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.... [ Continue Reading ]
FIFTY MEN TO RUN BEFORE HIM] Such runners have always formed part of royal state in the East: cp. 1 Kings 1:5; 1 Kings 18:46.... [ Continue Reading ]
ROSE] rather, 'used to rise,' and stand by the gate so as to meet all who went in or out.... [ Continue Reading ]
FORTY YEARS] This is obviously a mistake. Some versions read 'four.'... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SERVE THE LORD] i.e. by sacrifices and offerings (2 Samuel 15:12). Absalom may have remembered his father's device (1 Samuel 20:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT TO. HEBRON] Absalom probably hoped that the ancient capital, Hebron, would be jealous of Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED] i.e. invited to share in the festivities. They were probably men of influence and position.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE HE OFFERED SACRIFICES] This gave him an opportunity of conferring with Ahithophel without exciting remark: cp. 1 Samuel 16:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US FLEE] LXX adds 'lest the people come upon us.' David is taken completely by surprise, and mistrusts his subjects and his household.... [ Continue Reading ]
A PLACE THAT WAS FAR OFF] RV takes it as a proper name, 'Beth-merhak.'... [ Continue Reading ]
GITTITES] see on 1 Samuel 30:14. Ittai and his followers from Gath (Goliath's city) were now among David's staunchest followers.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE KING] i.e. with whoever chances to be king. As a foreigner Ittai had nothing to do with the internal quarrels of Israel. David generously suggests that he should keep them out of his own conflicts.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ABIATHAR WENT UP] These words are probably out of place. They are omitted in some MSS of the LXX, and look like a scribe's insertion.... [ Continue Reading ]
In spite of all his anxiety and misery, David's resignation and piety never waver.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Art not_ THOU A SEER? RETURN] LXX 'see, thou shalt return.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PLAIN OF THE WILDERNESS] The locality is that described in 2 Kings 25:5 as 'the plains of Jericho.' It was in the level plain of the Jordan valley and near the fords (2 Samuel 17:16).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE HE WORSHIPPED GOD] RV 'where God was worshipped.' Olivet was a well-known high-place: cp. 1 Kings 11:7; 1 Kings 11:8. THE ARCHITE] i.e. an inhabitant of Erech, a town on the southern frontier of Ephraim, between Bethel and Beth-horon.... [ Continue Reading ]