2 Samuel 15

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:25-26

David's resignation to the will of God. David's character shone most brightly amid the darkness of adversity—in the early struggles and perils, and in these later ones. In these verses we see his superiority to a superstitious dependence on the presence of the ark as ensuring the presence and aid of God. He was thus much in advance of the Israelites, elders and people alike, in the days of Eli ( 1 Samuel 4:3-5 ). We take the verses, however, as evidencing David's profound submission to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:26

Let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. David's answer is full, not only of devout resignation and trust in God, but is remarkable also for the absence of superstition. He feels that God will not judge him by any mere outward sign or privilege, but in truth and equity. If he deserves condemnation, he will not escape it by carrying the ark about with him. If, on the contrary, God accepts him, he will restore him to the enjoyment of his spiritual privileges, and bring him back to worship at... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:27

Art thou (not) a seer? Both the Authorized Version and the Revised Version evade the difficulty of this passage by inserting the word "not." It is one of the merits of the Revised Version that usually it does not take these liberties. But "Art thou a seer?" is meaningless; and the attempts, moreover, to show that Zadok was a seer fail entirely in proof. The receiving revelations by Urim and Thummim was a priestly, and not a prophetic, function. Without altering the text, the words may be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:28

In the plain of the wilderness. The Revised Version has "at the fords of the wilderness," that is, it rightly keeps to the written Hebrew text (the K'tib), while the Authorized Version adopts a conjecture of the Massorites (the K'ri). This conjecture is the substitution of arboth for abroth, and they have made the same alteration at 2 Samuel 17:16 . But the substitution is uncalled for and mischievous; for David would not halt indefinitely in the plain, the Arabah (of which Arboth is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:30

The ascent of mount Olivet; Hebrew, the ascent of the olive trees. The hill never was called Olivet, which is a word formed from the Latin mons oliveti, the mount of the olive grove. David had his head covered. This was a sign of grief among the Persians, Egyptians, and Romans, as well as the Hebrews (for whom see Ezekiel 24:17 ), it being originally a natural movement to conceal an outburst of tears. So we in great sorrow bury our faces in our hands. In this mark of mourning all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:30

David's tears or Olivet. 1 . What a scene of fallen greatness and bitter grief is here depicted! He who yesterday reigned in Jerusalem, as the anointed (Messiah) of Jehovah, is today a homeless fugitive ( 2 Samuel 15:20 ), toiling up the ascent of Olivet, in deep humiliation and undisguised sorrow, with head covered ( 2 Samuel 3:31 , 2 Samuel 3:32 ; 2 Samuel 19:4 ) and feet bare; accompanied by stern warriors and tender women and children, all, like himself, with covered heads... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:31

And one told David. The Hebrew literally is, and David told. But we cannot suppose that David had previously known of Ahithophel's defection. The text is evidently corrupt, and the Authorized Version gives the right sense. On hearing of the defection of a man so famous for practical sound judgment, David prays to God to frustrate his counsel, and the opportunity for devising means for this end quickly follows. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:31

( MOUNT OLIVET .) The counsel of Ahithophel. "Turn, I pray thee, the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness, O Jehovah." ( References: 2 Samuel 15:12 , 2 Samuel 15:34 ; 2 Samuel 16:15 , 2 Samuel 16:20-23 ; 2 Samuel 17:1-7 , 2 Samuel 17:15 , 2 Samuel 17:23 ; 1 Chronicles 27:33 .) While ascending the Mount of Olives, David received intelligence that his counsellor, Ahithophel the Gilonite, had gone over to Absalom. He was the wisest statesman in Israel, and nothing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:31-37

Prayer for Divine intervention. The facts are: 1 . David, hearing that Ahithophel was among the conspirators, prays that God would turn his counsel into foolishness. 2 . On reaching the top of the Mount of Olives, the aged Hushai expresses his desire to go with David into exile, but David declines his offer on account of his infirmities. 3 . On the other hand, David suggests that he can render him good service by returning to the city and living as a servant of Absalom, and he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:32

Where he worshipped God; more correctly, where God was worshipped, and so the Revised Version. The summit of the Mount of Olives was one of the many bamoth, or high places, situated on the top of hills, where, in the old Canaanitish time, men had worshipped their heathenish deities. They were still regarded as consecrated places, but the worship had now been transferred to Elohim, the true God. They continued to be hallowed spots, with Levitical priests to minister at them, until the... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:25-26

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:26

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:27

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:28

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:30

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:30

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:31

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:31

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:31-37

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:32

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