2 Samuel 15:1-18

Absalom's Conspiracy

1 Now it came about after * this that ¹Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him.

2 Absalom used to rise early and ²stand beside * the way to the gate; and when any man had a suit to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, "From what * city are you?" And he would say, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."

3 Then Absalom would say to him, "See, ³your claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part * of the king."

4 Moreover, Absalom would say, "⁴Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice."

5 And when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and ⁵kiss him.

6 In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; ⁶so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 Now it came about at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the LORD, in ⁷Hebron.

8 "For your servant ⁸vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, '⁹If the LORD shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.' "

9 The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose and went to Hebron.

10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, '¹⁰Absalom is king in Hebron.' "

11 Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, ¹¹who were invited and ¹²went innocently, and they did not know anything *.

12 And Absalom sent for ¹³Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city ¹⁴Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for ¹⁵the people increased continually with Absalom.

David Flees Jerusalem

13 Then a messenger came to David, saying, "¹⁶The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom."

14 David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "¹⁷Arise and let us flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Go in haste, or he will overtake us quickly and bring down calamity on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword."

15 Then the king's servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever * my lord the king chooses."

16 So the king went out and all his household with him. But ¹⁸the king left ten concubines to keep the house.

17 The king went out and all the people with him, and they stopped at the last house.

18 Now all his servants passed on beside * him, ¹⁹all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, ²⁰six hundred men who had come with him from Gath, passed on before the king.

2 Samuel 15:1-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 15

This chapter relates how that Absalom by various artful methods stole away the hearts of the people of Israel, 2Sa 15:1-6; that pretending a vow he had made, he got leave of the king to go to Hebron to perform it, 2Sa 15:7-9; where he formed a considerable conspiracy, 2Sa 15:10-12; 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, 2Sa 15:13-18; though he would have persuaded Ittai the Gittite to have returned, but could not prevail upon him, 2Sa 15:19-23; however, he sent back the priests and the Levites with the ark, lest any harm should come to that, 2Sa 15:24-29; 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, 2Sa 15:30,31; 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, 2Sa 15:32-37.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Kings 1:5
• 2. Ruth 4:1; 2 Samuel 19:8
• 3. Proverbs 12:2
• 4. Judges 9:29
• 5. 2 Samuel 14:33; 2 Samuel 20:9
• 6. Romans 16:18
• 7. 2 Samuel 3:2, 3
• 8. 2 Samuel 13:37, 38
• 9. Genesis 28:20, 21
• 10. 1 Kings 1:34; 2 Kings 9:13
• 11. 1 Samuel 9:13
• 12. 1 Samuel 22:15
• 13. 2 Samuel 15:31
• 14. Joshua 15:51
• 15. Psalms 3:1
• 16. Judges 9:3; 2 Samuel 15:6
• 17. 2 Samuel 12:11; Ps 3: title
• 18. 2 Samuel 16:21, 22
• 19. 2 Samuel 8:18
• 20. 1 Samuel 23:13; 1 Samuel 25:13; 1 Samuel 30:1, 9

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "words"
• [b]. Some ancient versions render "four"
• [c]. Lit "in their integrity"
• [d]. Lit "after"
• [e]. Lit "at his feet"
• [f]. Lit "at his feet"
• [g]. Lit "at his feet"