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2 Samuel
Chapter Fifteen
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 15
This
chapter relates how that Absalom by various artful methods stole away the
hearts of the people of Israel
2 Samuel 15:1; that
pretending a vow he had made
he got leave of the king to go to Hebron to
perform it
2 Samuel 15:7;
where he formed a considerable conspiracy
2 Samuel 15:10; of
which David having information
thought it advisable to depart from Jerusalem
both for his own safety
and the good of the city
which he did with his
family
and guards
and much people
2 Samuel 15:13;
though he would have persuaded Ittai the Gittite to have returned
but could
not prevail upon him
2 Samuel 15:19;
however
he sent back the priests and the Levites with the ark
lest any harm
should come to that
2 Samuel 15:24; and
as he and the people went up the mount of Olives weeping
it was told him that
Ahithophel was among the conspirators
on which he put up a prayer that his
counsel might be infatuated
2 Samuel 15:30; and
Hushai the Archite coming to him at that juncture
he sent him back to
Jerusalem to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel
and to send him word by the
priests what he should hear there from time to time
2 Samuel 15:32.
2 Samuel 15:1 After
this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses
and
fifty men to run before him.
YLT
1And it cometh to pass
afterwards
that Absalom prepareth for himself a chariot
and horses
and fifty
men are running before him;
And it came to pass after this
.... After the
reconciliation of David and Absalom
and the latter was admitted to court
again:
that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses; to make
himself look grand and respectable among the people; perhaps he got these from
his grandfather at Geshur in Syria:
and fifty men to run before him; which added to his pomp
and magnificence; and such great personages in later time have had; Nero the
Roman emperor never went on a journey with less than a thousand calashes or
chariots
and a great number of men that ran before himF3Suetonius in
Vit. Neron. c. 30. Vid. Senecae
Ep. 87. & 123. : and this was tacitly
setting himself up for king
at least preparing for it
as Adonijah afterwards
did in the same way and manner
1 Kings 1:5.
2 Samuel 15:2 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.”
YLT
2and Absalom hath risen
early
and stood by the side of the way of the gate
and it cometh to pass
every man who hath a pleading to come unto the king for judgment
that Absalom
calleth unto him
and saith
`Of what city [art] thou?' and he saith
`Of one
of the tribes of Israel [is] thy servant.'
And Absalom rose up early
.... Every morning
to
show how diligent and industrious he should be
and closely apply himself to
business
was he in any office trader the king
and especially when he should
be king himself; this he did to ingratiate himself into the affections of the
people:
and stood beside the way of the gate; either of the
king's palace
so JosephusF4Antiqu. l. 7. c. 9. sect. 1.
or of the
city
where courts of judicature are held: the former seems most probable by
what follows:
and it was so
that when any man that had a controversy
came to the king for judgment; that had a controversy with another man on
any account
and came to the king to have it decided according to law
or the
rules of justice and equity:
then Absalom called unto him
and said
of what city art
thou? which question he asked
only to lead on to some further
discourse:
and he said
thy servant is of one of the tribes; that is
of
one of the cities of the tribes of Israel
and not of a city of another nation.
2 Samuel 15:3 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.”
YLT
3And Absalom saith unto him
`See
thy matters [are] good and straightforward -- and there is none
hearkening to thee from the king.'
And Absalom said unto him
.... After some further
talk
and finding he had a suit at law to bring on
and either seeing it drawn
up in writing
or hearing his account of it
at once declared
without hearing
the other party:
see
thy matters are good and right; thy cause is
a good cause
and if it could be heard by proper persons there is no doubt but
things would go on thy side
and thou wouldest carry thy cause:
but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee; the king is
grown old himself and his sons are negligent
and do not attend to business
and there are none besides them appointed to hear causes; and he suggested
as
appears by what follows
that he was not in commission
but if he was
or
should he appointed a judge
he would attend to business
and people should not
go away after this manner
without having justice administered unto them
2 Samuel 15:4 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.”
YLT
4And Absalom saith
`Who
doth make me a judge in the land
that unto me doth come every man who hath a
plea and judgment? -- then I have declared him righteous.'
