2 Samuel 15:11

11 With Ab'salom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited guests, and they went in their simplicity, and knew nothing.

2 Samuel 15:11 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 15:11

And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, [that
were] called
Invited by him to go with him and partake of his peace offerings, as the payment of his vow in Hebron; part of which was made a feast of for his friends, whomsoever he should think fit to invite, as he did to the number of two hundred, and for the entertainment of whom a large provision ought to be made; the Jews ^F8 have a tradition, that he had leave of his father only to invite two to go with him, and that he asked two more unknown to the first, and so on, two after two, until they amounted to two hundred:

and they went in their simplicity;
to partake of the feast of the peace offerings, to which they were invited; being quite harmless and upright in their intentions, having no thought of disloyalty and rebellion in their breasts:

and they knew not anything;
of an intended conspiracy; howbeit, doubtless many of them were drawn into it when got thither; and as these may be supposed to be some of the principal men of Jerusalem, it was a great weakening of David's interest, and laid a considerable foundation for Absalom to begin upon.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 9. fol. 194. 4.

2 Samuel 15:11 In-Context

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

10 But Ab'salom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, 'Ab'salom is king at Hebron!'"

11 With Ab'salom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited guests, and they went in their simplicity, and knew nothing.

12 And while Ab'salom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahith'ophel the Gi'lonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Ab'salom kept increasing.

13 And a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Ab'salom."