2 Samuel 15:1-12

New American Standard Bible

Absalom’s Conspiracy

15 Now it came about after this that ^(A)Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men ^[a]to run ahead of him. ²And Absalom used to rise early and ^(B)stand beside the road to the gate; and when any man who had a lawsuit was to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call out to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” ³Then Absalom would say to him, “See, ^(C)your ^[b]claims are good and right, but you have no one to listen to you on the part of the king.” ⁴Moreover, Absalom would say, “^(D)Oh that someone would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has a lawsuit or claim could come to me, and I would give him justice!” ⁵And whenever a man approached to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and ^(E)kiss him. ⁶Absalom dealt this way with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; ^(F)so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

⁷Now it came about at the end of ^[c]four years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to the Lord, in ^(G)Hebron. ⁸For your servant ^(H)made a vow while I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘^(I)If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’” ⁹The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron. ¹⁰But Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘^(J)Absalom is king in Hebron!’” ¹¹Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, ^(K)who were invited and ^(L)went ^[d]innocently, for they did not know anything. ¹²And Absalom sent for ^(M)Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city ^(N)Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for ^(O)the people continually increased with Absalom.

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Footnotes

2 Samuel 15:1 Lit as runners ahead
2 Samuel 15:3 Lit words
2 Samuel 15:7 As in some ancient versions; MT forty
2 Samuel 15:11 Lit in their integrity

2 Samuel 16:15-23

New American Standard Bible

Absalom Enters Jerusalem

¹⁵^(A)Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ¹⁶Now it came about, when ^(B)Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that ^(C)Hushai said to Absalom, “^(D)Long live the king! Long live the king!” ¹⁷But Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your ^[a]loyalty to your friend? ^(E)Why did you not go with your friend?” ¹⁸So Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whomever the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I shall be, and with him I shall remain. ¹⁹Besides, ^(F)whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall be in your presence.”

²⁰Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?” ²¹Ahithophel said to Absalom, “^(G)Have relations with your father’s concubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” ²²So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, ^(H)and Absalom had relations with his father’s concubines ^(I)in the sight of all Israel. ²³Now ^(J)the advice of Ahithophel, which he ^[b]gave in those days, was taken as though one inquired of the word of God; ^(K)so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.