2 Samuel 15:21-31

21 And Ittai answered the king and said, "As the LORD liveth and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be."

22 And David said to Ittai, "Go, and pass over." And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over. The king also himself passed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness.

24 And lo, Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had passed out of the city.

25 And the king said unto Zadok, "Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I shall find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back, and show me both it and His habitation.

26 But if He thus say, `I have no delight in thee,' behold, here am I. Let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him."

27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, "Art not thou a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness until there come word from you to assure me."

29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem; and they tarried there.

30 And David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

31 And one told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O LORD, I pray Thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."

2 Samuel 15:21-31 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.