Absalom said
moreover
.... To the same persons
at the same time:
oh that I were made judge in the land; by which it
appears that he had no office under the king; partly either because of his
crime
and so not thought fit
and partly because he appeared to be an
ambitious aspiring man
and so it was thought not safe to put him into any
office:
that every man that hath any suit or cause might come unto me
and
I would do him justice; at once
without any further trouble
or coming often
and in
vain
and to no purpose.
2 Samuel 15:5 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.
YLT
5And it hath come to pass
in the drawing nearing of any one to bow himself to him
that he hath put forth
his hand
and laid hold on him
and given a kiss to him;
And it was so
that when any man came nigh to him to
do him obeisance
.... To pay his respects
and bow to him
as being the king's
son
a prince of the blood
and heir to the crown
as was supposed:
he put forth his hand
and took him
and kissed him; he put out
his hand and shook hands with him
or took him about the neck and kissed him
and by this free
familiar
affable
and courteous manner
strangely won upon
and gained the affections of the people
as follows. Fortunatus SchacchusF5Eloeochrism.
Myrothec. l. 3. c. 34. Colossians 964. thinks he
put forth his hand to be kissed by them
and then kissed them
which was more
than was usual.
2 Samuel 15:6 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.
YLT
6and Absalom doth according
to this thing to all Israel who come in for judgment unto the king
and Absalom
stealeth the heart of the men of Israel.
And in this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king
for judgment
.... Told them there was none to be had
wished that he was in
office to administer it to them
and behaved in the above loving manner towards
them:
so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel; got the
affections of the people in a private and clandestine manner
and robbed the
king of them
who had the best right unto them.
2 Samuel 15:7 7 Now it came to pass after
forty[a] years that
Absalom said to the king
“Please
let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I
made to the Lord.
YLT
7And it cometh to pass
at
the end of forty years
that Absalom saith unto the king
`Let me go
I pray
thee
and I complete my vow
that I vowed to Jehovah in Hebron
And it came to pass after forty years
.... Or four
years; so long it was from the reconciliation of Absalom to David
as JosephusF6Antiqu.
l. 7. c. 9. sect. 1. says; and so read Theodoret on the place
the Syriac and
Arabic versions: but some say it was either forty years from the time Israel
first had a king; and which might be an era of reckoning with the Jews
as the
era of Seleucidae was with the Greeks
on the like account; or from the time
Saul slew the priests at Nob
as JeromF7Trad. Heb. in 2 lib. Reg.
fol. 78. M. ; or from the time of David's being anointed by Samuel; or this was
the year of Absalom's age
or of David's reign: but these
and other attempts
made to account for this passage
are not entirely satisfactory; and therefore
one may be tempted to conclude there must be a mistake in the copy
of
"arbaim" for "arba"
forty for four; which makes it quite
easy
and confirms the first sense:
that Absalom said unto the king
I pray thee
let me go and pay my
vow
which I have vowed unto the Lord
in Hebron; not what he
vowed in Hebron; for according to his own account he had vowed it in Geshur
as
in 2 Samuel 15:8; but
his request is
that he might pay it in Hebron; which place he fixed upon
being his native place
and where David was anointed king; and which
being
about twenty miles from Jerusalem
was at a proper distance to lay the scene of
his conspiracy in
and bring it to perfection.
2 Samuel 15:8 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.’”
YLT
8for a vow hath thy servant
vowed in my dwelling in Geshur
in Aram
saying
If Jehovah doth certainly
bring me back to Jerusalem
then I have served Jehovah.'
For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria
.... When at
his grandfather's court there:
saying
if the Lord will bring me again indeed to Jerusalem; which he
might be sincerely desirous of:
then I will serve the Lord; but it is a question
whether he ever made a vow to this purpose
or concerned himself about serving
the Lord; but it rather may be
this was a lie of his
now framed in order to
get leave of the king to go to Hebron.
