And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
Absalom would get up early and stand by the road near the city gate. Whenever someone came to see the king to settle a dispute, Absalom would call out to them and ask, 'What city are you from?' The person would answer, 'I'm from one of the tribes of Israel.'
Absalom is positioning himself strategically to intercept people seeking justice from his father King David, beginning his campaign to win their loyalty.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel, Absalom was King David's son who had been exiled after killing his half-brother Amnon but was later allowed to return to Jerusalem. He began a cunning rebellion against his father by positioning himself at the city gate, a public place where people gathered for legal disputes, to intercept those seeking justice from David. This tactic was designed to erode David's support by making Absalom appear as a more approachable and fair leader, ultimately fueling his bid for the throne.
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