2 Samuel 15:1-13

1After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him.

2He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe.

3Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it.

4I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!”

5When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them.

6Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.

7After four years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron to offer a sacrifice to the Lord and fulfill a vow I made to him.

8For while your servant was at Geshur in Aram, I promised to sacrifice to the Lord in Hebron if he would bring me back to Jerusalem.”

9“All right,” the king told him. “Go and fulfill your vow.” So Absalom went to Hebron.

10But while he was there, he sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Israel to stir up a rebellion against the king. “As soon as you hear the ram’s horn,” his message read, “you are to say, ‘Absalom has been crowned king in Hebron.’”

11He took 200 men from Jerusalem with him as guests, but they knew nothing of his intentions.

12While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, one of David’s counselors who lived in Giloh. Soon many others also joined Absalom, and the conspiracy gained momentum.

13A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”