Absalom orchestrates a sophisticated political and psychological campaign to win the loyalty of the people. By exploiting vulnerabilities within the existing justice system, he carefully positions himself as the ideal alternative to the current leadership.
When an individual arrives seeking justice, Absalom immediately validates them, declaring that their claims are just and worthy of being argued [מצודת ציון]. Commentators differ on the exact nature of this interaction. Some explain that Absalom waits until he has heard the details of the dispute before expressing total support, assuring the citizen that their perspective is correct and that justice is firmly on their side [מצודת דוד]. Others suggest a more manipulative tactic, where Absalom offers this validation as guidance before even hearing the case. In this view, he is not issuing a verdict but providing legal advice, instructing the person to arrange their arguments carefully so they appear sound and just in court [אברבנאל].
Once he secures their trust, Absalom shifts to inciting the people against the government, claiming that no one from the king is available to listen to them. One approach views this as a direct criticism of how the system functions. Absalom argues that the king is simply too busy to pay attention to the ordinary citizen [ביאור שטיינזלץ] and has failed to appoint a capable, wise judge who can truly understand the complexities of their disputes [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. By voicing this complaint, Absalom masks his true desire to rebel, presenting himself merely as someone who wants to be appointed as a judge under his father to fix a broken system [אברבנאל].
Another perspective reveals a deeper critique specifically targeting King David's personal judicial methods. According to this view, whenever David faced a difficult case and could not determine the absolute truth, he would resolve the issue by paying the disputed amount out of his own pocket. Absalom frames this practice as a severe flaw, arguing that David is incapable of truly uncovering the truth. In contrast, Absalom promises that if he were the judge, he would dive deeply into the facts of every case, thoroughly investigate the matter, and ensure that the truly innocent party is rightfully vindicated [חומת אנך].