Chapter Fifteen
The uprising of Absalom. The flight of David from Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 15:1. After this Absalom prepared for himself chariots and horses and fifty runners. After the death of Amnon, Absalom became the eldest son of the king, the most likely heir to his throne. There is nothing improbable in the supposition that the prospect of such a position played a far from insignificant role in his revenge against his brother Amnon. The further actions of Absalom had the aim of using the splendor of his retinue to make the strongest impression on the people, and by the ostentatious qualities of his character to attract to himself the hearts of all Israel (see 2 Sam 15:6).
2 Samuel 15:7. After forty years of David’s reign, Absalom said to the king: I will go and fulfill my vow, which I made to the Lord, in Hebron; “After forty years of David’s reign.” It is supposed that a scribal error has crept in here. Instead of “forty years of David’s reign” some read “four years” since Absalom’s return to Jerusalem (or, according to Josephus, since his complete reconciliation with his father (2 Sam 14:33)). In the Hebrew text the words “of David’s reign” are absent; Western commentators point out that they are also absent from the Syriac and Arabic texts (see G. Vlastov’s “Sacred Chronicle,” vol. IV, ed. 1893, p. 138, note).
2 Samuel 15:12. During the sacrifice, Absalom sent and summoned Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Gilo. And a strong conspiracy was formed, and people came together and multiplied around Absalom. “Gilo” is a city south of Hebron.
2 Samuel 15:17. And the king and all the people went on foot, and halted at Beth-Merhaq. “At Beth-Merhaq”; in the Greek text it is Ἐν οἴκω τῶ μακράν, i.e., at a distant dwelling. Philippson supposes it was a country house or villa. In the Russian text this name is left without translation as a proper name. Perhaps Beth-Merhaq was not only a villa, but an entire outskirts of the city, one of its “suburbs.”
2 Samuel 15:18. And all his servants walked on his sides, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came with him from Gath, walked before the king. “Cherethites” and “Pelethites.” See the note to 2 Sam 8:18. “Gittites” — a detachment of Gittite Philistines under the command of the Gittite Ittai, who served David.
2 Samuel 15:19. And the king said to Ittai the Gittite: why do you also go with us? Return and remain with that king; for you are a foreigner and came here from your place; “You are a foreigner and came here from your place” — to earn money; therefore go where it will be more profitable for you.
2 Samuel 15:23. And all the land wept with a loud voice. And all the people crossed over, and the king crossed over the brook Kidron; and all the people went [and the king] on the way toward the wilderness. “All the land... all the people,” that is, all who remained faithful to David.
2 Samuel 15:28. You see, I will wait at the plains of the wilderness until word comes to me from you. “At the plains of the wilderness” — by the river Jordan.
2 Samuel 15:31. They told David and said: Ahithophel also is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said: O Lord [my God!] bring to nothing the counsel of Ahithophel. The wise counsels of Ahithophel were valued as highly as if they were counsels of God himself (see 2 Sam 16:23).
2 Samuel 15:32. When David came to the summit of the mountain, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, met him with his garment torn and dust on his head. “Archite,” that is, a resident of the city of Archi, located between Bethel and Atarah.
2 Samuel 15:33. And David said to him: if you go with me, you will be a burden to me; “You will be a burden to me,” since the sight of your genuine grief will only oppress me.