2 Samuel 15

1 Some time [after this, afterwards] later, Absalom [son of King David] provided for himself a chariot [vehicle, carriage] with horses [swallow, chariot horses] and fifty [a quantity of fifty] men [individuals, males] to run [rush, move quickly] ahead of him [before his face, in his presence]. word study 2 He would get up early [at the break of dawn, to rise with the sun] and stand beside the road [way, path, or journey] leading to the city gate [entrance, doorway, or access point]. Whenever anyone had a grievance [controversy, dispute, or quarrel] to bring before the king [ruler, judge, or sovereign] for a decision [judgment, verdict, or ruling], Absalom would call out [cry out, shout, or summon] and ask, “What city [town, village, or community] are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant [slave, bondman, or attendant] is from one of the tribes [clans, families, or groups] of Israel [God’s chosen people, the Israelites],” word study 3 Absalom would say [to those who came to him], “Look [see, behold], your claims [matters, causes] are good [right, just, pleasant] and right [straightforward, upright], but the king [the ruler, the monarch] has no deputy [no man deputed, no one appointed] to hear [listen to, give a hearing to] you.” word study 4 And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me [as a ruler or leader] judge [to govern or vindicate] in the land [the country or territory], then everyone with a [serious or legitimate] grievance [dispute or quarrel] or dispute [strife or controversy] could come to me, and I would give him [declare him righteous or] justice [a fair and righteous decision].” word study 5 Also, when anyone [a man, an individual] approached [came near, drew near] to bow down [to do obeisance, to show respect] to him, Absalom would reach out his hand [his open hand], take hold of him [and took him, to seize or conquer], and kiss him [to touch, to equip with affection]. word study 6 Absalom [the son of King David] did this [in this manner, similarly] to all [every single one] the Israelites [descendants of Jacob] who came [approached, drew near] to the king [the ruler, monarch] for justice [judgment, righteous verdicts] [to have their cause judged, to be heard]. In this way [by these actions, thus] he stole [secretly took, deceived] the hearts [minds, emotions, inner beings] of the men [individuals, people] of Israel [God’s chosen people]. word study 7 After [at the end of] four [forty] years had passed, Absalom [a son of King David] said to the king, “Please [I pray thee] let me go to Hebron [a city in Palestine] to fulfill [pay, complete] a vow [a promise made to God] I have made [vowed] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study 8 For your servant [a humble bondservant] made a vow [a solemn promise, a commitment to God] while dwelling [living, residing] in Geshur [a region in Aram, a district in Syria] of Aram [the land of the Arameans, Syria], saying: ‘If indeed [truly, certainly] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] brings me back [returns, restores] to Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Palestine], I will worship [serve, honor] the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God] in Hebron [a city in Judah, a place of worship].’ ” word study 9 “Go [in harmony, with God’s blessing] in peace [shalom, completeness and wellness],” said the king [the ruler, King David]. So Absalom got up [rose, stood] and went [traveled, journeyed] to Hebron [the city of alliance, a place of covenant]. word study 10 Then Absalom [a son of King David, seeking to overthrow his father] sent spies [secret messengers, to gather information and wait for a signal] throughout the tribes [all the clans, families] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] with this message: “When you hear [listen, pay attention to] the sound [voice, noise] of the horn [trumpet, a ram’s horn used for signaling], you are to say [proclaim, declare], ‘Absalom [the usurper, seeking to reign] reigns [rules, has dominion] in Hebron [a city in Judah, a place of significance]!’” word study 11 Two hundred [a multitude of] men from Jerusalem [the city of peace] accompanied Absalom [a son of King David]. They had been invited [called, summoned] as guests [innocent participants] and they went along innocently [in their simplicity, without knowledge of the plot], for they knew [were aware of, understood] nothing [no thing, not any matter] about the matter [the affair, the situation]. word study 12 While Absalom [the son of King David, Abi] was offering the sacrifices [to slaughter an animal, usually for a religious offering], he sent for Ahithophel [my brother is foolish, a counselor] the Gilonite [an inhabitant of Giloh], David’s counselor [to advise, give guidance], to come from his hometown [city, a place with a wall] of Giloh. So the conspiracy [an unlawful alliance, a plot] gained strength [became mighty, courageous], and Absalom’s following [the people, a nation] kept