2 Samuel 15:7-12

New King James Version

⁷ Now it came to pass ^(A)after ^[a]forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to ^(B)Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the Lord. ^8 (C)For your servant ^(D)took a vow ^(E)while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’ ”

⁹ And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

¹⁰ Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom ^(F)reigns in Hebron!’ ” ¹¹ And with Absalom went two hundred men ^(G)invited from Jerusalem, and they ^(H)went along innocently and did not know anything. ¹² Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, ^(I)David’s counselor, from his city—from ^(J)Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom ^(K)continually increased in number.