2 Samuel 15
15
Absalom Leads an Insurrection against David
1 Some time later Absalom managed to acquire#tn Heb “acquired for himself.” a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.#tn Heb “to run ahead of him.” 2 Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, “What city are you from?” The person would answer, “I, your servant,#tn Heb “your servant.” So also in vv. 8, 15, 21. am from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3 Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate.#tn Heb “good and straight.” But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.” 4 Absalom would then say, “If only they would make me#tn Heb “Who will make me?” a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint#tn Heb “a complaint and a judgment.” The expression is a hendiadys. could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”
5 When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity. would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him. 6 Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty#tn Heb “stole the heart.” of the citizens#tn Heb “the men.” of Israel.
7 After four#tc The MT has here “forty,” but this is presumably a scribal error for “four.” The context will not tolerate a period of forty years prior to the rebellion of Absalom. The Lucianic Greek recension (τέσσαρα ἔτη, tessara ete), the Syriac Peshitta (’arba’ sanin), and Vulgate (post quattuor autem annos) in fact have the expected reading “four years.” Most English translations follow the versions in reading “four” here, although some (e.g. KJV, ASV, NASB, NKJV), following the MT, read “forty.” years Absalom said to the king, “Let me go and repay my vow that I made to the Lord while I was in Hebron. 8 For I made this vow#tn Heb “for your servant vowed a vow.” The formal court style of referring to one’s self in third person (“your servant”) has been translated here as first person for clarity. when I was living in Geshur in Aram: ‘If the Lord really does allow me to return to Jerusalem,#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. I will serve the Lord.’” 9 The king replied to him, “Go in peace.” So Absalom#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity. got up and went to Hebron.
10 Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said, “When you hear the sound of the horn, you may assume#tn Heb “say.” that Absalom rules in Hebron.” 11 Now two hundred men had gone with Absalom from Jerusalem. Since they were invited, they went naively and were unaware of what Absalom was planning.#tn Heb “being invited and going naively and they did not know anything.” 12 While he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s adviser,#tn Traditionally, “counselor,” but this term is more often associated with psychological counseling today, so “adviser” was used in the translation instead. to come from his city, Giloh.#tn Heb “Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, the adviser of David, from his city, from Giloh, while he was sacrificing.” It is not entirely clear who (Absalom or Ahithophel) was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom.
David Flees from Jerusalem
13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!”#tn Heb “the heart of the men of Israel is with Absalom.” 14 So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem,#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. “Come on!#tn Heb “Arise!” Let’s escape!#tn Heb “let’s flee.” Otherwise no one will be delivered from Absalom! Go immediately, or else he will quickly overtake us and bring#tn Heb “thrust.” disaster on us and kill the city’s residents with the sword.”#tn Heb “and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 The king’s servants replied to the king, “We will do whatever our lord the king decides.”#tn Heb “according to all that my lord the king will choose, behold your servants!”
16 So the king and all the members of his royal court#tn Heb “and all his house.” set out on foot, though the king left behind ten concubines#tn Heb “women, concubines.” to attend to the palace. 17 The king and all the people set out on foot, pausing#tn Heb “and they stood.” at a spot#tn Heb “house.” some distance away. 18 All his servants were leaving with him,#tn Heb “crossing over near his hand.” along with all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites – some six hundred men who had come on foot from Gath. They were leaving with#tn Heb “crossing over near the face of.” the king.
19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come with us? Go back and stay with the new#tn The word “new” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation to make it clear that David refers to Absalom, not himself. king, for you are a foreigner and an exile from your own country.#tn Heb “place.” 20 It seems like you arrived just yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men#tn Heb “brothers,” but see v. 22. with you. May genuine loyal love#tn Heb “loyal love and truth.” The expression is a hendiadys. protect#tn Heb “be with.” you!”
21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether dead or alive,#tn Heb “whether for death or for life.” there I#tn Heb “your servant.” will be as well!” 22 So David said to Ittai, “Come along then.”#tn Heb “Come and cross over.” So Ittai the Gittite went along,#tn Heb “crossed over.” accompanied by all his men and all the dependents#tn Heb “all the little ones.” who were with him.
23 All the land was weeping loudly#tn Heb “with a great voice.” as all these people were leaving.#tn Heb “crossing over.” As the king was crossing over the Kidron Valley, all the people were leaving#tn Heb “crossing near the face of.” on the road that leads to the desert. 24 Zadok and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. When they positioned the ark of God, Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving#tn Heb “crossing from.” the city.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back to the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s sight he will bring me back and enable me to see both it and his dwelling place again. 26 However, if he should say, ‘I do not take pleasure in you,’ then he will deal with me in a way that he considers appropriate.”#tn Heb “as [is] good in his eyes.”
27 The king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer?#tn The Greek tradition understands the Hebrew word as an imperative (“see”). Most Greek mss have ἴδετε (idete); the Lucianic recension has βλέπε (blepe). It could just as well be taken as a question: “Don’t you see what is happening?” The present translation takes the word as a question, with the implication that Zadok is a priest and not a prophet (i.e., “seer”) and therefore unable to know what the future holds. Go back to the city in peace! Your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan may go with you and Abiathar.#tn Heb “And Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, two of your sons, with you.” The pronominal suffix on the last word is plural, referring to Zadok and Abiathar. 28 Look, I will be waiting at the fords of the desert until word from you#tn The pronoun is plural, referring to Zadok and Abiathar. reaches me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there.
