Verse 2

Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him,“What city are you from?” The person would answer,“I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel.”

Referenced Verses

  • Exod 18:14 : 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said,“What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting by yourself, and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”
  • Exod 18:16 : 16 When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws.”
  • Exod 18:26 : 26 They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves.
  • Ruth 4:1 : 1 Boaz Settles the Matter Now Boaz went up to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth! Boaz said,“Come here, what’s-your-name, and sit down.” So he came and sat down.
  • 2 Sam 19:8 : 8 So the king got up and sat at the city gate. When all the people were informed that the king was sitting at the city gate, they all came before him.David Goes Back to JerusalemBut the Israelite soldiers had all fled to their own homes.
  • 1 Kgs 3:16-28 : 16 Solomon Demonstrates His Wisdom Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 One of the women said,“My master, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was with me in the house. 18 Then three days after I had my baby, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one else in the house except the two of us. 19 This woman’s child suffocated during the night when she rolled on top of him. 20 She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side, while your servant was sleeping. She put him in her arms, and put her dead son in my arms. 21 I got up in the morning to nurse my son, and there he was, dead! But when I examined him carefully in the morning, I realized it was not my baby.” 22 The other woman said,“No! My son is alive; your son is dead!” But the first woman replied,“No, your son is dead; my son is alive.” Each presented her case before the king. 23 The king said,“One says,‘My son is alive; your son is dead,’ while the other says,‘No, your son is dead; my son is alive.’” 24 The king ordered,“Get me a sword!” So they placed a sword before the king. 25 The king then said,“Cut the living child in two, and give half to one and half to the other!” 26 The real mother spoke up to the king, for her motherly instincts were aroused. She said,“My master, give her the living child! Whatever you do, don’t kill him!” But the other woman said,“Neither one of us will have him! Let them cut him in two!” 27 The king responded,“Give the first woman the living child; don’t kill him. She is the mother.” 28 When all Israel heard about the judicial decision which the king had rendered, they respected the king, for they realized that he possessed divine wisdom to make judicial decisions.
  • Job 24:14 : 14 Before daybreak the murderer rises up; he kills the poor and the needy; in the night he is like a thief.
  • Prov 4:16 : 16 For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble.
  • Matt 27:1 : 1 Jesus Brought Before Pilate When it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him.