7. After four years Absalom said to King David, “Sir, let me go to Hebron and keep a promise I made to the Lord.
8. While I was living in Geshur in Syria, I promised the Lord that if he would take me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him in Hebron.”
9. “Go in peace,” the king said. So Absalom went to Hebron.
10. But he sent messengers to all the tribes of Israel to say, “When you hear the sound of trumpets, shout, ‘Absalom has become king at Hebron!’ ”
11. There were 200 men who at Absalom's invitation had gone from Jerusalem with him; they knew nothing of the plot and went in all good faith.