2 Samuel 15:1-9 ▼

1 Soon after this, Absalom acquired a chariot, horses, and 50 men to run ahead of him.

2 Absalom used to get up early and stand by the road leading to the city gate. When anyone had a case to be tried by King David, Absalom would ask, |Which city are you from?| After the person had told him which tribe in Israel he was from,

3 Absalom would say, |Your case is good and proper, but the king hasn't appointed anyone to hear it.|

4 He would add, |I wish someone would make me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a case to be tried could come to me, and I would make sure that he got justice.|

5 When anyone approached him and bowed down, Absalom would reach out, take hold of him, and kiss him.

6 This is what he did for all Israelites who came to the king to have him try their case. So Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

7 Four years later Absalom said to the king, |Let me go to Hebron and keep the vow I made to the LORD.

8 I made a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram. I said, 'If the LORD will bring me back to Jerusalem, I will serve the LORD.'|

9 |Go in peace,| the king told him. So he went to Hebron.