2 Samuel 15:9 9 And the king said to him
“Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
YLT
9And the king saith to him
`Go in peace;' and he riseth and goeth to Hebron
And the king said unto him
go in peace
.... He gave
him leave to go
and wished happiness and prosperity might attend him:
so he arose and went to Hebron; with a company of men
whose number is after mentioned.
2 Samuel 15:10 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!’”
YLT
10and Absalom sendeth spies
through all the tribes of Israel
saying
`At your hearing the voice of the
trumpet
then ye have said
Absalom hath reigned in Hebron.'
But Absalom sent spies throughout all the land of Israel
.... To sound
the disposition of the people towards him
to insinuate things into their minds
in favour of him
and to improve every opportunity of recommending him to their
esteem and affections:
saying
as soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet; in any place;
and which it is probable he employed men to sound in many places:
then ye shall say
Absalom reigneth in Hebron: which is the
cause of the trumpet's sounding; and by this means they would learn how the
people stood affected to him
whether the news was grateful or not.
2 Samuel 15:11 11 And with Absalom went two
hundred men invited from Jerusalem
and they went along innocently and did not
know anything.
YLT
11And with Absalom have gone
two hundred men
out of Jerusalem
invited ones
and they are going in their
simplicity
and have not known anything;
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem
that
were called
.... Invited by him to go with him and partake of his peace
offerings
as the payment of his vow in Hebron; part of which was made a feast
of for his friends
whomsoever he should think fit to invite
as he did to the
number of two hundred
and for the entertainment of whom a large provision
ought to be made; the JewsF8Bemidbar Rabba
sect. 9. fol. 194. 4.
have a tradition
that he had leave of his father only to invite two to go with
him
and that he asked two more unknown to the first
and so on
two after two
until they amounted to two hundred:
and they went in their simplicity; to partake of the feast
of the peace offerings
to which they were invited; being quite harmless and
upright in their intentions
having no thought of disloyalty and rebellion in
their breasts:
and they knew not anything; of an intended
conspiracy; howbeit
doubtless many of them were drawn into it when got
thither; and as these may be supposed to be some of the principal men of
Jerusalem
it was a great weakening of David's interest
and laid a
considerable foundation for Absalom to begin upon.
2 Samuel 15:12 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.
YLT
12and Absalom sendeth
Ahithophel the Gilonite
a counsellor of David
out of his city
out of Gilo
in his sacrificing sacrifices; and the conspiracy is strong
and the people are
going and increasing with Absalom.
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel
the Gilonite
David's counsellor
.... To advise
with about this treasonable affair he was engaged in
and to get out of him
David's secrets
who was reckoned the best counsellor in the land; and he might
rather hope he would come to him
if he was the grandfather of Bathsheba
as
say the Jews
2 Samuel 11:3;
since he might be disgusted with and resent David's adultery with Bathsheba his
granddaughter
and the murder of her husband Uriah: him he sent for:
from his city
even from Giloh; a city in the
tribe of Judah
in the mountainous part of it
near to Hebron
where Absalom
now was; and
according to BuntingF9Travels
&c. p. 149.
twenty miles from Jerusalem
see Joshua 15:48
while he offered sacrifices; not Ahithophel
but
Absalom
his peace offerings at Hebron
to which he invited Ahithophel to come
and partake of:
and the conspiracy was strong; or there was a great
number in the conspiracy
who were assembled together:
for the people increased continually with Absalom; being drawn
to him by the comeliness of his person
his affable behaviour
the pomp and
magnificence in which he appeared
the great number of the principal
inhabitants of Jerusalem with him
and he the king's eldest son
and so heir to
the crown; whereas it might begin to be rumoured about
that David designed
Solomon
a son of Bathsheba
a young prince
to be his successor
which did not
meet with general approbation at first.
2 Samuel 15:13 13 Now a messenger came to
David
saying
“The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
YLT
13And he who is declaring
tidings cometh in unto David
saying
`The heart of the men of Israel hath been
after Absalom.'
And there came a messenger to David
.... Perhaps one of the
two hundred that went with Absalom
ignorant of his design; which
when
discovered
he disapproved of
and got away from him
and came to David
and
informed him how things were:
saying
the hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom; to make him
king.
