1And it came to pass after this that Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men running before him.2And Absalom rose early and stood beside the road of the gate. And it came to pass that whenever any man who had a dispute came to the king for justice, Absalom would call to him and say, "From which city are you?" And he would say, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."3And Absalom said to him, "See, your words are good and straightforward, but you have no hearing from the king."4And Absalom said, "Who will appoint me judge in the land, that every man who has a dispute or justice may come to me, and I will give him justice?"5And it came to pass, whenever a man came near to bow down to him, that he would stretch out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.6And Absalom acted in this way toward all Israel who came to the king for justice; and Absalom stole the heart of the men of Israel.7And it came to pass at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and fulfill my vow that I vowed to the LORD in Hebron."8For your servant vowed a vow while I dwelt in Geshur in Aram, saying, "If the LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD."9And the king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose and went to Hebron.10And Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, 'Absalom reigns in Hebron.'"11And with Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who had been invited, and they went in their integrity, and they did not know anything.12And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy became strong, and the people were going and increasing with Absalom.