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

David realized that the <sc>Lordsc> had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

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>

I represent the peaceful and the faithful in Israel. You are attempting to destroy an important city<n id="1" /> in Israel. Why should you swallow up the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s inheritance?&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">The God of Israel spoke,p> <p class="poetry">the protector<n id="1" /> of Israel spoke to me.p> <p class="poetry">The one who rules fairly among men,p> <p class="poetry">the one who rules in the fear of God,p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s anger again raged against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, &#8220;Go count Israel and Judah.&#8221;<n id="1" />

<p class="poetry">The beauty<n id="1" /> of Israel lies slain on your high places!p> <p class="poetry">How the mighty have fallen!p>

<p class="bodytext">When the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they consolidated their forces.<n id="1" />

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

In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the real leader in Israel.<n id="1" /> The <sc>Lordsc> said to you, &#8216;You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over Israel.&#8217;&#8221;p>

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>

<p class="bodytext">So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke with them. (Now the Gibeonites were not descendants of Israel; they were a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had made a promise to<n id="1" /> them, but Saul tried to kill them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.)

<p class="bodytext">David asked him, &#8220;Where are you coming from?&#8221; He replied, &#8220;I have escaped from the camp of Israel.&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">When Ish-bosheth<n id="1" /> the son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he was very disheartened,<n id="2" /> and all Israel was afraid.

<t /><p class="bodytext">David again assembled<n id="1" /> all the best<n id="2" /> men in Israel, thirty thousand in number.

David and all Israel<n id="1" /> were bringing up the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>, shouting and blowing trumpets.<n id="2" />p>

David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people.<n id="1" />p>

<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" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now when Absalom and all the men<n id="1" /> of Israel arrived in Jerusalem,<n id="2" /> Ahithophel was with him.

<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile David had gone to Mahanaim, while Absalom and all the men of Israel had crossed the Jordan River.