2 Samuel 14:24-15:18 And the king said, Let him return to his house, and not see my face. And Absalom returned to his house, and saw not the king's face.

CAB⁽ⁱ⁾ ²⁴ And the king said, Let him return to his house, and not see my face. And Absalom returned to his house, and saw not the king's face. ²⁵ And there was not a man in Israel so very comely as Absalom. From the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. ²⁶ And when he cut his hair, (and it was at the beginning of every year that he cut it, because it grew heavy upon him) even when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head, and it weighed two hundred shekels according to the royal shekel. ²⁷ And there were born to Absalom three sons and one daughter, and her name was Tamar. She was a very beautiful woman, and she became the wife of Rehoboam son of Solomon, and she bore to him Abia. ²⁸ And Absalom remained in Jerusalem two full years, and he saw not the king's face. ²⁹ And Absalom sent to Joab to bring him in to the king, and he would not come to him. And he sent to him the second time, and he would not come. ³⁰ And Absalom said to his servants, Behold, Joab's portion in the field is next to mine, and he has barley in it; go and set it on fire. And the servants of Absalom set the field on fire. And the servants of Joab come to him with their clothes torn, and they said to him, The servants of Absalom have set the field on fire. ³¹ And Joab arose, and came to Absalom into the house, and said to him, Why have your servants set my field on fire? ³² And Absalom said to Joab, Behold, I sent to you, saying, Come here, and I will send you to the king, saying, Why did I come out of Geshur? It would have been better for me to have remained there. And now, behold, I have not seen the face of the king; but if there is iniquity in me, then put me to death. ³³ And Joab went in to the king, and brought him word. And he called Absalom, and he went in to the king, and bowed down before him, and fell upon his face to the ground, even in the presence of the king; and the king kissed Absalom. ¹⁵ ¹ And it came to pass after this that Absalom prepared for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. ² And Absalom rose early, and stood by the side of the way of the gate. And it came to pass that every man who had a cause came to the king for judgment. And Absalom cried to him, and said to him, Of what city are you? And he said, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. ³ And Absalom said to him, See, your affairs are right and clear, yet you have no one appointed of the king to hear you. ⁴ And Absalom said, O that one would make me a judge in the land; then every man who had a dispute or a cause would come to me, and I would judge him! ⁵ And it came to pass that when a man came near to bow down to him, that he stretched out his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. ⁶ And Absalom did after this manner to all Israel that came to the king for judgment; and Absalom gained the hearts of the men of Israel. ⁷ And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said to his father, I will go now, and pay my vows, which I vowed to the Lord in Hebron. ⁸ For your servant vowed a vow when I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord should indeed restore me to Jerusalem, then will I serve the Lord. ⁹ And the king said to him, Go in peace. And he arose and went to Hebron. ¹⁰ And Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, When you hear the sound of the trumpet, then shall you say, Absalom has become king in Hebron. ¹¹ And there went with Absalom two hundred chosen men from Jerusalem; and they went in their simplicity, and knew not anything. ¹² And Absalom sent to Ahithophel the Gilonite, the counselor of David, from his city, from Giloh, where he was sacrificing. And there was a strong conspiracy; and the people with Absalom were increasingly numerous. ¹³ And there came a messenger to David, saying, the heart of the men of Israel has gone after Absalom. ¹⁴ And David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, Rise, and let us flee, for we have no refuge from Absalom. Make haste and go, lest he overtake us speedily, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. ¹⁵ And the king's servants said to the king, In all things which our lord the king chooses, behold, we are your servants. ¹⁶ And the king and all his house went out on foot. And the king left ten women from among his concubines to keep the house. ¹⁷ And the king and all his servants went out on foot; and abode in a distant house. ¹⁸ And all his servants passed on by his side, and every Cherethite, and every Pelethite, and they stood by the olive tree in the wilderness. And all the people marched near him, and all his court, and all the men of might, and all the men of war, six hundred; and they were present at his side. And every Cherethite, and every Pelethite, and all the six hundred Gittites that came on foot out from Gath, and they went on before the king.