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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:1-9
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.