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Text -- 2 Samuel 15:1-23 (NET)
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Strongs On/Off
Context
Absalom Leads an Insurrection against David
15:1 Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses , as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard .
15:2 Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate . Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration , Absalom would call out to him, “What city are you from?” The person would answer , “I, your servant , am from one of the tribes of Israel .”
15:3 Absalom would then say to him, “Look , your claims are legitimate and appropriate . But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.”
15:4 Absalom would then say , “If only they would make me a judge in the land ! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement .”
15:5 When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him.
15:6 Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice . In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel .
15:7 After four years Absalom said to the king , “Let me go and repay my vow that I made to the Lord while I was in Hebron .
15:8 For I made this vow when I was living in Geshur in Aram : ‘If the Lord really does allow me to return to Jerusalem , I will serve the Lord .’”
15:9 The king replied to him, “Go in peace .” So Absalom got up and went to Hebron .
15:10 Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said , “When you hear the sound of the horn , you may assume that Absalom rules in Hebron .”
15:11 Now two hundred men had gone with Absalom from Jerusalem . Since they were invited , they went naively and were unaware of what Absalom was planning .
15:12 While he was offering sacrifices , Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite , David’s adviser , to come from his city , Giloh . The conspiracy was gaining momentum , and the people were starting to side with Absalom .
David Flees from Jerusalem
15:13 Then a messenger came to David and reported , “The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom !”
15:14 So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem , “Come on ! Let’s escape ! Otherwise no one will be delivered from Absalom ! Go immediately , or else he will quickly overtake us and bring disaster on us and kill the city’s residents with the sword .”
15:15 The king’s servants replied to the king , “We will do whatever our lord the king decides .”
15:16 So the king and all the members of his royal court set out on foot , though the king left behind ten concubines to attend to the palace .
15:17 The king and all the people set out on foot , pausing at a spot some distance away.
15:18 All his servants were leaving with him, along with all the Kerethites , all the Pelethites , and all the Gittites – some six hundred men who had come on foot from Gath . They were leaving with the king .
15:19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite , “Why should you come with us? Go back and stay with the new king , for you are a foreigner and an exile from your own country .
15:20 It seems like you arrived just yesterday . Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go . But as for you, go back and take your men with you. May genuine loyal love protect you!”
15:21 But Ittai replied to the king , “As surely as the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives , wherever my lord the king is , whether dead or alive , there I will be as well!”
15:22 So David said to Ittai , “Come along then.” So Ittai the Gittite went along , accompanied by all his men and all the dependents who were with him.
15:23 All the land was weeping loudly as all these people were leaving . As the king was crossing over the Kidron Valley , all the people were leaving on the road that leads to the desert .
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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Names, People and Places:
Dictionary Themes and Topics:
David |
Absalom |
Children |
JUDAH, KINGDOM OF |
Israel |
Rebellion |
Chronicles, Books of |
SAMUEL, BOOKS OF |
Ittai |
Ambition |
Usurpation |
PHILISTINES |
SOLOMON |
Electioneering |
DECISION |
Popularity |
Judge |
Candidate |
Gath |
LAW OF MOSES |
more
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> 2Sa 15:1; 2Sa 15:1; 2Sa 15:2; 2Sa 15:3; 2Sa 15:4; 2Sa 15:4; 2Sa 15:5; 2Sa 15:6; 2Sa 15:6; 2Sa 15:7; 2Sa 15:8; 2Sa 15:8; 2Sa 15:9; 2Sa 15:10; 2Sa 15:11; 2Sa 15:12; 2Sa 15:12; 2Sa 15:13; 2Sa 15:14; 2Sa 15:14; 2Sa 15:14; 2Sa 15:14; 2Sa 15:14; 2Sa 15:15; 2Sa 15:16; 2Sa 15:16; 2Sa 15:17; 2Sa 15:17; 2Sa 15:18; 2Sa 15:18; 2Sa 15:19; 2Sa 15:19; 2Sa 15:20; 2Sa 15:20; 2Sa 15:20; 2Sa 15:21; 2Sa 15:21; 2Sa 15:22; 2Sa 15:22; 2Sa 15:22; 2Sa 15:23; 2Sa 15:23; 2Sa 15:23
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NET Notes: 2Sa 15:5 Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
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NET Notes: 2Sa 15:7 The MT has here “forty,” but this is presumably a scribal error for “four.” The context will not tolerate a period of forty ye...
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NET Notes: 2Sa 15:8 For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
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NET Notes: 2Sa 15:9 Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
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NET Notes: 2Sa 15:12 Heb “Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, the adviser of David, from his city, from Giloh, while he was sacrificing.” It is not entir...
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NET Notes: 2Sa 15:15 Heb “according to all that my lord the king will choose, behold your servants!”
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