2 Samuelchapter 15

A.Stealing the hearts of Israel at the gatevv. 1-6

1 Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him. 2 He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” 3 Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.” 4 And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.” 5 Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him. 6 Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

B.A vow at Hebron turns into a coronationvv. 7-12

7 After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD. 8 For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’” 9 “Go in peace,” said the king. So Absalom got up and went to Hebron. 10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’” 11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter. 12 While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.

C.Barefoot over Kidron: the king leaves his cityvv. 13-23

13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” 14 And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.” 15 The king’s servants replied, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.” 16 Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace. 17 So the king set out with all the people following him. He stopped at the last house, 18 and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath. 19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland. 20 In fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.” 21 But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!” 22 “March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. And as the king crossed the Kidron Valley, all the people also passed toward the way of the wilderness.

D.Carry back the ark — if I find favor he will bring me againvv. 24-29

24 Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had passed out of the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again. 26 But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan. 28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

E.Weeping up Olivet, and a friend sent back to spyvv. 30-37

30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went. 31 Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” 32 When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’ 35 Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report to them everything you hear from the king’s palace. 36 Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.” 37 So David’s friend Hushai arrived in Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.

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Chapter summary

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Absalom mounts a campaign in daylight: chariots and horses and fifty runners, standing beside the way of the gate, telling every litigant that his case is good but there is no man deputed of the king to hear him, and kissing whoever bows: 'so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel' (15:6). The revolt is proclaimed at Hebron, David's own counselor Ahithophel among the conspirators. David abandons Jerusalem to spare it, and the road out is a procession of loyalties: Ittai the Gittite refusing to leave; the priests turned back with the ark, because if I find favor he will bring me again; David weeping up Olivet barefoot; and one prayer sent ahead, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

History · Nathan, Gad — 2 Samuel overview

A. 1–6 Stealing the hearts of Israel at the gate
B. 7–12 A vow at Hebron turns into a coronation
C. 13–23 Barefoot over Kidron: the king leaves his city
D. 24–29 Carry back the ark — if I find favor he will bring me again
E. 30–37 Weeping up Olivet, and a friend sent back to spy

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

2 Samuel 176 verses
- 2 Samuel 17:1Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
- 2 Samuel 17:14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
- 2 Samuel 17:15So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have advised.
- 2 Samuel 17:16Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’”
- 2 Samuel 17:17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city.
- 2 Samuel 17:23When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
- Read 2 Samuel 17 →
2 Samuel 156 verses
- 2 Samuel 15:6Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
- 2 Samuel 15:20In fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.”
- 2 Samuel 15:23Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. And as the king crossed the Kidron Valley, all the people also passed toward the way of the wilderness.
- 2 Samuel 15:27The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.
- 2 Samuel 15:31Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
- 2 Samuel 15:34But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’
- Read 2 Samuel 15 →
2 Samuel 194 verses
- 2 Samuel 19:4But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
- 2 Samuel 19:9And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom.
- 2 Samuel 19:10But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”
- 2 Samuel 19:35I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?
- Read 2 Samuel 19 →
2 Samuel 164 verses
- 2 Samuel 16:2“Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”
- 2 Samuel 16:15Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
- 2 Samuel 16:16And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
- 2 Samuel 16:21Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”
- Read 2 Samuel 16 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Judges 93 verses
- Judges 9:1Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,
- Judges 9:3And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
- Judges 9:29If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”
- Read Judges 9 →
Psalms 32 verses
- Psalms 3:1O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!
- Psalms 3:3But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.
- Read Psalms 3 →
1 Kings 12 verses
- 1 Kings 1:5At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.
- 1 Kings 1:38Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.
- Read 1 Kings 1 →
Matthew 272 verses
- Matthew 27:1When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.
- Matthew 27:22“What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!”
- Read Matthew 27 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.