10 Then Absalom sent agents throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the trumpet,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.

13 Then an informer came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom!j Leave quickly, or he will overtake us quickly, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”