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 Sometimes he  would  exclaim  in  the  hearing  of  these  people: “O that  they  would  make  me  judge  over  the  land,  that  all  who have business  might  come  tome,  that  I might  do  them  justice!” Moreover when  any  man  came  to  salute  him,  he  put  forth  his hand and  took  him  and  kissed  him. Thus he  enticed  the  hearts of the  men  of  Israel.

When he  thought  he  had  gained  over  all  the  men  of  Israel to his  side,  he  asked  his  father  to  let  him  go  to  Hebron  in fulfilment  of  a vow. David, suspecting  no  evil,  allowed  his  son  to depart. And when  Absalom  had  reached  Hebron, he  sent messengers to  all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  telling  them  that  when  they heard the  sound  of  a trumpet,  they  should  say:  “Absalom  reigneth in Hebron.”  And  it  came  to  pass  that  many  of  the  people,  not knowing his  treachery,  followed  Absalom.

When David  heard  of  Absalom’s  revolt,  he  determined  to leave  the  city,  lest  the  citizens  should  suffer  on  his  account. And having left  the  city  with  his  attendants  he  came  to  the  brook Cedron, his  feet  bare  and  his  head  veiled. And crossing  the brook he  came  to  Mount  Olivet,  where  he  wept  for  the  guilt  of his  unnatural  son  and  for  his  own  sins. On the  side  of  Mount Olivet he  was  met  by  a man  named  Semei,  of  the  family  of Saul,  who  threw  stones  and  earth  at  David  and  cursed  him: “Come out,  come  out,  thou  man  of  blood.”  Abisai,  full  of  wrath, cried out:  “Why  should  this  dead  dog  curse  my  lord  the  king? I will go  and  cut  off  his  head.”  But  David  answered:  “Behold, my own  son  seeketh  my  life;  how  much  more  one  of  the  house of Saul! Perhaps the  Lord  may  look  upon  my  affliction  and  render me good  for  the  cursing  of  this  day.”  He  saw  the  hand  of  God in this  new  trial.