2 Samuel 15: Absalom steals the hearts of Israel, and David leaves Jerusalem
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What happens?
Absalom gets a chariot, horses and fifty men to run before him, and stands by the gate, telling everyone who comes to the king for judgment that his case is good and right but no one from the king will hear him, and that he wishes he were judge; so he steals the hearts of the men of Israel. At the end of forty years he asks to go to Hebron to pay a vow, sends word through the tribes that when the trumpet sounds they are to say "Absalom is king in Hebron!", and David's counselor Ahithophel joins him. When David hears that the hearts of Israel are after Absalom, he leaves Jerusalem with his household and his servants, leaving ten concubines to keep the house; Ittai the Gittite insists on going with him. David sends Zadok and Abiathar back to the city with God's ark, goes up the Mount of Olives weeping with his head covered, prays that Ahithophel's counsel will be turned to foolishness, and sends his friend Hushai back to Jerusalem to defeat that counsel, and Absalom comes into Jerusalem.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. Absalom speaks to the men who come for judgment in verses 2 to 4, and a man answers him in verse 2. Absalom speaks to the king in verses 7 and 8, and in verse 8 he gives the words of his vow. The king answers in verse 9. Absalom's message to the tribes is in verse 10. A messenger speaks to David in verse 13. David speaks to his servants in verse 14, and they answer in verse 15. David and Ittai speak in verses 19 to 22. David speaks to Zadok in verses 25 to 28; in verse 26 what he says Yahweh might say is David's own words. David is told about Ahithophel in verse 31 and prays to Yahweh in the same verse. David speaks to Hushai in verses 33 to 36, and in verse 34 he gives the words Hushai is to say to Absalom. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1After this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him.
In plain English: After this, Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run ahead of him.
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2Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. When any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?” He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”
In plain English: Absalom would get up early and stand beside the road to the gate. When anyone had a case (this Bible: suit) to bring to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, "What city are you from?" He would answer, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."
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3Absalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you.”
In plain English: Absalom would say to him, "Look, your case is good and right, but there is no one from the king to hear you."
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4Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!”
In plain English: Absalom would also say, "If only I were made judge in the land! Then everyone who had a case or a dispute (this Bible: cause) could come to me, and I would see that he got justice."
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5It was so, that when any man came near to bow down to him, he stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him.
In plain English: And when anyone came near to bow down to him, he would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him.
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6Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
In plain English: Absalom did this to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
The Hebrew words: "Stole the hearts" is word for word "stole the heart". "Stole" is ganav, which the dictionary gives as "to thieve (literally or figuratively); by implication, to deceive". The same words, "stole the heart", are used in , where this Bible says "Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian".
What changes: Read as "stole the hearts", Absalom won the people's loyalty away from the king. Read with the dictionary's "to deceive", he fooled them. Either way, verses 2 to 5 tell what he did, and verse 13 says "the hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom".
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7At the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron.
In plain English: At the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go to Hebron and pay the vow I made to Yahweh.
Good to know: The Hebrew has "forty" (arba'im), and so does the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton): "after forty years". The text does not say what the forty years are counted from. gives David's whole reign as forty years.
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8For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.’”
In plain English: For your servant made a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram (this Bible: Syria): 'If Yahweh really brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.'"
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9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
In plain English: The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he got up and went to Hebron.
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10But 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 is king in Hebron!’”
In plain English: But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet (literally: the ram's horn), say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron!'"
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11Two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn’t know anything.
In plain English: Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They had been invited, and they went in all innocence (this Bible: in their simplicity), and they knew nothing.
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12Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.
In plain English: Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his town of Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept growing in number.
Good to know: Ahithophel is David's counselor. names "Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite" among David's mighty men, and calls Bathsheba "the daughter of Eliam". The text does not say whether these are the same Eliam. In verse 31 David prays that Ahithophel's counsel will be turned into foolishness, and in verse 34 he sends Hushai back to defeat it.
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13A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”
In plain English: A messenger came to David and said, "The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom."
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14David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise! Let’s flee, or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
In plain English: David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, "Get up! Let's flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry and go, or he will soon catch up with us, bring disaster down on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword."
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15The king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”
In plain English: The king's servants said to the king, "Look, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses."
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16The king went out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.
In plain English: So the king went out, with all his household following him (literally: at his feet). The king left ten women, concubines, to look after the house.
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17The king went out, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak.
In plain English: The king went out, with all the people following him (literally: at his feet), and they stopped at Beth Merhak (or: at the far house).
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18All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
In plain English: All his servants passed by beside him, and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had followed him (literally: come at his feet) from Gath, passed on ahead of the king.
The Hebrew words: "Cherethites" is Kerethi, which the dictionary gives as "a Kerethite or life-guardsman", and "Pelethites" is Pelethi, "a courier (collectively) or official messenger". This Bible prints them as names in all 9 verses that use the first word and in all 7 that use the second. says Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over them. "Gittites" are men of Gath, the Philistine city, and Ittai in verse 19 is one of them.
