2 Samuel15
New King James Version
1 After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 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.”
3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.”
4 Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”
5 And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him.
6 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 Now it came to pass after forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the Lord.
8 For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’ ”
9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’ ”
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything.
12 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.
13 Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
14 So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.”
16 Then the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.
17 And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts.
18 Then all his servants passed before him; and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.
19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place.
20 In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go I know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.”
21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”
22 So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over.
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.
24 There was Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place.
26 But if He says thus: ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”
27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
29 Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.
30 So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.
31 Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
32 Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.
33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me.
34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.
35 And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”
37 So Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.
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2 Samuel 15Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Samuel 15. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Absalom's ambition. (1–6). His conspiracy. (7–12). David leaves Jerusalem. (13–23). David sends back the ark. (24–30). He prays against Ahithophel's counsel. (31–37).
vv1-6
David allows Absalom's pomp. Those parents know not what they do, who indulge a proud humour in their children: many young people are ruined by pride. And those commonly are most eager for authority who least understand its duties.
vv7-12
See how willing tender parents are to believe the best concerning their children. But how easy and how wicked is it, for children to take advantage of good parents, and to deceive them with the show of religion! The principal men of Jerusalem joined Absalom's feast upon his sacrifice. Pious persons are glad to see others appear religious, and this gives occasion for deceptions. The policy of wicked men, and the subtlety of Satan, are exerted to draw good persons to countenance base designs.
vv13-23
David determined to quit Jerusalem. He took this resolve, as a penitent submitting to the rod. Before unrighteous Absalom he could justify himself, and stand out; but before the righteous God he must condemn himself, and yield to his judgments. Thus he accepts the punishment of his sin. And good men, when they themselves suffer, are anxious that others should not be led to suffer with them. He compelled none; those whose hearts were with Absalom, to Absalom let them go, and so shall their doom be. Thus Christ enlists none but willing followers. David cannot bear to think that Ittai, a stranger and an exile, a proselyte and a new convert, who ought to be encouraged and made easy, should meet with hard usage. But such value has Ittai for David's wisdom and goodness, that he will not leave him. He is a friend indeed, who loves at all times, and will adhere to us in adversity. Let us cleave to the Son of David, with full purpose of heart, and neither life nor death shall separate us from his love.
Key Words
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
אֲבִישָׁלוֹם: Abshalom, a son of David; also (the fuller form) a later Israelite
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
מֶרְכָּבָה: a chariot
סוּס: a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight)
חֲמִשִּׁים: fifty
אִישׁ: a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
רוּץ: to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush)
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
שָׁכַם: literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning
Cross References
2 Samuel 15Ahithophel's betrayal of David directly foreshadows Judas's betrayal of the Son of David.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
David crossing the brook Kidron in rejection foreshadows Christ crossing Kidron to His agony in Gethsemane.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Adonijah mimics Absalom's royal presumption, preparing chariots, horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
David's personal prayer and lament composed specifically during his flight from Absalom.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Leaving ten concubines to keep the house directly prepares for the fulfillment of Nathan's judgment prophecy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Ahithophel counsels Absalom to go in unto David's concubines left behind to keep the house.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the Cherethites and Pelethites as David's loyal royal bodyguard from his early reign.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David refuses to treat the Ark as a superstitious talisman, unlike Israel at Aphek.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels Abimelech's demagoguery and self-promotion to steal power from legitimate authority.
Supported by Matthew Henry
One proposed epocha for the 'forty years' is David's original anointing by Samuel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms Absalom's mother was from Geshur, explaining his place of exile.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Zadok and Abiathar remain key intermediaries in Jerusalem, later carrying David's message to Judah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David ascends Mount Olivet weeping, where Christ later wept over Jerusalem's rejection.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Absalom's flattering, fair speeches illustrate those who deceive the hearts of the simple.
Supported by Matthew Henry
David echoes Eli's absolute resignation to the sovereign will and judgment of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry