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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:34

But if thou return to the city ,.... To the city of Jerusalem, from whence it seems he came: and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king ; as he was by usurpation, and by the proclamation of the people with him. David directs him to address him thus, that he might have no suspicion of him, having been an old friend of his: as I have been thy father's servant hitherto ; perhaps in the character of a counsellor, as it should seem, since as such he was afterwards employed by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:35

And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests ?.... To assist in forming schemes directly opposite to Ahithophel's, or to whom he could communicate the secrets of Absalom's court: therefore it shall be that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house ; Absalom's, who had now, at possession of the house and palace of David: thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests ; to whom he might have recourse without suspicion, pretending he had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:36

Behold, they have there with them two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son , and Jonathan, Abiathar's son ,.... As in 2 Samuel 15:27 ; not that they were in the city with them, but they were near it, 2 Samuel 17:17 ; with whom they had a communication: and by whom ye shall send unto me everything that ye can hear ; that is, by the sons of the priests; he telling the priests how things were at court, and they sending their sons with messages to David; which was a good scheme to get... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:37

So Hushai David's friend came into the city ,.... The city of Jerusalem, by the direction and persuasion of David, and in obedience to him, in order to serve him to the uttermost: and Absalom came into Jerusalem : just at the same time; so that he knew not that Hushai had been out of it, and been with David, and which also appears from what he said to him, 2 Samuel 16:17 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 15

Absalom conspires against his father, and uses various methods to seduce the people from their allegiance to their king, 2 Samuel 15:1-4 . Under pretense of paying a vow at Hebron, he obtains leave from David to go thither; and, by emissaries sent through the land, prepares the people for revolt, 2 Samuel 15:7-11 . He gains over Ahithophel, David's counsellor, 2 Samuel 15:12 . David is informed of the general defection of the people; on which he, and his life-guards and friends, leave... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 15:1

Absalom prepared him chariots and horses - After all that has been said to prove that horses here mean horsemen, I think it most likely that the writer would have us to understand chariots drawn by horses; not by mules or such like cattle. Fifty men to run before him - Affecting in every respect the regal state by this establishment. Of this man Calmet collects the following character: "He was a bold, violent, revengeful, haughty, enterprising, magnificent, eloquent,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 15:6

So Absalom stole the hearts - His manner of doing this is circumstantially related above. He was thoroughly versed in the arts of the demagogue; and the common people, the vile mass, heard him gladly. He used the patriot's arguments, and was every thing of the kind, as far as promise could go. He found fault with men in power; and he only wanted their place, like all other pretended patriots, that he might act as they did, or worse. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 15:7

After forty years - There is no doubt that this reading is corrupt, though supported by the commonly printed Vulgate, the Septuagint, and the Chaldee. But the Syriac has arba shanin , Four years; the Arabic the same arba shinin , Four years; and Josephus has the same; so also the Sixtine edition of the Vulgate, and several MSS. of the same version. Theodoret also reads four, not forty; and most learned men are of opinion that ארבעים arbaim , Forty, is an error for אברע arba ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 15:8

While I abode at Geshur in Syria - Geshur, the country of Talmai, was certainly not in Syria, but lay on the south of Canaan, in or near Edom, as is evident from Judges 1:10 ; 1 Samuel 27:8 ; 2 Samuel 13:37 . Hence it is probable that ארם Aram, Syria, is a mistake for אדם Edom; ד daleth and ר resh being easily interchangeable. Edom is the reading both of the Syriac and Arabic. I will serve the Lord - Here he pretended to be a strict follower of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 15:10

Absalom sent spies - These persons were to go into every tribe; and the trumpet was to be blown as a signal for all to arise, and proclaim Absalom in every place. The trumpet was probably used as a kind of telegraph by the spies: trumpet exciting trumpet from place to place; so that, in a few minutes all Israel would hear the proclamation. read more

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