Commentators agree that David is referring to Absalom here. He uses this royal title because the nation has chosen to crown Absalom [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. Furthermore, it is highly likely that Absalom would gladly accept and utilize Ittai's military expertise [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The core of David's argument rests on Ittai's status as a foreigner. There are different views regarding his exact background. Some suggest he was a non-Israelite from a different land [אלשיך, ביאור שטיינזלץ], while others believe he was an Israelite who had lived for a long time in the Philistine city of Gath, acquiring the label of an outsider [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. Regardless of his origins, this status provides two distinct reasons for him to stay. Politically, Ittai is not connected to the royal family or the nation, nor is he one of David's veteran servants. Since it is not his fight, Absalom will not suspect him or punish him for remaining in Jerusalem [מצודת דוד, אלשיך, אברבנאל]. From a survival standpoint, the escape journey will be harsh and lack food. As an outsider, Ittai would struggle to find people willing to show him mercy and offer help along the way [רש״י].

David also refers to Ittai as an exile, which in this context does not mean a captive, but rather someone who wanders freely from place to place [מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. The primary approach among commentators [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל] explains that David is offering a safe alternative. Even if Ittai does not want to serve Absalom, or if Absalom decides to send him away, Ittai can simply return to his natural home in Gath. He has nothing to lose and can continue living there safely without risking his life. A second approach [רד״ק, רלב״ג] suggests a different flow to David's advice. According to this view, David points out that Ittai has only recently arrived in Jerusalem and is still in the process of moving his belongings. Therefore, David urges him to return to his current place in Jerusalem and settle there with the new king, rather than being dragged back out onto the roads to wander once again.