2 Samuel 15:14 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.”
YLT
14And David saith to all his
servants who [are] with him in Jerusalem
`Rise
and we flee
for we have no
escape from the face of Absalom; haste to go
lest he hasten
and have
overtaken us
and forced on us evil
and smitten the city by the mouth of the
sword.'
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at
Jerusalem
.... His courtiers and ministers of state
the officers of his
household
as many of them as were with him in the city; for some of them very
probably were in the country
as Ahithophel was
and some might be along with
Absalom
whom he had invited to his peace offerings:
arise
and let us flee; it is much that a man of
such courage and valour as David should be so intimidated at once as to make a
flight as soon as he heard of a conspiracy forming against him:
for we shall not else escape from Absalom; his fears ran
so high
that he fancied he would be upon them presently:
make speed to depart
lest he overtake us suddenly; which still
more clearly shows the panic he was in:
and bring evil upon us; kill them
or make them
prisoners:
and smite the city with the edge of the sword; the
inhabitants of it
should they make resistance.
2 Samuel 15:15 15 And the king’s servants
said to the king
“We are your servants
ready to do whatever my
lord the king commands.”
YLT
15And the servants of the
king say unto the king
`According to all that my lord the king chooseth -- lo
thy servants [do].'
And the king's servants said unto the king
.... In answer
to him
and to show that they were quite conformable to his pleasure:
behold
thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the
king shalt appoint; or "choose"F11יבחר
"elegerit"
Pagninus
Montanus
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator.
whether to prepare to fight
and defend him and the city
or to depart and make
their escape.
2 Samuel 15:16 16 Then the king went out
with all his household after him. But the king left ten women
concubines
to
keep the house.
YLT
16And the king goeth out
and
all his household at his feet
and the king leaveth ten women -- concubines --
to keep the house.
And the king went forth
.... Which determined the
case:
and all his household after him family and his court; they followed
his example
and attended him in his flight:
and the king left ten women
which were concubines
to keep
the house; not to defend it
which they were unable to do
but to look
after the household goods and furniture
that they were not damaged by the
conspirators; though one would think they could be of little service
and may
wonder what he should leave them behind for; but this seems to be ordered by
the overruling providence of God
to bring about what was threatened him
2 Samuel 12:11; and
it is much he had not thought of it; but it was hid from his eyes
that it
might be fulfilled.
2 Samuel 15:17 17 And the king went out with
all the people after him
and stopped at the outskirts.
YLT
17And the king goeth out
and
all the people at his feet
and they stand still at the farthest off house.
And the king went forth
.... From Jerusalem;
which is repeated
that it might be observed in what a hurry and fright he was:
and all the people after him; his family
court
and
servants
and as many of the people of Jerusalem as chose to go with him:
and tarried at a place that was afar off; when they had
got at some distance from the city
they stopped and stayed a while; it could
not be a great way from it
for they had not as yet passed over the brook
Kidron
2 Samuel 15:23.
2 Samuel 15:18 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.
YLT
18And all his servants are
passing on at his side
and all the Cherethite
and all the Pelethite
and all
the Gittites
six hundred men who came at his feet from Gath
are passing on at
the front of the king.
And all his servants passed on beside him
.... Or at his
hand or side; his household servants walking perhaps some on one side of him
and some on the other
see 2 Samuel 16:6
and all the Cherethites
and all the Pelethites; which were his
bodyguards
see 2 Samuel 8:18
and all the Gittites
six hundred men which came after him from
Gath; which either came with him from Gath
when he conquered that
city
and took it out of the hands of the Philistines
2 Samuel 8:1;
compared with 1 Chronicles 18:1;
and who might become proselytes
and be incorporated into the commonwealth of
Israel
and into David's army
a troop of men
of which Ittai
after mentioned
was captain
2 Samuel 15:22; or
else these were Israelites
so called
because with David they sojourned in
Gath a while
when he fled from Saul; and so JosephusF12Ut supra
(Antiqu. l. 7. c. 9.) sect. 2. says
they were companions of him in his first
flight
when Saul was living; and this number is just the number of the men
that were with him at Gath
1 Samuel 27:2; and
it may be David kept a troop of men always of the same number
to whom he gave
this name in memory of them
having been a set of trusty and faithful men to
him: these
with the Cherethites and Pelethites:
passed on before the king: in this form and manner
David and his men marched in their flight.
