1 After this ^ait happened that Absalom ^bprovided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.  ‡

2 Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a ^alawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.”  ‡

3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your¹ case is good and right; but there is no² deputy of the king to hear you.”  ‡

4 Moreover Absalom would say, ^a“Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”  ‡