4. And Absalom saith, `Who doth make me a judge in the land, that unto me doth come every man who hath a plea and judgment? --then I have declared him righteous.'
5. And it hath come to pass, in the drawing nearing of any one to bow himself to him, that he hath put forth his hand, and laid hold on him, and given a kiss to him;
6. and Absalom doth according to this thing to all Israel who come in for judgment unto the king, and Absalom stealeth the heart of the men of Israel.
7. And it cometh to pass, at the end of forty years, that Absalom saith unto the king, `Let me go, I pray thee, and I complete my vow, that I vowed to Jehovah in Hebron,
8. for a vow hath thy servant vowed in my dwelling in Geshur, in Aram, saying, If Jehovah doth certainly bring me back to Jerusalem, then I have served Jehovah.'
9. And the king saith to him, `Go in peace;' and he riseth and goeth to Hebron,
10. and Absalom sendeth spies through all the tribes of Israel, saying, `At your hearing the voice of the trumpet, then ye have said, Absalom hath reigned in Hebron.'
11. And with Absalom have gone two hundred men, out of Jerusalem, invited ones, and they are going in their simplicity, and have not known anything;
12. and Absalom sendeth Ahithophel the Gilonite, a counsellor of David, out of his city, out of Gilo, in his sacrificing sacrifices; and the conspiracy is strong, and the people are going and increasing with Absalom.
13. And he who is declaring tidings cometh in unto David, saying, `The heart of the men of Israel hath been after Absalom.'
14. And David saith to all his servants who [are] with him in Jerusalem, `Rise, and we flee, for we have no escape from the face of Absalom; haste to go, lest he hasten, and have overtaken us, and forced on us evil, and smitten the city by themouth of the sword.'
15. And the servants of the king say unto the king, `According to all that my lord the king chooseth--lo, thy servants [do].'
16. And the king goeth out, and all his household at his feet, and the king leaveth ten women--concubines--to keep the house.