2 Samuel 15:19 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.
YLT 19And the king saith unto
Ittai the Gittite
`Why dost thou go -- thou also -- with us? turn back -- and
abide with the king
for thou [art] a stranger
and also an exile thou -- to
thy place.
Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite
.... Who was
over the band of Gittites
the six hundred men
2 Samuel 15:22
wherefore goest thou also with us? one should think the
king should not have discouraged any from joining and following him
when his
numbers were not very large
and the in such fear on account of Absalom:
return to this place; to Jerusalem
where his
station was:
and abide with the king; with Absalom
who set
himself up for king
and whom the people perhaps had proclaimed as such in
Hebron
where the conspiracy began:
for thou art a stranger
and also an exile; not a native
of Israel
but of another nation
and at a distance from it
and therefore not
altogether under the same obligations to attend David in his troubles as others
were; and by this it seems that he was a Gittite by nation
whatever the six
hundred men were
and rather favours the first sense given of them in 2 Samuel 15:18.
2 Samuel 15:20 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.”
YLT
20Yesterday [is] thy coming
in
and to-day I move thee to go with us
and I am going on that which I am
going! -- turn back
and take back thy brethren with thee
-- kindness and
truth.'
Whereas thou camest but yesterday
.... From
Gath
or from an expedition he and his men had been on:
should I this day make thee
go up and down with us? wander up and
down from place to place with David
when he was but just come off a journey
weary and fatigued:
seeing I go whither I may; where it will be most
safe for me
I know not where; may be obliged to flee here and there
which
would be very inconvenient to Ittai in his circumstances:
return thou
and take back thy brethren; the six
hundred men under him
and whom David could ill spare at this time
and yet
consulting their ease
advises to return to Jerusalem with them:
mercy and truth be with thee; the Lord show mercy and
kindness to thee
in that thou hast shown favour and respect to me
and make
good all his promises to thee
who hast been true and faithful to me.
2 Samuel 15:21 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.”
YLT
21And Ittai answereth the
king and saith
`Jehovah liveth
and my lord the king liveth
surely in the
place where my lord the king is -- if for death
if for life
surely there is
thy servant.'
And Ittai answered the king
and said
.... With an
oath
as follows:
as the Lord liveth
and as
my lord the king liveth; which he took to confirm what he after says
and to put an end
to the debate between them:
surely
in what place my lord the king shall be
whether in death
or life
even there also will thy servant be; signifying that he would
attend him wherever he went
hazard his life in his cause
and live and die
with him.
2 Samuel 15:22 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.
YLT
22And David saith unto Ittai
`Go and pass over;' and Ittai the Gittite passeth over
and all his men
and
all the infants who [are] with him.
And David said unto Ittai
go
and pass over
.... It being
his resolution to abide with him
he urged him no more to depart
but bid him
pass over the brook Kidron before him:
and Ittai the Gittite passed over
and all his men; the six
hundred Gittites that were under his command:
and all the little ones that were with him; that belonged
to him and his men
and no doubt their wives also.
2 Samuel 15:23 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.
YLT
23And all the land are
weeping -- a great voice
and all the people are passing over; and the king is
passing over through the brook Kidron
and all the people are passing over on
the front of the way of the wilderness;
And all the country wept with a loud voice
.... The
people that came out of the country villages round about
upon the report of
the king's leaving Jerusalem
because of his son's conspiracy against him;
these wept when they saw him in the circumstances in which he was
obliged to
fly from a rebellious son:
and all the people passed over; the people that were
with David passed over Kidron
and so the Cherethites
and Pelethites:
the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron; this explains
what place it was they passed over
which is not before mentioned
but is
particularly named in the account of the king's passing over it; over which
same brook the Messiah
his antitype
passed a little before his sufferings and
death; of which brook; see Gill on John 18:1. It is
often by JosephusF13Antiqu. l. 8. c. 1. sect. 5. & l. 9. c. 7.
