His second son<n id="1" /> was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow<n id="2" /> of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now David&#8217;s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. In the course of time David&#8217;s son Amnon fell madly in love with her.<n id="1" />

Then Absalom went to the king and said, &#8220;My shearers have begun their work.<n id="1" /> Let the king and his servants go with me.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Then Absalom said, &#8220;If you will not go,<n id="1" /> then let my brother Amnon go with us.&#8221; The king replied to him, &#8220;Why should he go with you?&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">While they were still on their way, the following report reached David: &#8220;Absalom has killed all the king&#8217;s sons; not one of them is left!&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">In the meantime Absalom fled. When the servant who was the watchman looked up, he saw many people coming from the west<n id="1" /> on a road beside the hill.

But Absalom fled and went to King Talmai son of Ammihud of Geshur. And David<n id="1" /> grieved over his son every day.p>

<p class="bodytext">Then the king said to Joab, &#8220;All right! I<n id="1" /> will do this thing! Go and bring back the young man Absalom!

But the king said, &#8220;Let him go over<n id="1" /> to his own house. He may not see my face.&#8221; So Absalom went over<n id="2" /> to his own house; he did not see the king&#8217;s face.p>

<p class="bodytext">Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as handsome as Absalom.<n id="1" /> From the sole of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance.<n id="2" />

Absalom had<n id="1" /> three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a very attractive woman.<n id="2" />p>

Then Absalom sent a message to Joab asking him to send him to the king, but Joab was not willing to come to him. So he sent a second message to him, but he still was not willing to come.

<p class="bodytext">Then Joab got up and came to Absalom&#8217;s house. He said to him, &#8220;Why did your servants set my portion of field on fire?&#8221;

Absalom would then say, &#8220;If only they would make me<n id="1" /> a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint<n id="2" /> could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">After four<n id="1" /> years Absalom said to the king, &#8220;Let me go and repay my vow that I made to the <sc>Lordsc> while I was in Hebron.

Now two hundred men had gone with Absalom from Jerusalem. Since they were invited, they went naively and were unaware of what Absalom was planning.<n id="1" />

Now David<n id="1" /> had been told, &#8220;Ahithophel has sided with the conspirators who are with Absalom. So David prayed,<n id="2" /> &#8220;Make the advice of Ahithophel foolish, O <sc>Lordsc>!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Absalom said to Hushai, &#8220;Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn&#8217;t you go with your friend?&#8221;

Hushai replied to Absalom, &#8220;No, I will be loyal to the one whom the <sc>Lordsc>, these people, and all the men of Israel have chosen.<n id="1" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Ahithophel said to Absalom, &#8220;Let me pick out twelve thousand men. Then I will go and pursue David this very night.