2 Samuel 15:30

_AND DAVID WENT UP BY THE ASCENT OF MOUNT OLIVET, AND WEPT AS HE WENT UP, AND HAD HIS HEAD COVERED, AND HE WENT BAREFOOT: AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WAS WITH HIM COVERED EVERY MAN HIS HEAD, AND THEY WENT UP, WEEPING AS THEY WENT UP._ The ascent of mount Olivet - so called from its olive groves. Its situation is east of Jerusalem, from which it is separated by the valley of Jehoshaphat and the brook Kidron. Josephus reckons the distance at five stadia ('Antiquities,' b. 20:, ch. 6:), and Luke (Acts 1:12) says it was a Sabbath day's journey, namely, to the top. The same pathway over that mount has been followed ever since that memorable day. HAD HIS HEAD COVERED - with a mourning wrapper (cf. 2 Samuel 19:4;...

24-30 David is very careful for the safety of the ark. It is right to be more concerned for the church's prosperity than our own; to prefer the success of the gospel above our own wealth, credit, ease, and safety. Observe with what satisfaction and submission David speaks of the Divine disposal. It is our interest, as well as our duty, cheerfully to acquiesce in the will of God, whatever befalls us. Let us see God's hand in all events; and that we may not be afraid of what shall be, let us see all events in God's hand. David's sin was ever before him, Psalms 51:3; but never so plain, nor ever appearing so black as now. He never wept thus when Saul hunted him, but a wounded conscience makes troubles lie heavy, Psalms 38:4....

Verse 2 Samuel 15:30. _HAD HIS HEAD COVERED_] This was not only the attitude of a _mourner_, but even of a _culprit_; they usually had their heads covered when condemned. See the case of Haman. When the king had pronounced his condemnation, they immediately covered his face, and led him out to punishment; Esther 7:8. See also Quintus Curtius, De Philota, cap. vi.: _I, Lictor; caput obnubito_....

HIS HEAD COVERED - See the marginal references and Jeremiah 14:3; Ezekiel 24:17; the sign of deep mourning....

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 WENT UP BY THE ASCENT OF [MOUNT] OLIVET,.... So called from the olive trees that grew upon it, which is often mentioned in the New Testament, and where our Lord Jesus Christ, the antitype of David, often was, in his state of humiliation, Matthew 26:30, and from whence he ascended to heaven after his resurrection, Acts 1:12; it was about a mile from Jerusalem, to the east of it: AND WEPT AS HE WENT UP; thinking perhaps of the wickedness and rebellion of his son, of his own hard case, to be obliged to quit his metropolis and palace, and make his flight afoot; and perhaps also of his own sins, which were the cause of his calamities: AND HAD HIS HEAD COVERED; with his mantle, with which he enwraped himself as a mourner,...

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....

OLIVET. Name due to the Vulgate _Oliveti_ in Acts 1:12. WEPT. Compare Luke 19:41. HEAD COVERED. Symbol for self-condemnation. BAREFOOT. Symbol of mourning. Isaiah 20:2; Isaiah 20:4.Ezekiel 24:17....

Hushai commissioned to defeat Ahithophel 30. _the ascent of_mount _Olivet_ Lit. BY THE ASCENT OF OLIVES: the name _mount Olivet_is derived from _mons oliveti_in the Vulgate of Acts 1:12. The "mount of Olives" is the ridge which rises on the east of Jerusalem above the Kidron ravine, screening the city from the desert country beyond. With the exception of this touching scene, there is little of interest connected with the Mount of Olives in the O. T. On it, perhaps on the spot already consecrated for worship (2 Samuel 15:32), Solomon erected high places for the false gods of his foreign wives (1 Kings 11:7-8), which were desecrated long afterwards by Josiah ...