sect. 3. De Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 3. c. 4. sect. 2. c. 6. sect. 1.
called a valley
sometimes a brook
it having little water
except in winter;
Mr. MaundrellF14Journey from Aleppo
&c. p. 102. says
it ran
along the bottom of the valley of Jehoshaphat
a brook in the wintertime; but
without the least drop of water in it all the time
says he
we were in
Jerusalem; and so RelandF15Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 1. p. 294
351.
that in summertime it ceases to be a river
and has the name of a valley; and
Le Bruyn saysF16Voyage to the Levant
ch. 48. p. 188.
it is at
present dried up; it runs along the valley of Jehoshaphat
and is not above
three paces broad; it has no other but rain water
which flows from the
adjacent hills:
and all the people passed over to the way of the wilderness; which lay
between Jerusalem and Jericho.
2 Samuel 15:24 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.
YLT
24and lo
also Zadok
and all
the Levites with him
bearing the ark of the covenant of God
and they make the
ark of God firm
and Abiathar goeth up
till the completion of all the people
to pass over out of the city.
And
lo
Zadok also
.... The priest
as he is
called
2 Samuel 15:27
and all the Levites were with him: with Zadok
or with David
and indeed with both; but the former is rather meant here
being
the immediate antecedent:
bearing the ark of the covenant of God: these were
the Kohathite Levites
whose business it was to bear the ark when carried from
place to place
Numbers 3:31;
called the ark of the covenant
because the law which was the covenant between
God and the people
was put into it:
and they set down the ark of God: from off their
shoulders
on which they carried it:
and Abiathar went up; who was the high priest
and whose business it was to attend the ark
and inquire before it
as occasion
required; he went up very probably to the mount of Olives
later mentioned
2 Samuel 15:30
until all the people had done passing out of the city; for from the
top of that mountain he could see the city of Jerusalem
and the people as they
passed out of it
and observe when they were all come out
or however ceased
coming
and so knew when it was a proper time to march forward.
2 Samuel 15:25 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.
YLT
25And the king saith to
Zadok
`Take back the ark of God to the city; if I find grace in the eyes of
Jehovah
then He hath brought me back
and shewn me it and His habitation;
And the king said unto Zadok
carry back the ark of God into the
city
.... The reason of which is not easy to account for
since being
carried back it would fall into the hands of the conspirators; and now the
priests were with it to take care of it
and there might be occasion to inquire
at it before the Lord; but David thought it being a sacred thing would not be
violated by Absalom and his men
and that it would be safest in its own
habitation or tabernacle
which David had built for it; for
that the reason of
it should be
what Procopius Gazaeus suggests
cannot be given into
that he
could not bear to carry about him the law
which accused of adulteries and
murders:
if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord: if he will
appear for me
be on my side
and deliver me from those who have risen up
against me:
he will bring me again: to Jerusalem
and to his
palace there:
and show me both it and his habitation; the ark
and
the tabernacle he had erected for it
2 Samuel 6:17.
2 Samuel 15:26 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.”
YLT
26and if thus He say
I have
not delighted in thee; here [am] I
He doth to me as [is] good in His eyes.'
But if he thus say
I have no delight in thee
.... As a
king
or in his temporal prosperity
though he might and had delight in him as
a chosen vessel of salvation
as a saint and child of God
and in his spiritual
and everlasting welfare:
behold
here am I; his humble servant
ready to be
and do and suffer whatever is his pleasure:
let him do to me as seemeth good unto him; strip me of
all the ensigns of royalty
dispossess me of my crown and kingdom
and dispose
of me as seems good in his sight; who is a sovereign Being
and has a right to
do with his creatures what he pleases.
