^15:1Some time later Absalom managed to acquire¹ a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.²^15:2Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, “What city are you from?” The person would answer, “I, your servant,³ am from one of the tribes of Israel.” ^15:3Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate.⁴ But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.” ^15:4Absalom would then say, “If only they would make me⁵ a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint⁶ could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”

^15:5When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom⁷ would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him. ^15:6Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty⁸ of the citizens⁹ of Israel.

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Footnotes

1 Heb “acquired for himself.”
2 Heb “to run ahead of him.”
3 Heb “your servant.” So also in vv. 8, 15, 21.
4 Heb “good and straight.”
5 Heb “Who will make me?”
6 Heb “a complaint and a judgment.” The expression is a hendiadys.
7 Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 Heb “stole the heart.”
9 Heb “the men.”