The army of Israel<n id="1" /> and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Two years later Absalom&#8217;s sheepshearers were in Baal Hazor,<n id="1" /> near Ephraim. Absalom invited all the king&#8217;s sons.

So Absalom&#8217;s servants did to Amnon exactly what Absalom had instructed. Then all the king&#8217;s sons got up; each one rode away on his mule and fled.p>

Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty<n id="1" /> of the citizens<n id="2" /> of Israel.p>

<p class="bodytext">Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said, &#8220;When you hear the sound of the horn, you may assume<n id="1" /> that Absalom rules in Hebron.&#8221;

When David&#8217;s friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Long live the king! Long live the king!&#8221;p>

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof,<n id="1" /> and Absalom had sex with<n id="2" /> his father&#8217;s concubines in the sight of all Israel.p>

The king covered his face and cried out loudly,<n id="1" /> &#8220;My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he remained there for three years.

<p class="bodytext">So Joab got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">So David&#8217;s friend Hushai arrived in the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.p>

<p class="bodytext">This seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all the leaders<n id="1" /> of Israel.

<p class="bodytext"><v id="(19:1)" /><n id="1" /> The king then became very upset. He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept. As he went he said, &#8220;My son, Absalom! My son, my son,<n id="2" /> Absalom! If only I could have died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

But when Absalom pressed him, he sent Amnon and all the king&#8217;s sons along with him.p>

The king longed<n id="1" /> to go to Absalom, for he had since been consoled over the death of Amnon.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see<n id="1" /> Absalom.

<p class="bodytext">Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing the king&#8217;s face.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Some time later Absalom managed to acquire<n id="1" /> a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.<n id="2" />

Absalom would then say to him, &#8220;Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate.<n id="1" /> But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">Then a messenger came to David and reported, &#8220;The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!&#8221;<n id="1" />