2 Samuel 15:27 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.
YLT
27And the king saith unto
Zadok the priest
`Art thou a seer? turn back to the city in peace
and Ahimaaz
thy son
and Jonathan son of Abiathar
your two sons with you;
And the king said unto Zadok the priest
art not thou a
seer?.... A prophet
as well as a priest; see 1 Samuel 9:9; or a
seeing
knowing
man; one that can penetrate into men and things
and so might
be of more service to David at Jerusalem than with him: wherefore he said to
him:
return into the city in peace; to the city of Jerusalem
with peace
quietness
and satisfaction of mind; where he doubted not
at least
hoped and wished
he would be in safety and prosperity
being one of the Lord's
priests:
and your two sons with you
Ahimaaz thy son
and Jonathan the son
of Abiathar; the one was of the line of Eleazar
and the other of the line of
Ithamar.
2 Samuel 15:28 28 See
I will wait in the
plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
YLT
28see ye
I am tarrying in
the plains of the wilderness till the coming in of a word from you to declare
to me.'
See
I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness
.... Towards
the way of which David and the people went when they came over Kidron
2 Samuel 15:23
until there come word from you to certify me; of the truth
of the conspiracy
of the number of the conspirators
and who they are
what
progress they have made
whether come to Jerusalem
and how they behave there
if come; or of anything relative hereunto he could get intelligence of.
2 Samuel 15:29 29 Therefore Zadok and
Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.
YLT
29And Zadok taketh back --
and Abiathar -- the ark of God to Jerusalem
and they abide there.
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to
Jerusalem
.... That is
ordered it to be carried
and took care that it was
carried
by the Kohathite Levites
and they themselves attended it:
and they tarried there; at Jerusalem; though
their two sons that went with them entered not into the city
but stayed at a
place called Enrogel
at some little distance from it
2 Samuel 17:17.
2 Samuel 15:30 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.
YLT
30And David is going up in
the ascent of the olives
going up and weeping
and he hath the head covered
and he is going barefooted
and all the people who [are] with him have covered
each his head
and have gone up
going up and weeping;
And David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet
.... So called
from the olive trees that grew upon it
which is often mentioned in the New
Testament
and where our Lord Jesus Christ
the antitype of David
often was
in his state of humiliation
Matthew 26:30
and
from whence he ascended to heaven after his resurrection
Acts 1:12; it was
about a mile from Jerusalem
to the east of it:
and wept as he went up; thinking perhaps of the
wickedness and rebellion of his son
of his own hard case
to be obliged to
quit his metropolis and palace
and make his flight afoot; and perhaps also of
his own sins
which were the cause of his calamities:
and had his head covered; with his mantle
with
which he enwraped himself as a mourner
2 Samuel 19:4; so
the Egyptians used to cover their heads in mourning
and the Romans in later
timesF17Vid. Solerium de Pileo
sect. 2. p. 14
19. ; so Megara in
sorrowful circumstances is represented as having her head covered with a
garmentF18Senec. Hercul. furens
act. 2. :
and he went barefoot; in token of mourning
also
and like one forlorn
and going into captivity
see Isaiah 20:2
and all the people that was with him covered every man his
head; as David did
and in imitation of him
and sympathizing with
him; and which was sometimes done when men were ashamed and confounded
Jeremiah 14:3
and they went up
weeping as they went up; the mount of
Olivet
grieved for their king
and the distresses and calamities that were
coming upon them.
2 Samuel 15:31 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!”
YLT
31and David declared
saying
`Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators with Absalom;' and David saith
`Make
foolish
I pray Thee
the counsel of Ahithophel
O Jehovah.'
