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. ² And 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.” ³ Then 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.” ⁴ Moreover, 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!” ⁵ And whenever a man approached to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and ^(E)kiss him. ⁶ Absalom dealt this way with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; ^(F)so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

⁷ Now 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. ⁸ For 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.’” ⁹ The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron. ¹⁰ But 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!’” ¹¹ Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, ^(K)who were invited and ^(L)went ^[d]innocently, for they did not know anything. ¹² And 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.