2 Samuel 16:15

_AND ABSALOM, AND ALL THE PEOPLE THE MEN OF ISRAEL, CAME TO JERUSALEM, AND AHITHOPHEL WITH HIM._ Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem. From Hebron they marched to the capital, of which, in its defenseless and deserted state, they obtained immediate possession, and there the usurper held his first council of war....

15-23 The wisest counsellors of that age were Ahithophel and Hushai: Absalom thinks himself sure of success, when he has both; on them he relies, and consults not the ark, though he had that with him. But miserable counsellors were they both. Hushai would never counsel him to do wisely. Ahithophel counselled him to do wickedly; and so did as effectually betray him, as he did, who was designedly false to him: for they that advise men to sin, certainly advise them to their hurt. After all, honesty is the best policy, and will be found so in the long run. Ahithophel gave wicked counsel to Absalom; to render himself so hateful to his father, that he would never be reconciled to him; this cursed policy was of the devil. How desperately wicked is the human heart!...

Verse 2 Samuel 16:15. _THE MEN OF ISRAEL_] These words are wanting in the _Chaldee, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate_, and _Arabic_, and in two of _Kennicott's_ and _De Rossi's_ MSS....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 16:1 ZIBA THE SERVANT OF MEPHIBOSHETH. It is the misfortune of troubled times like those in which David found himself, that unscrupulous men use them for selfish purposes. For those in danger have no time for careful examination, nor are their minds sufficiently calm for impartial judgment, but they act on first impressions, and catch at every straw. Ziba's present would naturally raise everybody's spirits, and be taken as a good omen; for it showed that David had adherents in unlikely quarters, when thus a servant of the house of Saul of his own accord brought so timely an offering. The asses saddled for riding contradict the idea that Ziba met David by chance as he was bringing the produce of the farm for the use of Mephibosheth's household. More probably the asses had been saddled for Mephibosheth's own use, and

AND ABSALOM, AND ALL THE PEOPLE, THE MEN OF ISRAEL, CAME TO JERUSALEM,.... At the same time that David and his people came to Bahurim; which, as Josephus z says, was a place near to Jerusalem; and, according to Bunting a, was little more than a mile from it; though elsewhere b he makes it three miles; so that had not David made the hasty flight he did, he had fallen into the hands of Absalom: AND AHITHOPHEL WITH HIM: a famous counsellor, and who had been of David's privy council, and chief in it, see 2 Samuel 15:12 and whom David refers to in Psalms 55:12. z Antiqu. l. 7. c. 9. sect. 4. a Travels, c. p. 144. b Ib. p. 150....

6. THE SORROWS AND TESTINGS OF THE KING CHAPTER 16 _ 1. Lying Ziba (2 Samuel 16:1)_ 2. Shimei curses and stones David (2 Samuel 16:5) 3. Absalom enters Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:15) 4. Ahitophel's wicked counsel (2 Samuel 16:20) Ziba in great craftiness meets the exiled king with provisions and acts as the false accuser of Mephibosheth. And David hastily puts all that belongs to Mephibosheth into his hands. Strange that David could believe in the falsehood of Ziba. How could one who was a helpless cripple aspire to possess a kingdom? Mephibosheth had been deceived ...

Soon after passing the summit of the Mt. of Olives David is met by Ziba, the servant of Meri-baal (2 Samuel 4:4), with a present of two asses laden with provisions. Ziba, representing that Meri-baal has turned traitor, obtains a grant of his property. 2 SAMUEL 16:5. At Bahurim, somewhere on the way to the Jordan, Shimei, a kinsman of Saul, follows David, uttering curses and throwing stones. David refuses to retaliate, feeling that his sufferings may move Yahweh to pity him. 2 SAMUEL 16:14. It is probable that the name of some place has dropped out. 1 Samuel 16:15 to...

Absalom's entrance into Jerusalem. Hushai's offer of his services 15. _And Absalom_, &c. The narrative of Absalom's proceedings is continued from ch. 2 Samuel 15:12; 2 Samuel 15:37. He seems to have entered Jerusalem soon after David left it, perhaps about noon on the same day. _the men of Israel_ The term _Israel_is constantly applied to Absalom's followers in this narrative. It is used in a general sense, and not to signify the northern tribes as distinguished from Judah, for the strength of the insurrection, originally at any rate, lay in the south. See note on ch. 2 Samuel 15:10. Those who remained faithful to David are never called _the men of Judah_, but simply the p

WHEN KING DAVID CAME TO BAHURIM, BEHOLD, THENCE CAME OUT—SHIMEI—AND CURSED.— This vile and calumnious treatment of Shimei was one of the severest trials of patience that ever human magnanimity endured. The accusation, 2 Samuel 16:8 was notoriously false, and the king for that reason could bear it the better. But his servants saw it not in the light of their master's equanimity, but of his enemy's insolence. Abishai, David's nephew, could not bear it, but begged the king's permission to _take off_ the traitor's _head_ that uttered it, 2 Samuel 16:9 which David absolutely refused; adding a rebuke to his refusal, 2 Samuel 16:10. _What have I to do with you,_ &c.?—So let him curse, because the Lord

_Absalom Ruling in Jerusalem._ 2 Samuel 16:15-23 15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king. 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, _Is_ this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? 18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. 19 And again, whom should I serve? _should_ I not _serve_ in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence. 20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do. 21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto th