2 Moreover, Absalom used to rise early and stand alongside the road leading to the gate. If someone had a lawsuit to be decided by the king, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he replied, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe of Israel,”
3 Absalom would say to him, “Your case is good and just, but there is no one to hear you in the king’s name.”
4 And he would continue: “If only I could be appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a lawsuit to be decided might come to me and I would render him justice.”
5 Whenever a man approached him to show homage, he would extend his hand, hold him, and kiss him.
6 By behaving in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king for judgment, Absalom was stealing the heart of Israel.
7 After a period of four years, Absalom said to the king: “Please let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the Lord.
8 For while living in Geshur in Aram, your servant made this vow: ‘If the Lord ever brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship him in Hebron.’”