² He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate.^(A) Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”

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.