8 Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth until now."
9 So the king got up and sat in the gateway. When the people were told, "The king is sitting in the gateway," they all came before him. Meanwhile, the Israelites fled to their homes.
10 All the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies, he saved us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom.
11 And Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"