2 Samuel 15:1-10 ▼

1 After this, Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for settlement, Absalom called out to him and asked, “What city are you from? ” If he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”

3 Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you.”

4 He added, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would make sure he received justice.”

5 When a person approached to pay homage to him, Absalom reached out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him.

6 Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 When four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I made to the LORD.

8 For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram, saying, ‘If the LORD really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’ ”

9 “Go in peace,” the king said to him. So he went to Hebron.

10 Then Absalom sent agents throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron! ’ ”