Then Absalom went to the king and said, &#8220;My shearers have begun their work.<n id="1" /> Let the king and his servants go with me.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">While they were still on their way, the following report reached David: &#8220;Absalom has killed all the king&#8217;s sons; not one of them is left!&#8221;

Now don&#8217;t let my lord the king be concerned about the report that has come saying, &#8216;All the king&#8217;s sons are dead.&#8217; It is only Amnon who is dead.&#8221;p>

But Absalom fled and went to King Talmai son of Ammihud of Geshur. And David<n id="1" /> grieved over his son every day.p>

<p class="bodytext">So the Tekoan woman went<n id="1" /> to the king. She bowed down with her face to the ground in deference to him and said, &#8220;Please help me,<n id="2" /> O king!&#8221;

The Tekoan woman said to the king, &#8220;My lord the king, let any blame fall on me and on the house of my father. But let the king and his throne be innocent!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Then the king said to Joab, &#8220;All right! I<n id="1" /> will do this thing! Go and bring back the young man Absalom!

Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty<n id="1" /> of the citizens<n id="2" /> of Israel.p>

<p class="bodytext">After four<n id="1" /> years Absalom said to the king, &#8220;Let me go and repay my vow that I made to the <sc>Lordsc> while I was in Hebron.

So David said to Ittai, &#8220;Come along then.&#8221;<n id="1" /> So Ittai the Gittite went along,<n id="2" /> accompanied by all his men and all the dependents<n id="3" /> who were with him.p>

<p class="bodytext">The king said to Zadok the priest, &#8220;Are you a seer?<n id="1" /> Go back to the city in peace! Your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar&#8217;s son Jonathan may go with you and Abiathar.<n id="2" />

Furthermore, their two sons are there with them, Zadok&#8217;s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar&#8217;s son Jonathan. You must send them to me with any information you hear.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Absalom said to Hushai, &#8220;Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn&#8217;t you go with your friend?&#8221;

Hushai replied to Absalom, &#8220;No, I will be loyal to the one whom the <sc>Lordsc>, these people, and all the men of Israel have chosen.<n id="1" />

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof,<n id="1" /> and Absalom had sex with<n id="2" /> his father&#8217;s concubines in the sight of all Israel.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Ahithophel said to Absalom, &#8220;Let me pick out twelve thousand men. Then I will go and pursue David this very night.

and will bring the entire army back to you. In exchange for the life of the man you are seeking, you will get back everyone.<n id="1" /> The entire army will return unharmed.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

But a young man saw them on one occasion and informed Absalom. So the two of them quickly departed and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. There was a well in his courtyard, and they got down in it.

<p class="bodytext">He<n id="1" /> won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. Then they sent word to the king saying, &#8220;Return, you and all your servants as well.&#8221;

But my servant<n id="1" /> has slandered me<n id="2" /> to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like an angel of God. Do whatever seems appropriate to you.