2 Samuel 15:1–10

Absalom’s Treason

15After this ^ait happened that Absalom ^bprovided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. ²Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a ^clawsuit ¹came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.” ³Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your ²case is good and right; but there is no ³deputy of the king to hear you.” ⁴Moreover Absalom would say, ^d“Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” ⁵And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and ^ekiss him. ⁶In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. ^fSo Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁷Now it came to pass ^gafter ⁴forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to ^hHebron and pay the vow which I made to the Lord. ⁸ⁱFor your servant ^jtook a vow ^kwhile I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’ ”

⁹And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

¹⁰Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom ^lreigns in Hebron!’ ”