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2 Samuel 15:14

in 2 Samuel 15

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.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

KJV

And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

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This verse in 2 Samuel 15

Commentary

7 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

David said - Arise - let us flee - This, I believe, was the first time that David turned his back to his enemies. And why did he now flee? Jerusalem, far from not being in a state to sustain a siege, was so strong that even the blind and the lame were supposed to be a sufficient defense for the walls, see 2Sa 5:6. And he had still with him his faithful Cherethites and Pelethites; besides six hundred faithful Gittites, who were perfectly willing to follow his fortunes.

This site's exposition

Arise and let us flee

on 2 Samuel 15:14-17

David decides at once, “Arise and let us flee”, before Absalom can “put the city to the sword”. He leaves ten concubines to keep the palace, a detail that returns at 16:22. The reigning king goes out with his household as an exile among his own people.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

Let us flee - For though the fort of Zion was strong, and he might have defended himself there; yet he had not laid in provisions for a long siege; and, if he had been once besieged there, Absalom would have got speedy possession of his whole kingdom; whereas if he marched abroad, he might raise a considerable army for his defense.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

"Now," thinks he, "the word of God begins to be fulfilled, and it is not for me to contend with it or fight against it; God is righteous and I submit." Before unrighteous Absalom he could justify himself and stand it out; but before the righteous God he must condemn himself and yield to his judgments.

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

proposed

Hebron - This place he chose as being an eminent city, and next to Jerusalem, the chief of the tribe of Judah, and the place where his father began his kingdom, which he took for a good omen. And where it is probable he had secured many friends. It was also at a convenient distance from Jerusalem.
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

And smite the city - David’s kind nature induced him to spare Jerusalem the horrors of a siege, and the risk of being taken by assault. He had no standing army with which to resist this sudden attack from so unexpected a quarter. Possibly too he remembered Nathan’s prophecy 2Sa 12:10-12.

The words behind it

29 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • דָּ֠וִדDavid

    davidH1732 →999 times

  • לְכָל־to all

    lekholH3605 →5413 times

  • עֲבָדָ֨יוservants his

    ʾavadavH5650 →799 times

  • אֲשֶׁר־who

    ʾasher-H834 →5497 times

  • אִתּ֤וֹ[were] with him

    ʾitoH854 →929 times

  • בִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙in Jerusalem

    virushalimH3389 →643 times

  • ק֣וּמוּarise

    kumuH6965 →628 times

  • וְנִבְרָ֔חָהso let us flee

    venivrachahH1272 →63 times

  • כִּ֛יfor

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • לֹא־not

    lo'-H3808 →5168 times

  • תִֽהְיֶה־it will belong

    tihyeh-H1961 →3559 times

  • לָּ֥נוּto <the> us

    lanu

  • פְלֵיטָ֖הan escape

    feleitahH6413 →

  • מִפְּנֵ֣יfrom before

    mipeneiH6440 →2123 times

  • אַבְשָׁל֑וֹםAbsalom

    ʾavshalomH53 →110 times

  • מַהֲר֣וּhurry

    maharuH4116 →68 times

  • לָלֶ֗כֶתto go

    lalekhetH1980 →1546 times

  • פֶּן־lest

    pen-H6435 →133 times

  • יְמַהֵ֤רhe should hurry

    yemaherH4116 →68 times

  • וְהִשִּׂגָ֙נוּ֙and he will overtake us

    vehisiganuH5381 →

  • וְהִדִּ֤יחַand he will thrust

    vehidiachH5080 →55 times

  • עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙on us

    ʾaleinuH5921 →5755 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • הָ֣רָעָ֔ה<the> calamity

    haraahH7451 →662 times

  • וְהִכָּ֥הand he will strike

    vehikahH5221 →499 times

  • הָעִ֖ירthe city

    hairH5892 →1090 times

  • לְפִי־to [the] mouth of

    lefi-H6310 →498 times

  • חָֽרֶב׃[the] sword

    charevH2719 →413 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

15 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Psalms 55:7How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah7 works2 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.5 works1 Samuel 23:26Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.3 worksPsalms 137:5–6If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function.2 worksPsalms 51:18In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.2 worksMatthew 11:12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.2 works
The other 9 cross-references, with their words ▾
Psalms 55:3–11at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.2 works2 Samuel 23:16–17So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD,2 worksLuke 10:15And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!2 worksEzekiel 46:18The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people by evicting them from their property. He is to provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people will be displaced from his property.’”2 works2 Samuel 12:11This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight.2 worksPsalms 3:1–8O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!2 works2 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 worksPsalms 55:5Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.2 worksPsalms 64:4ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Matthew 11:12

    From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.

    it leads to

    • Luke 16:16

      The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

    • Luke 13:24

      “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

    • Ephesians 6:11–13

      Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.

    • Philippians 2:12

      Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

    • John 6:27

      Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of…

  • Through

    Psalms 51:18

    In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 102:16

      For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.

    • Philippians 2:13

      For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

    • Zechariah 2:5

      For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.’”

Where this verse is studied

About 2 Samuel

David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
2 Samuel: the study guide →Read 2 Samuel 15 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and W. G. Blaikie, The Second Book of Samuel (Expositor's Bible).

Read on in 2 Samuel 15 →