2 Samuel 15:1-13

1Now it came about after this that 1Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men 2to run ahead of him. 2And Absalom used to rise early and 3stand beside the road to the gate; and when any man who had a lawsuit was to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call out to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Then Absalom would say to him, “See, 4your 5claims are good and right, but you have no one to listen to you on the part of the king.” 4Moreover, Absalom would say, “6Oh that someone would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has a lawsuit or claim could come to me, and I would give him justice!” 5And whenever a man approached to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and 7kiss him. 6Absalom dealt this way with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; 8so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

7Now it came about at the end of 9four years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to the Lord, in 10Hebron. 8For your servant 11made a vow while I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘12If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’” 9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron. 10But Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘13Absalom is king in Hebron!’” 11Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, 14who were invited and 15went 16innocently, for they did not know anything. 12And Absalom sent for 17Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city 18Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for 19the people continually increased with Absalom.

13Then a messenger came to David, saying, “20The hearts of the people of Israel are 21with Absalom.”