And David said unto all his servants that [were] with him at Jerusalem,.... His courtiers and ministers of state, the officers of his household, as many of them as were with him in the city; for some of them very probably were in the country, as Ahithophel was, and some might be along with Absalom, whom he had invited to his peace offerings:
arise, and let us flee; it is much that a man of such courage and valour as David should be so intimidated at once as to make a flight as soon as he heard of a conspiracy forming against him:
for we shall not [else] escape from Absalom; his fears ran so high, that he fancied he would be upon them presently:
make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly; which still more clearly shows the panic he was in:
and bring evil upon us; kill them, or make them prisoners:
and smite the city with the edge of the sword; the inhabitants of it, should they make resistance.