increasing [growing, becoming more numerous]. word study 13 Then a messenger [one who declares tidings] came to David [the king of Israel] and reported [to tell, to declare openly], “The hearts [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] of the men [individuals, male persons] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob] are [exist, come into being] with [after, towards] Absalom [the son of King David].” word study 14 And David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] said to all the servants [officials, attendants] with him in Jerusalem [the city of peace], “Arise [rise up, stand] and let us flee [escape, run away], or we will not escape [survive, be delivered] from Absalom [David’s son, a rebel]! We must leave [depart, go away] quickly [hasten, make speed], or he will soon overtake [catch up, pursue] us, heap [bring, inflict] disaster [evil, calamity] on us, and put [strike, smite] the city [town, community] to the sword [edge of the sword, by violence].” word study 15 The king’s [royal, sovereign] servants replied, “Whatever [all that, everything] our lord [master, ruler] the king decides [chooses, appoints], we are your [faithful, loyal] servants [slaves, attendants].” word study 16 Then the king [the monarch, ruler] set out, and his entire household [all his family and servants] followed him. But he left behind [forsook, abandoned] ten concubines [women, wives, but not fully married] to take care [to keep, watch over, protect] of the palace [the royal house, dwelling place]. word study 17 So the king [ruler, monarch] set out [to come out] with all [everything, the entire nation] the people [a nation] following him [at his feet]. He stopped [to stand, to stay] at the last house [Beth-merchak, a place far off, remote], word study 18 and all [every single one, the entire group] his servants [attendants, those who serve] marched past him—all [every one of] the Cherethites [foreign bodyguards, executioners] and Pelethites [messengers, couriers], and six hundred Gittites [men from Gath, Philistine warriors] who had followed [come after, accompanied] him from Gath [the city of winepress, a major Philistine city]. word study 19 Then the king [ruler, monarch] said to Ittai the Gittite [a person from Gath, a foreigner], “Why should you [as a foreigner, an exile] also go with us? Go back [return, turn back] and stay [dwell, abide] with the new king [the ruler who has taken my place], since you are [by nature, in fact] both a foreigner [a stranger, not native to this land] and an exile [one who has been banished, forced to leave your homeland] from your homeland [your native land, place of origin]. word study 20 In fact, you arrived only yesterday [a short time ago]; should I make you wander around [go up and down, roam] with us today while I do not know [am uncertain, unaware] where I am going [walking, journeying]? Go back [return, turn back] and take your brothers [male siblings, close relatives] with you. May the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] show you [demonstrate, bestow upon you] loving devotion [kindness, mercy] and faithfulness [truth, stability]. ” word study 21 But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] lives, and as my lord [master, ruler] the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be [in any situation or location], whether it means life [physical existence, spiritual vitality] or death [separation from God, eternal punishment], there will your servant [one who serves, a bondslave] be!” word study 22 “March on then [go and pass over, come and cross],” said David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] to Ittai [a powerful warrior, with me]. So Ittai the Gittite [a person from Gath, a city in Palestine] marched past [crossed over, transitioned] with all [everything, every single one] his men [male persons, individuals] and all [every single one] the little ones [children, families] who were with [near, in close relationship] him. word study 23 Everyone [all the people, the entire nation] in the countryside was weeping [with a loud voice, in grief and sorrow] loudly as all the people passed by. And as the king [the ruler, King David] crossed the Kidron Valley [a brook near Jerusalem, a significant location], all the people also passed toward the way [the path, the road] of the wilderness [the desert, a desolate place]. word study 24 Zadok [also the high priest] was also there, and all [every single one] the Levites with [in close proximity to] him were carrying [lifting, bearing] the ark [a sacred chest] of the covenant [a solemn agreement, promise] of God [Elohim, the one supreme God]. And they set down [placed, rested] the ark of God, and Abiathar [the faithful priest] offered sacrifices [prayerful offerings] until [as far as, till] the people [a nation, community] had passed [crossed over, transitioned] out of the city [a town, settlement]. word study 25 Then the king [ruler, monarch] said to Zadok [the high priest], “Return [bring back, restore] the