2 Samuel 15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:4

Absalom said, moreover ,.... To the same persons, at the same time: oh that I were made judge in the land ; by which it appears that he had no office under the king; partly either because of his crime, and so not thought fit, and partly because he appeared to be an ambitious aspiring man, and so it was thought not safe to put him into any office: that every man that hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice ; at once, without any further trouble, or coming... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:5

And it was so , that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance ,.... To pay his respects, and bow to him, as being the king's son, a prince of the blood, and heir to the crown, as was supposed: he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him ; he put out his hand and shook hands with him, or took him about the neck and kissed him, and by this free, familiar, affable, and courteous manner, strangely won upon and gained the affections of the people, as follows. Fortunatus... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:6

And in this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment ,.... Told them there was none to be had, wished that he was in office to administer it to them, and behaved in the above loving manner towards them: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel ; got the affections of the people in a private and clandestine manner, and robbed the king of them, who had the best right unto them. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:7

And it came to pass after forty years ,.... Or four years; so long it was from the reconciliation of Absalom to David, as Josephus F6 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 9. sect. 1. says; and so read Theodoret on the place, the Syriac and Arabic versions: but some say it was either forty years from the time Israel first had a king; and which might be an era of reckoning with the Jews, as the era of Seleucidae was with the Greeks, on the like account; or from the time Saul slew the priests at Nob, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:8

For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria ,.... When at his grandfather's court there: saying, if the Lord will bring me again indeed to Jerusalem ; which he might be sincerely desirous of: then I will serve the Lord ; but it is a question whether he ever made a vow to this purpose, or concerned himself about serving the Lord; but it rather may be, this was a lie of his, now framed in order to get leave of the king to go to Hebron. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:9

And the king said unto him, go in peace ,.... He gave him leave to go, and wished happiness and prosperity might attend him: so he arose and went to Hebron ; with a company of men, whose number is after mentioned. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:10

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the land of Israel ,.... To sound the disposition of the people towards him, to insinuate things into their minds in favour of him, and to improve every opportunity of recommending him to their esteem and affections: saying, as soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet ; in any place; and which it is probable he employed men to sound in many places: then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron : which is the cause of the trumpet's sounding; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:11

And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called ,.... Invited by him to go with him and partake of his peace offerings, as the payment of his vow in Hebron; part of which was made a feast of for his friends, whomsoever he should think fit to invite, as he did to the number of two hundred, and for the entertainment of whom a large provision ought to be made; the Jews F8 Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 9. fol. 194. 4. have a tradition, that he had leave of his father... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:12

And Absalom sent for Ahithophel, the Gilonite, David's counsellor ,.... To advise with about this treasonable affair he was engaged in, and to get out of him David's secrets, who was reckoned the best counsellor in the land; and he might rather hope he would come to him, if he was the grandfather of Bathsheba, as say the Jews, 2 Samuel 11:3 ; since he might be disgusted with and resent David's adultery with Bathsheba his granddaughter, and the murder of her husband Uriah: him he sent for: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:13

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

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