151 As time went on, Absalom took to riding in a horse-drawn chariot, with fifty men running in front of him. 2 Early each morning he would take up his post beside the road at the city gate. When anyone showed up with a case to bring to the king for a decision, Absalom would call him over and say, "Where do you hail from?" And the answer would come, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel." 3 Then Absalom would say, "Look, you've got a strong case; but the king isn't going to listen to you." 4 Then he'd say, "Why doesn't someone make me a judge for this country? Anybody with a case could bring it to me and I'd settle things fair and square." 5 Whenever someone would treat him with special honor, he'd shrug it off and treat him like an equal, making him feel important. 6 Absalom did this to everyone who came to do business with the king and stole the hearts of everyone in Israel.
7 After four years of this, Absalom spoke to the king, "Let me go to Hebron to pay a vow that I made to God. 8 Your servant made a vow when I was living in Geshur in Aram saying, 'If God will bring me back to Jerusalem, I'll serve him with my life.'" 9 The king said, "Go with my blessing." And he got up and set off for Hebron. 10 Then Absalom sent undercover agents to all the tribes of Israel with the message, "When you hear the blast of the ram's horn trumpet, that's your signal: Shout, 'Absalom is king in Hebron!'" 11 Two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem. But they had been called together knowing nothing of the plot and made the trip innocently. 12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he managed also to involve Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's advisor, calling him away from his hometown of Giloh. The conspiracy grew powerful and Absalom's supporters multiplied.
13 Someone came to David with the report, "The whole country has taken up with Absalom!" 14 "Up and out of here!" called David to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem. "We've got to run for our lives or none of us will escape Absalom! Hurry, he's about to pull the city down around our ears and slaughter us all!" 15 The king's servants said, "Whatever our master, the king, says, we'll do; we're with you all the way!" 16 So the king and his entire household escaped on foot. The king left ten concubines behind to tend to the palace. 17 And so they left, step by step by step, and then paused at the last house 18 as the whole army passed by him - all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and the six hundred Gittites who had marched with him from Gath, went past.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:1-18
Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:1-6
(Read 2 Samuel 15:1-6)
David allows Absalom's pomp. Those parents know not what they do, who indulge a proud humour in their children: many young people are ruined by pride. And those commonly are most eager for authority who least understand its duties.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:7-12
(Read 2 Samuel 15:7-12)
See how willing tender parents are to believe the best concerning their children. But how easy and how wicked is it, for children to take advantage of good parents, and to deceive them with the show of religion! The principal men of Jerusalem joined Absalom's feast upon his sacrifice. Pious persons are glad to see others appear religious, and this gives occasion for deceptions. The policy of wicked men, and the subtlety of Satan, are exerted to draw good persons to countenance base designs.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:13-23
(Read 2 Samuel 15:13-23)
David determined to quit Jerusalem. He took this resolve, as a penitent submitting to the rod. Before unrighteous Absalom he could justify himself, and stand out; but before the righteous God he must condemn himself, and yield to his judgments. Thus he accepts the punishment of his sin. And good men, when they themselves suffer, are anxious that others should not be led to suffer with them. He compelled none; those whose hearts were with Absalom, to Absalom let them go, and so shall their doom be. Thus Christ enlists none but willing followers. David cannot bear to think that Ittai, a stranger and an exile, a proselyte and a new convert, who ought to be encouraged and made easy, should meet with hard usage. But such value has Ittai for David's wisdom and goodness, that he will not leave him. He is a friend indeed, who loves at all times, and will adhere to us in adversity. Let us cleave to the Son of David, with full purpose of heart, and neither life nor death shall separate us from his love.