4. And he would add, “How I wish I were a judge! Then anyone who had a dispute or a claim could come to me, and I would give him justice.”
5. When the man approached Absalom to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out, take hold of him, and kiss him.
6. Absalom did this with every Israelite who came to the king for justice, and so he won their loyalty.
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.
12. And while he was offering sacrifices, Absalom also sent to the town of Gilo for Ahithophel, who was one of King David's advisers. The plot against the king gained strength, and Absalom's followers grew in number.
13. A messenger reported to David, “The Israelites are pledging their loyalty to Absalom.”
14. So David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “We must get away at once if we want to escape from Absalom! Hurry! Or else he will soon be here and defeat us and kill everyone in the city!”
15. “Yes, Your Majesty,” they answered. “We are ready to do whatever you say.”
16. So the king left, accompanied by all his family and officials, except for ten concubines, whom he left behind to take care of the palace.
17. As the king and all his men were leaving the city, they stopped at the last house.
18. All his officials stood next to him as the royal bodyguard passed by in front of him. The 600 soldiers who had followed him from Gath also passed by,