2 Samuel 15:19-29

19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite,^[a] "Why are you also going with us? Go back and stay with the king since you're both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.

20 Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness."

21 But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, "As surely as the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!"

22 "March on," David replied to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and the children who were with him.

23 Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly while all the people were marching past. As the king was crossing the Kidron Valley, all the people were marching past on the road that leads to the desert.

24 Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered [sacrifices]^[b] until the people had finished marching past.

25 Then the king instructed Zadok, "Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the Lord's eyes, He will bring me back and allow me to see both it and its dwelling place.

26 However, if He should say, 'I do not delight in you,' then here I am-He can do with me whatever pleases Him."^[c]

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, "Look,^[d] return to the city in peace and your two sons with you: your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan.

28 Remember, I'll wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me."

29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

2 Samuel 15:19-29 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.

Footnotes

• [a] 2 Sm 18:2
• [b] Or Abiathar went up
• [c] Lit me what is good in His eyes
• [d] LXX; MT reads Are you a seer?