2 Samuel 15:2
ESV
And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, "From what city are you?" And when he said, "Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,"
NIV
He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, "What town are you from?" He would answer, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."
NASB
And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the road to the gate; and when any man who had a lawsuit was to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call out to him and say, 'From what city are you?' And he would say, 'Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.'
CSB
He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for settlement, Absalom called out to him and asked, "What city are you from?" If he replied, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,"
NLT
He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe.
KJV
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.
NKJV
Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.”
What does 2 Samuel 15:2 mean?
Absalom spent two years carefully planning his revenge against Amnon (2 Samuel 13:23), three years waiting for the heat to die from his murder investigation (2 Samuel 13:37–38), and another two years living quietly in Jerusalem before his father agreed to reconcile (2 Samuel 14:28). Absalom is patient and strategic, and he knows now is the time to act.Restored to his father's good graces, Absalom takes advantage of his position as prince to ride around in a chariot with a guard of fifty men (2 Samuel 15:1). He sits at the city gates where people come to conduct business and legal affairs. As they enter, Absalom intercepts them. He convinces them David doesn't care about their little towns or their concerns, which is a lie (2 Samuel 8:15). He also claims that if he were king, he would give justice to everyone who deserves it (2 Samuel 15:3–4).
Absalom doesn't stop there. When a petitioner reaches out to pay him respect, Absalom again takes control of the narrative: takin the part of the submissive party and offering a kiss. The Israelites see Absalom as a humble, beautiful (2 Samuel 14:25), caring prince eager to promote justice and honor (2 Samuel 15:3–6). They see David as a king who doesn't have time for his people. Before long, Absalom has enough followers to help him take the crown.
The "way" of the gate or "beside the road to the gate" (NASB) is a space set aside next to the city entrance where elders and judges could hear petitions. Boaz went there to speak with Naomi's closer relative about Ruth (Ruth 4:1). Absalom isn't at the gate to David's residence, where royal court officials would be. Nor does he wait until the city elders have arrived. He goes early and controls the narrative of the men who come as soon as the gate is opened.
