7 At the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.
8 For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’”
9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.”So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the shofar, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’”
11 Two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn’t know anything.
12 Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
13 A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”