ark [chest, sacred container] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] to the city [town, urban settlement]. If I find [discover, attain] favor [graciousness, kindness] in the eyes [sight, gaze] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], He will bring me back [return, restore me] and let me see [look upon, behold] both it [the ark] and His dwelling place [tabernacle, sacred home] again [once more, anew]. word study 26 But if He should say [thus, in this manner], ‘I do not delight [take pleasure, find joy] in you [have no pleasure, be displeased with],’ then here I am [behold, look!]; let Him do [make, bring about] to me whatever [that which, all that] seems good [is pleasing, is acceptable] to Him [in His eyes, according to His will].” word study 27 The king [ruler, monarch] also said to Zadok [a righteous and faithful priest] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship], “Are you not a seer [one who sees and understands spiritual things, a prophet]? Return [to turn back, to go back] to the city [a place of dwelling, a community] in peace [completeness, wellness, and friendship, shalom]—you with your son [descendant, offspring] Ahimaaz [my brother is anger], and Abiathar [a faithful follower of God] with his son [descendant, offspring] Jonathan [Jehovah has given]. word study 28 See [behold, look], I [the speaker, David] will wait [tarry, linger] at the fords [crossing-places, shallow points] of the wilderness [desert, open field] until word [a message, news] comes from you [with you, together] to inform [certify, tell] me [declare to me, make known].” word study 29 So Zadok [a high priest, righteous] and Abiathar [a faithful follower] returned [to turn back] the ark [a sacred chest] of God [Elohim, the supreme deity] to Jerusalem [the city of peace] and stayed [to dwell, remain] there [in that place]. word study 30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives [an olive tree, an olive berry], weeping [in sorrow and grief] as he went up. His head was covered [in mourning and humility], and he was walking barefoot [as a sign of humility and repentance]. And all the people with him covered their heads [in respect and mourning] and went up, weeping [in sorrow and lamentation] as they went. word study 31 Now someone told [informed, declared to] David: “Ahithophel [my brother’s foolishness, one of David’s closest advisors] is among the conspirators [those who are bound together in a plot, rebels] with Absalom [father of peace, David’s son].” So David pleaded [prayed earnestly, begged], “O LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], please [I pray, I beseech] turn the counsel [advice, plan] of Ahithophel into foolishness [silliness, absurdity]!” word study 32 When David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] came to the summit [the top of the mount, the highest point], where he used to worship [bow down, show reverence to] God [Elohim, the one supreme God], Hushai [a friend of King David, an Archite] the Archite [a person from the city of Erek] was there to meet him with his robe [tunic, a long shirt-like garment] torn [rent, ripped apart] and dust [earth, land] on his head [as a sign of mourning, grief]. word study 33 David [the king of Israel, a man after God’s heart] said to him, “If [in the event that, whether] you go on [pass over, transition] with me, you will be [become, prove to be] a burden [a load, a weight to carry, ləmaśśā’, a prophetic message] to me [upon me, a responsibility to bear]. word study 34 But you can thwart [frustrate, defeat] the counsel [advice, plan] of Ahithophel for me if you return [turn back, come back] to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant [slave, bondservant], my king [ruler, sovereign]; in the past [formerly, previously] I was your father’s servant [slave, attendant], but now [at this time, currently] I will be your servant [slave, subject].’ word study 35 Will not [certainly, indeed] Zadok [a righteous high priest] and Abiathar [a faithful priest, later rebellious] the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] be there [in Jerusalem] with you? Report [tell, declare openly] to them [Zadok and Abiathar, as spiritual authorities] everything [all matters, every word] you hear [listen, obey] from the king’s [royal, sovereign] palace [royal dwelling, center of power]. word study 36 Indeed [behold, look], their two [a pair, dual] sons, Ahimaaz [my brother is anger] son of Zadok [righteous] and Jonathan [Jehovah has given] son of Abiathar [my father is abundant], are there [in that place, present] with them [together, in accompaniment]. Send [dispatch, transmit] them to me with [accompanied by, together with] everything [all, the whole] you hear [listen, obey].” word study 37 So David’s [closest companion] friend Hushai [a trusted advisor, confidant] arrived in [the city of, the capital] Jerusalem just as Absalom [the son of David, a rebellious prince] was entering [coming into, approaching] the city. word study