2 Samuel 19:8

in the gate Where kings and rulers were accustomed to give audience to their subjects. See note on ch. 2 Samuel 15:2.

for Israel had fled The words should begin a new sentence, But Israel had fled, &c. Israel, that part of the nation which had followed Absalom, is contrasted with "the people," i.e. David's army. The sentence resumes the narrative from ch. 2 Samuel 18:17, and prepares the way for the account which follows.