2 Samuel 15:1-12

Living Bible

15 Absalom then bought a magnificent chariot and chariot horses, and hired fifty footmen to run ahead of him. ² He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city; and when anyone came to bring a case to the king for trial, Absalom called him over and expressed interest in his problem.

³ He would say, “I can see that you are right in this matter; it’s unfortunate that the king doesn’t have anyone to assist him in hearing these cases. ⁴ I surely wish I were the judge; then anyone with a lawsuit could come to me, and I would give him justice!”

⁵ And when anyone came to bow to him, Absalom wouldn’t let him, but shook his hand instead!^{[a] 6} So in this way Absalom stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.

^7-8 After four years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron to sacrifice to the Lord in fulfillment of a vow I made to him while I was at Geshur—that if he would bring me back to Jerusalem, I would sacrifice to him.”

⁹ “All right,” the king told him, “go and fulfill your vow.”

So Absalom went to Hebron.^{[b] 10} But while he was there, he sent spies to every part of Israel to incite rebellion against the king. “As soon as you hear the trumpets,” his message read, “you will know that Absalom has been crowned in Hebron.” ¹¹ He took two hundred men from Jerusalem with him as guests, but they knew nothing of his intentions. ¹² While he was offering the sacrifice, he sent for Ahithophel, one of David’s counselors who lived in Giloh. Ahithophel declared for Absalom, as did more and more others. So the conspiracy became very strong.