What changes: Read as the names of peoples, the Cherethites are a people of the coast: speaks of "the South of the Cherethites", and of "the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites", in a word against "the land of the Philistines". Read with the dictionary, the words name what these men did: guards and runners for the king. The text does not say which.
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19Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Return, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner and also an exile. Return to your own place.
In plain English: Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why are you going with us too? Go back and stay with the king, because you are a foreigner, and also an exile. Go back to your own place (or: you are an exile from your own place).
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20Whereas you came but yesterday, should I today make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you.”
In plain English: You came only yesterday. Should I make you wander about with us today, when I go wherever I can (literally: I go where I go)? Go back, and take your brothers back with you. May kindness and faithfulness (this Bible: mercy and truth) be with you."
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21Ittai answered the king and said, “As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king is, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there also.”
In plain English: But Ittai answered the king, "As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there too."
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22David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him.
In plain English: David said to Ittai, "Go on, cross over." So Ittai the Gittite crossed over, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.
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23All the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over. The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness.
In plain English: All the land (this Bible: country) wept aloud, and all the people crossed over. The king himself crossed the brook (or: valley) Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.
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24Behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down God’s ark; and Abiathar went up until all the people finished passing out of the city.
In plain English: Zadok came too, and all the Levites with him, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down God's ark, and Abiathar went up, until all the people had finished passing out of the city.
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25The king said to Zadok, “Carry God’s ark back into the city. If I find favor in Yahweh’s eyes, he will bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation;
In plain English: The king said to Zadok, "Carry God's ark back into the city. If I find favor in Yahweh's eyes, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place (this Bible: habitation).
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26but if he says, ‘I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”
In plain English: But if he says, 'I have no delight in you,' then here I am. Let him do to me whatever seems good to him."
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27The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
In plain English: The king also said to Zadok the priest, "Are you not a seer (or: Do you see)? Go back to the city in peace, you and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
The Hebrew words: "Aren't you a seer?" is word for word "the seer, you?" or "seeing, you?". "Seer" is from ra'ah, which the dictionary gives as "to see". says that "he who is now called a prophet was before called a seer".
What changes: Read as "Are you not a seer?", David calls Zadok a seer. Read as "Do you see?", David asks Zadok to see, that is, to understand. Either way, David sends him back to the city with the two sons, and in verse 28 he waits for word from them. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "Behold, thou shalt return to the city in peace".
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28Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
In plain English: Look, I will wait at the fords (or: the plains) of the wilderness until word comes from you to tell me."
The Hebrew words: The Hebrew letters here spell "at the fords" (avaroth, from a word the dictionary gives as "a crossing-place"). The STEPBible meaning reads it "in the desert plains" (aravoth), a word that differs by two letters changing places. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "in Araboth of the desert". In , where the same place is named, the Hebrew letters spell "plains", and this Bible again prints "the fords of the wilderness".
What changes: Read as "the fords", David waits at the river crossings. Read as "the plains", he waits in the flat desert land near the Jordan, which the dictionary gives for aravah: "the (generally) sterile valley of the Jordan". Either way, he waits there for word from Zadok and Abiathar.
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29Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried God’s ark to Jerusalem again; and they stayed there.
In plain English: So Zadok and Abiathar carried God's ark back to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.
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30David 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. All the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
In plain English: David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives (literally: of the olives), weeping as he went. His head was covered and he walked barefoot. All the people with him each covered his head, and they went up weeping as they went.
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31Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
In plain English: Someone told David, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." David said, "Yahweh, please turn the counsel (or: advice) of Ahithophel into foolishness."
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32When David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his tunic torn and earth on his head.
In plain English: When David came to the top, where people worshiped God (or: where he would worship God; literally: where he would bow down there to God), Hushai the Archite came to meet him, with his tunic torn and earth on his head.
Good to know: The Hebrew says word for word "where he would bow down there to God", and does not name the one who bowed down. The text does not name the place. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "as far as Ros, where he worshipped God".
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33David said to him, “If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me;
In plain English: David said to him, "If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.
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34but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant; then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’
In plain English: But if you go back to the city and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O king. I was your father's servant in the past, and now I will be your servant,' then you can defeat (or: break) Ahithophel's counsel for me.
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35Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
In plain English: Won't Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Whatever you hear from the king's house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
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36Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. Send to me everything that you shall hear by them.”
In plain English: Look, their two sons are there with them, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son. Send me everything you hear by them."
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37So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
In plain English: So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
The Hebrew word: "Friend" is re'eh, which the dictionary gives as "a (male) companion". lists "Ahithophel was the king's counselor. Hushai the Archite was the king's friend." So "friend" may be Hushai's title at court, or simply say that he was close to David. In verse 34 David sends him to Absalom to defeat Ahithophel's counsel.
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