Absalom Wins Petitioners At The Gate

1After this, Absalom made for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men running before him.

2Absalom would rise early and stand beside the road to the gate. Whenever any man had a dispute and came to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”

3Then Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but there is no one from the king to hear you.”

4Then Absalom would say, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then every man who has a dispute or a case could come to me, and I would give him justice.”

5And whenever a man came near to bow down to him, he would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.

6Absalom did this to all Israel who came to the king for judgment, and Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.