2 Samuel 14:25-15:12

New American Standard Bible

²⁵ Now in all Israel there was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; ^(A)from the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no impairment in him. ²⁶ And when he ^(B)cut the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, because it was heavy on him, so he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at ^[a]two hundred shekels by the king’s weight. ²⁷ And ^(C)to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was ^(D)Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.

²⁸ Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, ^(E)yet he did not see the king’s face. ²⁹ Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. So he sent word again a second time, but he would not come. ³⁰ Therefore he said to his servants, “See, ^(F)Joab’s plot is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the plot on fire. ³¹ Then Joab got up, came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my plot on fire?” ³² Absalom ^[b]answered Joab, “Behold, I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here, so that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me still to be there.”’ Now then, let me see the king’s face, ^(G)and if there is guilt in me, he can have me executed.” ³³ So when Joab came to the king and told him, he summoned Absalom. Then Absalom came to the king and prostrated himself ^[c]with his face to the ground before the king; and ^(H)the king kissed Absalom.

Absalom’s Conspiracy

15 Now it came about after this that ^(I)Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men ^[d]to run ahead of him. ² And Absalom used to rise early and ^(J)stand beside the road to the gate; and when any man who had a lawsuit was to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call out to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” ³ Then Absalom would say to him, “See, ^(K)your ^[e]claims are good and right, but you have no one to listen to you on the part of the king.” ⁴ Moreover, Absalom would say, “^(L)Oh that someone would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has a lawsuit or claim could come to me, and I would give him justice!” ⁵ And whenever a man approached to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and ^(M)kiss him. ⁶ Absalom dealt this way with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; ^(N)so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

⁷ Now it came about at the end of ^[f]four years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to the Lord, in ^(O)Hebron. ⁸ For your servant ^(P)made a vow while I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘^(Q)If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’” ⁹ The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron. ¹⁰ But Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘^(R)Absalom is king in Hebron!’” ¹¹ Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, ^(S)who were invited and ^(T)went ^[g]innocently, for they did not know anything. ¹² And Absalom sent for ^(U)Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city ^(V)Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for ^(W)the people continually increased with Absalom.