Summary: Absalom wanted to be king (v.4), and he won over people’s loyalties during this time (v.6). He wanted to throw a coup over David’s kingship (vv.11-12). David hears of this (v.13), and he realizes that he needs to flee (v.14). David puts the Ark back in the city, because he trusts in the fact that God would adjudicate the situation (v.26).
(15:1) Absalom gathers some men to himself. He must have bought a chariot in order to the “look the part” as the king. Earlier, Samuel used this same language to describe what a king would do: “This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots” (1 Sam. 8:11; cf. 1 Kings 1:5).
(15:2-3) Absalom would intercept people before they could hear a ruling from David. Like an “ambulance chasing” lawyer, he would tell them that they have a good case, but David wouldn’t listen to them (v.3). Absalom is slandering the king behind his back.
(15:4) This is a subtle power-play on Absalom’s part. He isn’t saying that he should be the king of Israel—only that he would do a much better job. The pronoun “me” is emphatic in the Hebrew.[]
(15:5) Instead of accepting honor from people, he would honor the people. This seems altruistic, but this is similar to a politician kissing babies in order to gain votes.
(15:6) Absalom’s plot worked: the people started to side with him.
(15:7a) This political campaign went on behind the scenes for four years. Was David ignorant to Absalom’s ploy this entire time?
(15:7b-10) Absalom feigns that he needs to fulfill a vow in Hebron. In reality, he needs to get some distance from David in order to launch his coup. He gathers all of the Israelites onto his side, so that they will overthrow David’s current administration.
(15:11) Absalom took 200 men with him. Once the coup occurred, he probably figured that they would side with him.
(15:12) Absalom’s act of offering sacrifices mirrors the egregious act of King Saul, which lost him his kingship (1 Sam. 16:2).
Ahithophel may have been the grandfather of Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:3; 23:34).[] This could be why he is so eager to join forces with Absalom.
Absalom’s insurgent group gained momentum.
David writes Psalm 3 at this time.
(15:13) A faithful messenger tells David that Israel has sided with Absalom.
(15:14) We see more passivity from David. Not only is he unaware of this sinister plot happening right underneath his nose, but he has no will to fight to protect his kingship. He immediately caves in.
(15:15) David’s advisers agree with him, and they run for their lives.
(15:16) These concubines will come up again later in the account.
(15:17-18) David’s men from Gath remained loyal, and he still had a loyal bodyguard to protect him as he fled.
(15:19-22) A “Gittite” was a man from Gath—a Philistine territory. He swears loyalty to David, rather than Absalom. He becomes a major commander in David’s army (2 Sam. 18:2-12), and he is one of David’s mighty men (2 Sam. 23:29).
In verse 19, the pronoun “you” is emphatic in the Hebrew.[] In a sense, David is asking, “Why would you—of all people—follow me?”
The “wandering” of David’s people in the desert mirrors the “wandering” of the Jewish people in the desert (Num. 32:13).
David gives the man an opportunity to defect to Absalom’s side (vv.19-20), but Ittai gives his loyalty to David (vv.21-22).
(15:23) The people mourn as David and his people go into hiding in the wilderness. After all of the time David spent fleeing Saul in the wilderness, now David flees once again into the wilderness.
(15:24) Zadok turns out to be a very faithful priest. He will later take the sake of King Solomon, anointing him as the future king of Israel (1 Kings 1:39ff).
(15:25-28) David puts this coup in God’s hands. He must have doubted whether God was truly with him (v.26).
(15:29) Zadok and Abiathar take the Ark back to Jerusalem.
(15:30) This is more passivity from David. Instead of fighting or planning a counterattack, he wallows in sorrow as he flees his city.
(15:31) This is an interesting prayer. He wants God to work from the “inside out” in Absalom’s cabinet.
(15:32-37) David sends Hushai back into Absalom’s court as a secret agent and a spy. Hushai works together with the priests (Zadok and Abiathar) to infiltrate Absalom’s new administration. Hushai becomes a key player in protecting David and thwarting Absalom’s revolt (2 Sam. 16:16-18; 17:5-23).
David tells his followers that they have the option to leave him. He doesn’t force anyone to walk this long road with him.
David was such as strong leader until he fell into moral compromise with Uriah and Bathsheba. Sin leads to passivity in our leadership.
Ronald F. Youngblood, “1, 2 Samuel,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 989.
Ronald F. Youngblood, “1, 2 Samuel,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 991.
Ronald F. Youngblood, “1, 2 Samuel,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 994.
James is an elder at Dwell Community Church, where he teaches classes in theology, apologetics, and weekly Bible studies.
