1. After this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him.
2. Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. When any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgement, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?”He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”
3. Absalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you.”
4. Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!”
5. It was so, that when any man came near to bow down to him, he stretched out his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.
6. Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7. At the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.