⁴ “I will do whatever you think is best,” the king replied to them. So he stood beside the city gate while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands.

²⁴ David was sitting between the city gates^(A) when the watchman went up to the roof of the city gate and over to the wall.^(B) The watchman looked out and saw a man running alone.

³³ The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber above the city gate and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” ^(A)