2 Samuel 15:22

_AND DAVID SAID TO ITTAI, GO AND PASS OVER. AND ITTAI THE GITTITE PASSED OVER, AND ALL HIS MEN, AND ALL THE LITTLE ONES THAT WERE WITH HIM._ Ittai ... pass over ... and all the little ones that were with him. It is characteristic of Oriental people that they carry their whole family along with them in all their migrations. These formed all the army of David. The monthly quota of militia were not in attendance, in consequence of the disorganized state of affairs. Perhaps he dispensed with them from suspicions of their fidelity....

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...

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 ITTAI, GO, AND PASS OVER,.... It being his resolution to abide with him, he urged him no more to depart, but bid him pass over the brook Kidron before him: AND ITTAI THE GITTITE PASSED OVER, AND ALL HIS MEN; the six hundred Gittites that were under his command: AND ALL THE LITTLE ONES THAT [WERE] WITH HIM; that belonged to him and his men, and no doubt their wives also....

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....

The fidelity of Ittai 19. _Ittai the Gittite_ A distinguished Philistine who had quite recently (2 Samuel 15:20) migrated from his home with his family and followers (2 Samuel 15:22) to enter David's service. From the fact that he shared the command of the army with Joab and Abishai (ch. 2 Samuel 18:2) it is clear that he must have been an experienced general. _return to thy place_ His new home in Jerusalem. This is the right rendering of the Hebrew text as it stands: but the order of the words is unusual, and both Sept. and Vulg. support a different reading: _Return and dwell with the king; for thou art a stranger and also an exile from thy place_. _with the king_ David's mea

_David's Flight._ 2 Samuel 15:14-28 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, 15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants _are ready to do_ whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. 16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, _which were_ concubines, to keep the house. 17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 18 And all his servants passed on beside him; all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the

THE REBELLION OF ABSALOM His party is so strong that David is obliged to flee from Jerusalem. He is joined by Ittai the Gittite, and by Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and by Hushai the Archite. The king, however, orders Zadok, Abiathar, and Hushai to return to Jerusalem....

DAVID, THE GREAT KING OF ISRAEL 2 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 15 ABSALOM MAKES A SECRET PLAN AGAINST KING DAVID V1 After this, Absalom got a *chariot and some horses. He also got 50 men who ran ahead of him. V2 Absalom used to get up early. He stood by the road that went to the gate of the city. If a person had a problem, that person sometimes went to the king. The king would be the judge. When someone went past Absalom he would say to them, ‘Which town do you come from?’ The man would answer, ‘Your servant is from one of the *tribes of *Israel.’ V3 Then Absalom would say to him, ‘Your situation is right. But the king does not have an assistant who can listen to you.’ V4 Then Absalom would say, ‘I wish that someone would appoint me as the judge of this nation. Then ever