Absalom’s Conspiracy

15 Now it happened afterwards, that ^(A)Absalom prepared for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him. ² And Absalom used to rise early and ^(B)stand beside the way to the gate; and when any man had a case to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call 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 words are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king.” ⁴ Then Absalom would say, “^(D)Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any case or judgment could come to me and I would justify him.” ⁵ And when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would send forth his hand and take hold of him and ^(E)kiss him. ⁶ In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; ^(F)so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁷ Now it happened at the end of ^[a]forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to Yahweh, in ^(G)Hebron. ⁸ For your servant ^(H)vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘^(I)If Yahweh shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.’” 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, ‘^(J)Absalom is king in Hebron.’” ¹¹ Now two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, ^(K)who were invited and ^(L)went ^[b]innocently, and 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 increased continually with Absalom.