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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:7-12

We have here the breaking out of Absalom's rebellion, which he had long been contriving. It is said to be after forty years, 2 Sam. 15:7. But whence it is to be dated we are not told; not from David's beginning his reign, for then it would fall in the last year of his life, which is not probable; but either from his first anointing by Samuel seven years before, or rather (I think) from the people's desiring a king, and the first change of the government into a monarchy, which might be about... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:24-30

Here we have, I. The fidelity of the priests and Levites and their firm adherence to David and his interest. They knew David's great affection to them and their office, notwithstanding his failings. The method Absalom took to gain people's affections made no impression upon them; he had little religion in him, and therefore they steadily adhered to David. Zadok and Abiathar, and all the Levites, if he go, will accompany him, and take the ark with them, that, by it, they may ask counsel of God... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 15:31-37

Nothing, it seems, appeared to David more threatening in Absalom's plot than that Ahithophel was in it; for one good head, in such a design, is worth a thousand good hands. Absalom was himself no politician, but he had got one entirely in his interest that was, and would be the more dangerous because he had been all along acquainted with David's counsels and affairs; if therefore he can be baffled, Absalom is as good as routed and the head of the conspiracy cut off. This David endeavours to... 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

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