2 Samuel 15:2-6

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, ¹  am from one of the tribes of Israel.” 15:3 Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. ²  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 ³  a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint ⁴  could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”

15:5 When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom ⁵  would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him. 15:6 Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty ⁶  of the citizens ⁷  of Israel.

[15:2]  ¹ tn Heb “your servant.” So also in vv. 8, 15, 21.

[15:3]  ² tn Heb “good and straight.”

[15:4]  ³ tn Heb “Who will make me?”

[15:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “a complaint and a judgment.” The expression is a hendiadys.

[15:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[15:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “stole the heart.”

[15:6]  ⁷ tn Heb “the men.”