Absalom did this with every Israelite who came to the king for judgment, and so he won their loyalty.

A messenger reported to David, "The Israelites are pledging their loyalty to Absalom."

Human beings are all like a puff of breath; great and small alike are worthless. Put them on the scales, and they weigh nothing; they are lighter than a mere breath.

And all who heard were completely amazed. "How well he does everything!" they exclaimed. "He even causes the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak!"

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask, instead, that Pilate set Barabbas free for them.

They shouted back, "Crucify him!"