30 As David was going up the Mount of Olives, he was weeping as he went; his head was covered and his feet were bare. All the people who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David#tc The translation follows 4QSama, part of the Greek tradition, the Syriac Peshitta, Targum, and Vulgate uldavid in reading “and to David,” rather than MT וְדָוִד (vÿdavid, “and David”). As Driver points out, the Hebrew verb הִגִּיד (higgid, “he related”) never uses the accusative for the person to whom something is told (S. R. Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text and the Topography of the Books of Samuel, 316). had been told, “Ahithophel has sided with the conspirators who are with Absalom. So David prayed,#tn Heb “said.” “Make the advice of Ahithophel foolish, O Lord!”
32 When David reached the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite met him with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you leave#tn Heb “cross over.” with me you will be a burden to me. 34 But you will be able to counter the advice of Ahithophel if you go back to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king! Previously I was your father’s servant, and now I will be your servant.’ 35 Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you.#tn Heb “Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you?” The rhetorical question draws attention to the fact that Hushai will not be alone. Everything you hear in the king’s palace#tn Heb “from the house of the king.” you must tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Furthermore, their two sons are there with them, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You must send them to me with any information you hear.”#tn Heb “and you must send by their hand to me every word which you hear.” Both of the second person verb forms are plural with Zadok, Abiathar, and Hushai being the understood subjects.
37 So David’s friend Hushai arrived in the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.
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2 Samuel 15
15
Absalom Leads a Rebellion
1It happened afterward that Absalom made himself a chariot with horses and fifty men running before him. 2Absalom used to rise early in the morning, and he stood beside#Literally “on hand of” the road at the gate; anyone#Literally “every man” who had a legal dispute to bring to the king for judgment Absalom would call to him and say, “Where are you from?”#Literally “Where from this city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right, but for you there is no hearing with the king.” 4Then Absalom would say, “Oh, that someone would#Literally “Who will …?” appoint me as judge in the land, that anyone#Literally “every man” might come to me who had a legal dispute or a case, and I would give him justice.” 5It happened whenever anyone drew near to do obeisance to him, that he would stretch his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6Absalom did like this to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts#Hebrew “heart” of the people of Israel.
7It happened at the end of four#So LXX, followed by Syriac and Vulgate; MT has “forty” years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to Yahweh in Hebron, 8for your servant made a vow while I was staying in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If Yahweh will indeed let me return#Literally (following Qere) “If returning Yahweh will return me” to Jerusalem, then I will worship Yahweh.’ ” 9Then the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron. 10Then Absalom sent scouts throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “When you hear the sound of the trumpet, you shall shout ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’ ” 11Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom as invited guests, going in their innocence as they did not know anything. 12Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, the advisor of David, from his city Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. The conspiracy grew in strength,#Literally “became strong” and the people were going and increasing#Literally “many” with Absalom.
David Flees from Jerusalem
13Then the messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts#Hebrew “heart” of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14Then David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Get up and let us flee, for there will be no escape for us from Absalom! Hurry to go, otherwise he will come quickly and overtake us! And he will bring disaster on us and evil! He will attack the city with the edge of the sword!” 15Then the servants of the king said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king chooses, your servants are ready to act!”#Literally “here are your servants” 16The king went out with#Hebrew “and” all his household following him,#Literally “at his feet” but the king left behind ten concubines to look after the house. 17So the king went out with#Hebrew “and” all the people following him,#Literally “at his feet” and they stopped at the last house.#Literally “at the house of the distance” 18All his servants were passing by him:#Literally “on his hand” all of the Kerethites and all of the Pelethites and all of the Gittites—six hundred men who had followed him#Literally “who had come at his feet” from Gath—passing before the king.#Literally “on the face of the king” 19The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also coming with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner; moreover, you are an exile. You are far from your place.#Literally “You as far as your place” 20Yesterday when you came and today,#Literally “the day” I have caused you to wander by going with us. Now I am going to where I am going; return and let your brothers return. May loyal love and faithfulness be with you.” 21But Ittai answered the king and said, “As Yahweh lives#Literally “The life of Yahweh” and my lord the king lives,#Literally “the life of my lord the king” surely in the place wherever my lord the king shall be, if for death or if for life, surely there your servant will be.” 22Then David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over and all his men and all of the little children who were with him. 23All of the land was weeping with a loud voice as all the people were passing by and the king was crossing through the Wadi Kidron, and all the people were passing on the road to the wilderness.#Literally “on the face of the road with the wilderness”
The Priests Offer Sacrifices for David
24Suddenly Zadok was there, and all of the Levites with him, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people passed out of the city. 25The king said to Zadok, “Let the ark of God return to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yawheh, he will let me return and let me see him in his dwelling place. 26But if he says, ‘I take no pleasure in you,’ then I am ready.#Literally “here I am” Let him do to me that which is good in his eyes. 27Then the king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer? Return to the city in peace, with Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons with you. 28See, I am waiting at the fords of the wilderness until a word comes from you all to inform me.” 29So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and they remained there.
Hushai Offers to Serve King David
30Now David was going up on the Ascent of the Olives, weeping as he went,#Literally “going up and weeping” with his head covered and going barefoot. All the people who were with him each covered their head and wept as they went.#Literally “going up and weeping” 31Now David was told, “Ahithophel was among the conspirators with Absalom.” Then David said, “Please frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel, O Yahweh.” 32It happened that as David was coming up to the summit where he used to worship God, suddenly Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him. His coat was torn and dirt was on his head. 33David said to him, “If you move on with me, you will be a burden to me, 34but if you want to return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I am your servant, O king. I used to be a servant of your father, but from then and now I will be your servant,’ then you can frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be with you there? It shall be that all the words you hear from the house of the king you shall tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36Look, there with them are their two sons, Ahimaaz of Zadok and Jonathan of Abiathar. You shall send to me by means of them#Literally “by their hand” all the words that you hear.” 37So Hushai the friend of David came to the city as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.
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