2 Samuel 15:33

33 David said to him, "If you move on with me, you will be a burden to me,

2 Samuel 15:33 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 15:33

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 15:33 In-Context

31 Now David [was] told, "Ahithophel [was] among the conspirators with Absalom." Then David said, "Please frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel, O Yahweh."

32 It happened that as David [was] coming up to the summit where he used to worship God, suddenly Hushai the Arkite [was] there to meet him. His coat [was] torn and dirt [was] on his head.

33 David said to him, "If you move on with me, you will be a burden to me,

34 but if you want to return to the city and say to Absalom, 'I [am] your servant, O king. I used to be a servant of your father, but from then and now I [will be] your servant,' then you can frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel for me.

35 [Will] not Zadok and Abiathar the priests [be] with you there? It shall be that all the words you hear from the house of the king you shall tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests.