2 Samuel 14:24-15:18 And the king said, Let him repair to his own house, but my face he shall not see. So Abshalom repaired to his own house, but the king’s face he did not see.

Leeser⁽ⁱ⁾ ²⁴ And the king said, Let him repair to his own house, but my face he shall not see. So Abshalom repaired to his own house, but the king’s face he did not see. ²⁵ And like Abshalom there was no man as handsome in all Israel, so that he was greatly praised: from the sole of his foot up to the crown of his head there was no blemish on him. ²⁶ And when he shaved off the hair of his head and it was at the end of every year that he shaved it off; because it was too heavy on him, so that he had to shave it off: he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels by the king’s weight. ²⁷ And there was born unto Abshalom three sons and one daughter, whose name was Thamar: this one was a woman of handsome appearance. ²⁸ And Abshalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and the king’s face he did not see. ²⁹ Abshalom sent out therefore for Joab, to send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again the second time; but he would not come. ³⁰ He thereupon said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is alongside of mine, and he hath barley there: go and set it on fire. And Abshalom’s servants set the field on fire. ³¹ Then did Joab arise, and he went to Abshalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set the field belonging to me on fire? ³² And Abshalom said to Joab, Behold, I had sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it would be better for me were I yet there: and now let me see the king’s face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him put me to death. ³³ So Joab went to the king, and told it to him: and he called for Abshalom, who came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Abshalom. ¹⁵ ¹ And it came to pass after this, that Abshalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men who ran before him. ² And Abshalom rose up early, and stood on the side of the way to the gate: and it happened, that whenever a man who had a controversy came to the king for judgment, Abshalom called to him, and said, From what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is from one of the tribes of Israel. ³ And Abshalom said unto him, See, thy words are good and right; but no one listeneth to thee on the part of the king. ⁴ And Abshalom said, Oh, if there were but one to appoint me judge in the land, so that every man who may have any controversy or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! ⁵ And it happened, that when a man came nigh to bow down to him, he used to put forth his hand, and laid hold of him, and kissed him. ⁶ And Abshalom did after this manner to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: and thus did Abshalom steal the heart of the men of Israel. ⁷ And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Abshalom said unto the king, Let me go, I pray thee, and fulfill my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, at Hebron. ⁸ For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord will ever bring me back again to Jerusalem, then will I serve the Lord. ⁹ And the king said unto him, Go in peace: and he arose, and went to Hebron. ¹⁰ But Abshalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the sound of the cornet, then shall ye say, Abshalom is become king at Hebron. ¹¹ And with Abshalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and going in their simplicity; and they knew of nothing whatever. ¹² And Abshalom sent for Achithophel the Gilomite, David’s counsellor, from his city, from Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. And the conspiracy became strong; and the people increased continually with Abshalom. ¹³ And there came a news-bearer to David, saying, the heart of the men of Israel is turned after Abshalom. ¹⁴ And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for there will not else be any escape for us from Abshalom: make haste, to depart, lest he make haste and overtake us suddenly and overwhelm us with evil, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. ¹⁵ And the king’s servants said unto the king, In accordance with all that my Lord the king may choose, are thy servants ready. ¹⁶ And the king went forth, and all his household in his train. And the king left behind ten women, who were concubines, to guard the house. ¹⁷ And the king went forth, and all the people in his train, and tarried in a place that was far off. ¹⁸ And all his servants passed on alongside of him, and all the Kerethites, and all the Pelethites; and all the Gittites, six hundred men, who were come in his train from Gath, passed on before the king.