³⁴ Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man who was standing watch looked up, there were many people coming from the road west of him from the side of the mountain.^[a]

²³ So Joab got up, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom^(A) to Jerusalem. ²⁴ However, the king added, “He may return to his house, but he may not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his house, but he did not see the king.^[a]

²⁵ No man in all Israel was as handsome^(B) and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.

³³ Joab went to the king and told him. So David summoned Absalom, who came to the king and paid homage with his face to the ground before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.

⁶ Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

¹⁰ Then Absalom sent agents throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the ram’s horn,^(A) you are to say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’” ^(B)

¹¹ Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They had been invited and were going innocently, for they did not know the whole situation. ¹² While he was offering the sacrifices, Absalom sent for David’s adviser Ahithophel the Gilonite,^(C) from his city of Giloh. So the conspiracy grew strong, and the people supporting Absalom continued to increase.

¹³ Then an informer came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

¹⁴ David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom!^(D) Leave quickly, or he will overtake us quickly, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

Absalom’s Death

⁹ Absalom was riding on his mule when he happened to meet David’s soldiers. When the mule went under the tangled branches of a large oak tree, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so he was suspended in midair.^{[a] 10} One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”

¹¹ “You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed.^[b] “Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten silver pieces^[c] and a belt!”

¹² The man replied to Joab, “Even if I had the weight of a thousand pieces of silver^[d] in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for me.’^[e](A)

³³ The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber above the city gate and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” ^(A)