2 Samuel 15:1-16; 16:15-22 | June 1, 2025
2 Samuel 15:1-16 ESV
(1) After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. (2) And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, "From what city are you?" And when he said, "Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel," (3) Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you." (4) Then Absalom would say, "Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice." (5) And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. (6) Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. (7) And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron. (8) For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, 'If the LORD will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the LORD.'" (9) The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose and went to Hebron. (10) But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, 'Absalom is king at Hebron!'" (11) With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited guests, and they went in their innocence and knew nothing. (12) And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing. (13) And a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom." (14) Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword." (15) And the king's servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides." (16) So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house.
2 Samuel 16:15-22
(15) Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. (16) And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" (17) And Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?" (18) And Hushai said to Absalom, "No, for whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. (19) And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you." (20) Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel. What shall we do?" (21) Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened." (22) So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.