2 Samuel 15

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:17

And tarried in a place that was far off; Revised Version, in Beth-merhak. "The Far House"—so we may translate this proper name—was probably not a dwelling, but a pavilion overlooking the Kidron valley; and here David halted his household until all were assembled, and arrangements made for their journey. Here, too, the bodyguard would gather, and they would cross the Kidron only when everything was ready for their orderly progress. Confusion at such a time would breed a panic and invite an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:18

All the Gittites, air hundred men which came after him from Gath. The Septuagint reads "Gibborim," and without doubt these are the persons meant; but while they were styled Gibborim, the "mighties," for honour's sake, because of their prowess, they probably were popularly called David's Gittites, because they were the six hundred men who had formed his little army when he sought refuge with Achish, King of Gath (l Samuel 27:2; 30:9). They were not Philistines, but Israelites of desperate... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:19

Ittai the Gittite. Ittai was not one of the six hundred, though there was an Ittai among them, a Benjamite. He was a citizen of Gath, who had lately come ("yesterday," see 2 Samuel 15:20 ), with all his household of slaves and dependents, his clan, Hebrew, his taf —translated in 2 Samuel 15:22 his "little ones." He had evidently been a person of importance in his own country, whence he had been driven, perhaps by political troubles, and was now, therefore, an exile and a foreigner... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:19-22

( BETH - HAMMERHAK .) The devotedness of Ittai. "As Jehovah liveth," etc. ( 2 Samuel 15:21 ). In his flight from Jerusalem: 1 . David experienced much alleviation of his trouble; as in his flight from the court of Saul (nearly forty years before). He was not left alone ( 1 Samuel 22:1 , 1 Samuel 22:2 ). His "servants" gathered round him, and professed their readiness to follow him ( 2 Samuel 15:15 ). Halting with his household at "the Far House," he found himself... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:20

A farewell blessing. "Mercy and truth be with thee." Times of adversity are testing times. They try and make manifest the character both of the sufferer and of his friends. The base and the noble in men, their selfishness and their disinterestedness, their faithlessness and their fidelity, are revealed and heightened. David never appeared in better light (in all but, perhaps, courage) than at the fearful crisis when his son was usurping his throne and ready to take his life, and he himself... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:21

Ittai an example to Christians. It is interesting to find a Gentile, and he a Gittite, so attached to David, so devoted in duty to him, and so honoured as to have ( 2 Samuel 18:2 ) been entrusted with the command of one-third of the army in the battle with Absalom and his forces. The proposal of David ( 2 Samuel 15:19 , 2 Samuel 15:20 ) was generous and reasonable; but to Ittai's loyal spirit was quite inadmissible. He expresses his determination to cleave to David whether for life... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:22

All the little ones; Hebrew, all the taf; in 2 Samuel 15:20 called "his brethren," that is, all the relatives and dependents who had accompanied him in his exile. Their presence with him proves that he had entirely broken with the Philistines, and left his country for good. He may have taken this step for religious reasons, though his swearing by Jehovah ( 2 Samuel 15:21 ) does not prove it, as Achish did the same ( 1 Samuel 29:6 ); or Ittai, after the capture of Gath by David ( 2... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:23

All the country wept. This general lamentation proves that David was not really unpopular in Jerusalem, though it was there that Absalom had dazzled the people by his magnificence, and sought to win favour by his gracious ways. By the country the inhabitants are meant, who watched the king's departure; while the people are David's followers—his retinue and attendants. The brook Kidron. This is a winter torrent, dry during most of the year, but serving at the rainy seasons to carry off... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:23-29

( ACROSS THE KIDRON .) The ark restored to its place. "Carry back the ark of God to the city" ( 2 Samuel 15:25 ). Having crossed the Kidron ravine amidst the loud wailing of the people, and halted for a moment in the ascent of Olivet, David was met by Zadok (of the elder branch of the Aaronic family), with the Levites, carrying the ark ( 2 Samuel 6:1-23 .), and by Abiathar (a descendant of Eli, of the younger branch). The former had come to him at Hebron (about thirty years... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:24

And Abiathar went up. This rendering, though confirmed by the versions, is very unintelligible. Whither did Abiathar go up? And moreover it is said that he continued going up until all David's followers had passed out of the city. Another possible rendering is, "And Abiathar offered (sacrifices) until all the people had done passing out of the city." Passages quoted in proof that the verb may be so rendered without the addition of the word "sacrifice" are 1 Samuel 2:28 and 2 Samuel 24:22 ... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:17

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:18

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:19

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:19-22

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:20

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:21

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:22

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:23

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:23-29

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:24

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