15:1 Some time later Absalom managed to acquire 1 a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. 2 15:2 Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, “What city are you from?” The person would answer, “I, your servant, 3 am from one of the tribes of Israel.” 15:3 Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. 4 But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.” 15:4 Absalom would then say, “If only they would make me 5 a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint 6 could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”
15:5 When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom 7 would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him.
1 tn Heb “acquired for himself.”
2 tn Heb “to run ahead of him.”
3 tn Heb “your servant.” So also in vv. 8, 15, 21.
4 tn Heb “good and straight.”
5 tn Heb “Who will make me?”
6 tn Heb “a complaint and a judgment.” The expression is a hendiadys.
7 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.