2 Samuel 15:14

_AND DAVID SAID UNTO ALL HIS SERVANTS THAT WERE WITH HIM AT JERUSALEM, ARISE, AND LET US FLEE; FOR WE SHALL NOT ELSE ESCAPE FROM ABSALOM: MAKE SPEED TO DEPART, LEST HE OVERTAKE US SUDDENLY, AND BRING EVIL UPON US, AND SMITE THE CITY WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD._ David said ... Arise and let us flee. David, anxious for the preservation of the city which he had beautified, and confiding in a greater support throughout the country, wisely resolved on leaving Jerusalem....

13-23 David determined to quit Jerusalem. He took this resolve, as a penitent submitting to the rod. Before unrighteous Absalom he could justify himself, and stand out; but before the righteous God he must condemn himself, and yield to his judgments. Thus he accepts the punishment of his sin. And good men, when they themselves suffer, are anxious that others should not be led to suffer with them. He compelled none; those whose hearts were with Absalom, to Absalom let them go, and so shall their doom be. Thus Christ enlists none but willing followers. David cannot bear to think that Ittai, a stranger and an exile, a proselyte and a new convert, who ought to be encouraged and made easy, should meet with hard usage. But such value has Ittai for David's wisdom and goodness, that he will not leave him. He is a friend indeed, who loves at all times, and will adhere to us in adversity. Let us...

Verse 2 Samuel 15:14. _DAVID SAID - ARISE - LET US FLEE_] This, I believe, was the first time that David turned his back to his enemies. And why did he now flee? Jerusalem, far from not being in a state to sustain a siege, was so strong that even the blind and the lame were supposed to be a sufficient defence for the walls, see 2 Samuel 5:6. And he had still with him his faithful _Cherethites_ and _Pelethites_; besides six hundred faithful Gittites, who were perfectly willing to follow his fortunes. There does not appear any reason why such a person, in such circumstances, should not act on the _defensive_; at least till he should be fully satisfied of the real complexion of affairs. But he appears to take all as _coming from the hand of_ _God_; therefore he humbles himself,...

AND SMITE THE CITY - David’s kind nature induced him to spare Jerusalem the horrors of a siege, and the risk of being taken by assault. He had no standing army with which to resist this sudden attack from so unexpected a quarter. Possibly too he remembered Nathan’s prophecy 2 Samuel 12:10....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 15:1 AFTER THIS. The Hebrew is a more precise phrase than that on which we have commented on 2 Samuel 10:1 and 2 Samuel 13:1, and implies that Absalom began his devices soon after obtaining his liberty. CHARIOTS AND HORSES; Hebrew, _a chariot and horses; _that is, a chariot for state occasions, in which Absalom rode, while fifty footmen ran at his side. Probably his grandfather Talmai practised similar magnificence at Geshur. In India it is still common for men of rank to be attended by runners on foot, who will keep up with horses or elephants for an incredible distance....

AND DAVID SAID UNTO ALL HIS SERVANTS THAT [WERE] WITH HIM AT JERUSALEM,.... His courtiers and ministers of state, the officers of his household, as many of them as were with him in the city; for some of them very probably were in the country, as Ahithophel was, and some might be along with Absalom, whom he had invited to his peace offerings: ARISE, AND LET US FLEE; it is much that a man of such courage and valour as David should be so intimidated at once as to make a flight as soon as he heard of a conspiracy forming against him: FOR WE SHALL NOT [ELSE] ESCAPE FROM ABSALOM; his fears ran so high, that he fancied he would be upon them presently: MAKE SPEED TO DEPART, LEST HE OVERTAKE US SUDDENLY; which still more clearly shows the panic he was in: AND BRING EVIL UPON US; kill them, or make them prisoners: AND SMITE THE CITY WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD; the inhabitants of it, shou

5. ABSALOM'S CONSPIRACY AND DAVID'S FLIGHT CHAPTER 15 _ 1. Absalom steals the hearts of the men of Israel (2 Samuel 15:1)_ 2. His conspiracy (2 Samuel 15:7) 3. The flight of the king (2 Samuel 15:13) The beautiful prince gradually prepared for the great conspiracy of which we read now and which made of his own father the Lord's anointed, an exile. Chariots and horses with fifty men to run before him won no doubt the admiration of the people. His evident interest in their welfare, kissing those who sought his presence and advice, endeared him still more to the men of Israel. To this must be added his open words, which must have quickly circulated among the people, “Oh, that

2 Samuel 15:1 to 2 Samuel 16:14. REVOLT OF ABSALOM. FLIGHT OF DAVID (J). 2 Samuel 15:1. Absalom makes himself popular by professing an interest in the litigation of the people. 2 SAMUEL 15:7. After four years (so read with Syr. and some texts of LXX), having obtained the king's permission on a false pretext, Absalom goes to Hebron and organises revolt. 2 SAMUEL 15:12. GILOH: Joshua 15:51....

EVIL. Hebrew. App-44. CITY. Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Subject), for its inhabitants. App-6....

Absalom's Rebellion For the Psalms illustrative of this period see Introd. ch. VIII. § 6, p. 48....