<t /><p class="bodytext">All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, &#8220;Look, we are your very flesh and blood!<n id="1" />

I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings.

<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;

<p class="bodytext">Joab replied, &#8220;I will not wait around like this for you!&#8221; He took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the middle of Absalom while he was still alive in the middle of the oak tree.<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">Sheba<n id="1" /> traveled through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of<n id="2" /> Beth Maacah and all the Berite region. When they had assembled,<n id="3" /> they too joined him.

Wherever I moved among all the Israelites, I did not say<n id="1" /> to any of the leaders<n id="2" /> whom I appointed to care for<n id="3" /> my people Israel, &#8220;Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?&#8221;&#8217;p>

All the people throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves saying, &#8220;The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies. He rescued us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.

He also killed an impressive-looking Egyptian.<n id="1" /> The Egyptian wielded a spear, while Benaiah attacked<n id="2" /> him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian&#8217;s hand and killed him with his own spear.

The king told Joab, the general in command of his army, &#8220;Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba and muster the army, so I may know the size of the army.&#8221;p>

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, &#8220;What city are you from?&#8221; The person would answer, &#8220;I, your servant,<n id="1" /> am from one of the tribes of Israel.&#8221;