And there came a messenger to David ,.... Perhaps one of the two hundred that went with Absalom, ignorant of his design; which, when discovered, he disapproved of, and got away from him, and came to David, and informed him how things were: saying, the hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom ; to make him king. read more
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem ,.... His courtiers and ministers of state, the officers of his household, as many of them as were with him in the city; for some of them very probably were in the country, as Ahithophel was, and some might be along with Absalom, whom he had invited to his peace offerings: arise, and let us flee ; it is much that a man of such courage and valour as David should be so intimidated at once as to make a flight as soon as... read more
The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom - It is very difficult to account for this general defection of the people. Several reasons are given: David was old or afflicted, and could not well attend to the administration of justice in the land. It does appear that the king did not attend to the affairs of state, and that there were no properly appointed judges in the land; see 2 Samuel 15:3 . Joab's power was overgrown; he was wicked and insolent,... read more
David said - Arise - let us flee - This, I believe, was the first time that David turned his back to his enemies. And why did he now flee? Jerusalem, far from not being in a state to sustain a siege, was so strong that even the blind and the lame were supposed to be a sufficient defense for the walls, see 2 Samuel 5:6 . And he had still with him his faithful Cherethites and Pelethites; besides six hundred faithful Gittites, who were perfectly willing to follow his fortunes. There... read more
David's flight from Jerusalem. "Arise! and let us flee" ( 2 Samuel 15:14 ). References : 1 . Leaving the palace, on receiving news from Hebron (after the harvest and vintage, 2 Samuel 16:1 ; 2 Samuel 17:28 ; Psalms 4:7 ). 2 . At "the Far House" (Beth-hammerhak), on the outskirts of the city ( 2 Samuel 15:17 ); and at "the olive tree in (on the road to) the wilderness of Judah" ( LXX .); the procession formed; Ittai the Gittite. 3 . Passing over the Kidron; the... read more
The facts are: 1 . David, being informed of the rising in favour of Absalom, calls upon his friends to flee from Jerusalem, in order to avoid its being smitten by a sudden attack. 2 . His servants being willing to go with him, he leads out his entire household, with the exception of a few to take care of the house. 3 . In his departure he is accompanied by his bodyguard, and the six hundred men which followed him from Garb. 4 . Observing Ittai in the company, he suggests that,... read more
Arise, and let us flee. The rebellion of Absalom, and David's humiliating flight, bring out all the better parts of the king's character, and set him once again before us as a man after God's own heart. For this period is richly illustrated by the psalms which were written under the pressure of this great affliction, and which are marked by firm confidence in God, and an assured sense of the Divine nearness and protection. Psalms 41:1-13 . shows how poignant was his anguish at Ahithophel's... read more
And smite the city - David’s kind nature induced him to spare Jerusalem the horrors of a siege, and the risk of being taken by assault. He had no standing army with which to resist this sudden attack from so unexpected a quarter. Possibly too he remembered Nathan’s prophecy 2 Samuel 12:10-12. read more
2 Samuel 15:13. There came a messenger to David It is probable some of the two hundred men who went innocently with Absalom from Jerusalem sent this messenger, who, however, did not go immediately on the first appearance of the conspiracy, but after it became manifest, through a great concourse of people openly thronging to him. read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:13-23
Here is, I. The notice brought to David of Absalom's rebellion, 2 Sam. 15:13. The matter was bad enough, and yet it seems to have been made worse to him (as such things commonly are) than really it was; for he was told that the hearts of the men of Israel (that is, the generality of them, at least the leading men) were after Absalom. But David was the more apt to believe it because now he could call to mind the arts that Absalom had used to inveigle them, and perhaps reflected upon it with... read more