And one told David
.... That came either
from Hebron or from Jerusalem:
Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom; Absalom sent
for him
and it seems he came to him
and continued with him
see 2 Samuel 15:12
and David said
O Lord
I pray thee
turn the counsel of
Ahithophel into foolishness; either suffer him to give foolish counsel
or confound the schemes projected by him
and let them not be carried into
execution; for God can
and sometimes does
disappoint crafty counsellors
that
they cannot perform what they devise
but they are taken in their own
craftiness
and their counsel is carried headlong
Job 5:12; this
prayer was answered
2 Samuel 17:14.
2 Samuel 15:32 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.
YLT
32And it cometh to pass
David hath come unto the top
where he boweth himself to God
and lo
to meet
him [is] Hushai the Archite
his coat rent
and earth on his head;
And it came to pass
that when David was come to the top of
the mount
.... Of the mount of Olives:
where he worshipped God; by prayer and praise;
here very probably he composed and sung the third psalm Psalm 3:1
which
as the title shows
was made when he fled from Absalom:
behold
Hushai the Archite came to meet him
with his coat rent
and earth upon his head; in token of mourning
and as a bringer of bad tidings
see 2 Samuel 1:2; perhaps
he was an inhabitant of Archi
at least originally
which lay on the borders of
the tribe of Ephraim
Joshua 16:2; from
whence he had his name.
2 Samuel 15:33 33 David said to him
“If you
go on with me
then you will become a burden to me.
YLT
33and David saith to him
`If
thou hast passed on with me then thou hast been on me for a burden
Unto whom David said
.... After he had heard
what he had to say
and what tidings he brought:
and if thou passest on with me; in his march and flight:
then thou shalt be a burden to me; being to be maintained
by him; and David having but scanty provisions
and so could not receive
useless persons
as Hushai might be
perhaps an old man
that could be of no
service to him
and unfit for travelling
and so would rather be an hinderance
than an help unto him.
2 Samuel 15:34 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.
YLT
34and if to the city thou
dost turn back
and hast said to Absalom
Thy servant I am
O king; servant of
thy father I [am] also hitherto
and now
I [am] also thy servant; then thou
hast made void for me the counsel of Ahithophel;
But if thou return to the city
.... To the city of
Jerusalem
from whence it seems he came:
and say unto Absalom
I will be thy servant
O king; as he was by
usurpation
and by the proclamation of the people with him. David directs him
to address him thus
that he might have no suspicion of him
having been an old
friend of his:
as I have been thy
father's servant hitherto; perhaps in the character of a counsellor
as it should seem
since as such he was afterwards employed by Absalom:
so will I now also be thy servant; in whatsoever
thou shall please to employ me under thee:
then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel; for being
taken into Absalom's service
and made one of his counsellors
he would be
privy to the advice of Ahithophel
and so be able to work against him.
2 Samuel 15:35 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.
YLT
35and are there not with thee
there Zadok and Abiathar the priests? and it hath been
the whole of the matter
that thou hearest from the house of the king thou dost declare to Zadok and to
Abiathar the priests.
And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the
priests?.... To assist in forming schemes directly opposite to
Ahithophel's
or to whom he could communicate the secrets of Absalom's court:
therefore it shall be that what thing soever thou shalt
hear out of the king's house; Absalom's
who had now
at possession of
the house and palace of David:
thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests; to whom he
might have recourse without suspicion
pretending he had business with them as
priests
on religious accounts
to offer sacrifices for him
&c.
2 Samuel 15:36 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.”
YLT
36Lo
there with them [are]
their two sons
Ahimaaz to Zadok
and Jonathan to Abiathar
and ye have sent by
their hand unto me anything that ye hear.'
Behold
they have there with them two sons
Ahimaaz
Zadok's son
and Jonathan
Abiathar's son
.... As in 2 Samuel 15:27; not
that they were in the city with them
but they were near it
2 Samuel 17:17;
with whom they had a communication:
and by whom ye shall send unto me everything that ye can hear; that is
by
the sons of the priests; he telling the priests how things were at court
and
they sending their sons with messages to David; which was a good scheme to get
intelligence
and easy to be put into execution.
2 Samuel 15:37 37 So Hushai
David’s friend
went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.
YLT
37And Hushai
David's friend
cometh in to the city
and Absalom cometh in to Jerusalem.
So Hushai David's friend came into the city
.... The city
of Jerusalem
by the direction and persuasion of David
and in obedience to
him
in order to serve him to the uttermost:
and Absalom came into Jerusalem: just at the same time;
so that he knew not that Hushai had been out of it
and been with David
and
which also appears from what he said to him
2 Samuel 16:17.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)