Meanwhile the alarm was carried to Jerusalem, to the king. David was suddenly aroused, to see rebellion breaking out close beside his throne. His own son--the son whom he had loved and trusted--had been planning to seize his crown and doubtless to take his life. In his great peril David shook off the depression that had so long rested upon him, and with the spirit of his earlier years he prepared to meet this terrible emergency. Absalom was mustering his forces at Hebron, only twenty miles away. The rebels would soon be at the gates of Jerusalem.

I mellemtiden fik kongen i Jerusalem meddelelse om oprøret. Det kom som et chok for David, at der var udbrudt oprør lige ved hans trone. Hans egen søn - den søn, som han havde elsket og stolet på - havde lagt planer om at fravriste ham kronen og ville uden tvivl også dræbe ham.