Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
The king arose, and sat in the gate - appeared daily in the usual place for the hearing of causes.
All the people came before the king - i:e., the loyal natives who had been faithful to his government, and fought in his cause.
Israel had fled - i:e., the adherents of Absalom, who, on his defeat, had dispersed, and saved themselves by flight.