9. The king said to him, “Go in peace,” and he went off to Hebron.
10. Then Absalom sent agents throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “When you hear the sound of the horn, say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’”
11. Two hundred men had accompanied Absalom from Jerusalem. They had been invited and went in all innocence, knowing nothing.
12. Absalom also sent to Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, an invitation to come from his town, Giloh, for the sacrifices he was about to offer. So the conspiracy gained strength, and the people with Absalom increased in numbers.
13. An informant came to David with the report, “The Israelites have given their hearts to Absalom, and they are following him.”
14. At this, David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem: “Get up, let us flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Leave at once, or he will quickly overtake us, and then bring disaster upon us, and put the city to the sword.”
15. The king’s servants answered him, “Whatever our lord the king chooses to do, we are your servants.”
16. Then the king set out, accompanied by his entire household, except for ten concubines whom he left behind to care for the palace.