2 Samuel 15:1

Absalom’s Conspiracy

1 In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him.

2 Samuel 15:1 in Other Translations

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

1 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

1 After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him.

1 As time went on, Absalom took to riding in a horse-drawn chariot, with fifty men running in front of him.

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

1 Soon after this, Absalom acquired a chariot, horses, and 50 men to run ahead of him.

1 After this, Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and 50 men to run before him.

1 Some time later, Absalom got a chariot and horses for himself. He also got 50 men to run in front of him.

2 Samuel 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.

2 Samuel 15:1 In-Context

1 In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him.

2 He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”

3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.”

4 And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”

5 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him.

Cross References

• 1. S 2 Samuel 12:11
• 2. S 1 Samuel 8:11; 1 Kings 1:5