1. After this, Absalom got a chariot and horses for himself. He got 50 men to run before him.
2. Absalom would get up early and stand near the city gate. If anyone had a problem he wanted the king to settle, he would come here. When he came, Absalom would call to the man. Absalom would say, “What city are you from?”The man would answer, “I’m from one of the tribes of Israel.”
3. Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are right. But the king has no one to listen to you.”
4. Absalom would also say, “I wish someone would make me judge in this land! Then I could help everyone who comes with a problem. I could help him get a fair decision for his problem!”
5. People would come near Absalom to bow to him. When they did, Absalom would reach out his hand and take hold of them. Then he would kiss them.
6. Absalom did that to all the Israelites who came to King David for decisions. In this way, Absalom won the hearts of all Israel.
7. After four years Absalom said to King David, “Please let me go to Hebron. I want to carry out my promise that I made to the Lord.
8. I made it while I was living in Geshur in Aram. I said, ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship him in Hebron.’”
9. The king said, “Go in peace.”So Absalom went to Hebron.
10. But he sent secret messengers through all the tribes of Israel. They told the people, “When you hear the trumpets, say this: ‘Absalom has become the king at Hebron!’”
11. Absalom had invited 200 men to go with him. So they went from Jerusalem with him. But they didn’t know what he was planning.
12. Ahithophel was one of the people who advised David. He was from the town of Giloh. While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he called Ahithophel to come from his hometown of Giloh. So Absalom’s plans were working very well. More and more people began to support him.