3. Then Absalom would say, “Look, you are right, but King David will not listen to you.”
4. Absalom would also say, “Oh, I wish someone would make me a judge in this country! Then I could help everyone who comes to me with a problem. I would help them get a fair solution to their problem.”
5. And if anyone came to Absalom and started to bow down to him, Absalom would treat him like a close friend—he would reach out and touch him and kiss him.
6. Absalom did that to all the Israelites who came to King David for judgment. In this way Absalom won the hearts of all the people of Israel.
7. After four years, Absalom said to King David, “Please let me go to Hebron to complete a special promise that I made to the Lord.
8. I made that promise while I was still living in Geshur in Aram. I said, ‘If the Lord brings me back to Jerusalem, I will serve the Lord in a special way.’”
9. King David said, “Go in peace.” Absalom went to Hebron.
10. But he also sent spies to all the tribes of Israel. They told the people, “When you hear the trumpet, say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’”
11. Absalom invited 200 men to go with him. They left Jerusalem with him, but they did not know what he was planning.
12. Ahithophel was one of David’s advisors. He was from the town of Giloh. While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he invited Ahithophel to join. Absalom’s plans were working very well and more and more people began to support him.
13. A man came in to tell the news to David. The man said, “The people of Israel are beginning to follow Absalom.”
14. Then David said to all of his officers who were still in Jerusalem with him, “Come on, we cannot let him trap us here in Jerusalem. Hurry up, before he catches us. He will destroy us all, and Jerusalem will be destroyed in the battle.”
15. The king’s officers told him, “We will do whatever you tell us.”
16. King David left with everyone in his family, except ten of his slave women. He left them to take care of the house.
17. The king left with everyone in his house following him on foot. They stopped at the last house.
18. All the king’s officers passed by him. And all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and the Gittites (600 men from Gath) passed by the king.
19. The king said to Ittai from Gath, “Why are you also going with us? You are a foreigner; this is not your homeland. Go back and stay with the new king.