Absalom’s Revolt

15 After this, Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run before him.^{(A) 2} He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate.^(B) Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for settlement, Absalom called out to him and asked, “What city are you from?” If he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” ³ Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you.” ⁴ He added, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would make sure he received justice.” ⁵ When a person approached to pay homage to him, Absalom reached out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him.^{(C) 6} Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁷ When four^[a] years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I made to the Lord. ⁸ For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram,^(D) saying, ‘If the Lord really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron.’”^[b](E)

⁹ “Go in peace,” the king said to him.^(F) So he went to Hebron.

¹⁰ Then Absalom sent agents throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the ram’s horn,^(G) you are to say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’” ^(H)

¹¹ Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They had been invited and were going innocently, for they did not know the whole situation. ¹² While he was offering the sacrifices, Absalom sent for David’s adviser Ahithophel the Gilonite,^(I) from his city of Giloh. So the conspiracy grew strong, and the people supporting Absalom continued to increase.