7 After four years Absalom said to King David, “Please let me go to Hebron. I want to carry out my promise that I made to the Lord
8 while I was living in Geshur in Aram. I said, ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship him in Hebron.’ ”
9 The king said, “Go in peace.”So Absalom went to Hebron.
10 But he sent secret messengers through all the tribes of Israel. They told the people, “When you hear the trumpets, say this: ‘Absalom is the king at Hebron!’ ”
11 Absalom had invited two hundred men to go with him. So they went from Jerusalem with him, but they didn’t know what he was planning.
12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, one of the people who advised David, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So Absalom’s plans were working very well. More and more people began to support him.
13 A messenger came to David, saying, “The Israelites are giving their loyalty to Absalom.”