151 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
151 In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him.
151 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
151 As time went on, Absalom took to riding in a horse-drawn chariot, with fifty men running in front of him.
151 After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
151 After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him.
5 Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, "I will be king." So he got chariots and horses
5 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
5 At this time Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, puffed himself up saying, "I'm the next king!" He made quite a splash, with chariots and riders and fifty men to run ahead of him.
5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king"; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
5 About that time David's son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, "I will make myself king." So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him.
(Read 1 Kings 1:5-10)
Indulgent parents are often chastised with disobedient children, who are anxious to possess their estates. No worldly wisdom, nor experience, nor sacredness of character, can insure the continuance in any former course of those who remain under the power of self-love. But we may well wonder by what arts Joab and Abiathar could be drawn aside.
28 And it was so, when the king went into the house of the Lord, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber.
28 Whenever the king went to the Lord's temple, the guards bore the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom.
28 And as often as the king went into the house of the Lord, the guard carried them and brought them back to the guardroom.
28 Whenever the king went to God's Temple, the guards carried the shields but always returned them to the guardroom.
28 And whenever the king entered the house of the Lord, the guards carried them, then brought them back into the guardroom.
28 Whenever the king went to the Temple of the Lord, the guards would also take the shields and then return them to the guardroom.
(Read 1 Kings 14:21-31)
Here is no good said of Rehoboam, and much said to the disadvantage of his subjects. The abounding of the worst crimes, of the worst of the heathen, in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen for his temple and his worship, shows that nothing can mend the hearts of fallen men but the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit. On this alone may we depend; for this let us daily pray, in behalf of ourselves and all around us. The splendour of their temple, the pomp of their priesthood, and all the advantages with which their religion was attended, could not prevail to keep them close to it; nothing less than the pouring out the Spirit will keep God's Israel in their allegiance to him. Sin exposes, makes poor, and weakens any people. Shishak, king of Egypt, came and took away the treasures. Sin makes the gold become dim, changes the most fine gold, and turns it into brass.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:1
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.