Shmuel Bais 15:1

1 5 And it came to pass after this, that Avshalom prepared him merkavah and susim, and fifty ish to run before him.

Shmuel Bais 15:1 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 15:1

And it came to pass after this
After the reconciliation of David and Absalom, and the latter was admitted to court again:

that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses;
to make himself look grand and respectable among the people; perhaps he got these from his grandfather at Geshur in Syria:

and fifty men to run before him;
which added to his pomp and magnificence; and such great personages in later time have had; Nero the Roman emperor never went on a journey with less than a thousand calashes or chariots, and a great number of men that ran before him {c}: and this was tacitly setting himself up for king, at least preparing for it, as Adonijah afterwards did in the same way and manner, ( 1 Kings 1:5 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Suetonius in Vit. Neron. c. 30. Vid. Senecae, Ep. 87. & 123.

Shmuel Bais 15:1 In-Context

1 5 And it came to pass after this, that Avshalom prepared him merkavah and susim, and fifty ish to run before him.

2 And Avshalom rose up early, and stood beside the derech hasha’ar; and it was so, that when any ish that had a riv (lawsuit, complaint) came to HaMelech for mishpat, then Avshalom called unto him, and said, Of what town art thou? And he said, Thy eved is of one of the Shivtei Yisroel.

3 And Avshalom said unto him, See, thy case is tovim and right; but there is no man deputy of HaMelech to hear thee.

4 Avshalom said moreover, Oh that I were made Shofet in the land, that every ish which hath any riv or mishpat might come unto me, and I would bring him justice!

5 And it was so, that when any ish came near to him to prostrate himself before him, he put forth his yad, and took him, and kissed him.