1
After this Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2
And Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. Whenever anyone had a case and came to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and ask, “From what city are you?” And when he answered, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”
3
then Absalom would say to him, “See, your case is good and right, but there is no one appointed by the king to hear you.”
4
Absalom also said, “Oh that I were made judge in the land! Then every man who had a case or dispute might come to me, and I would give him justice.”
5
And whenever anyone came near to bow down before him, he would put out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.
6
In this manner Absalom did to all Israel who came to the king for judgment, and so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7
And after four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay in Hebron the vow I have made to the LORD.
8
For your servant, while I lived at Geshur in Aram, made a vow, saying, ‘If the LORD will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will worship the LORD.’”
9
And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
10
But Absalom had sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’”
11
With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem, invited guests who went in their innocence and knew nothing of the matter.
12
While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city of Gilo. Thus the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.
13
Then someone came and told David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.”
14
And David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us soon and bring disaster upon us and strike the city with the edge of the sword!”
15
The king’s servants said to the king, “Whatever my lord the king decides—your servants are ready.”
16
Then the king went out, and all his household followed him; but the king left ten concubines to keep watch over the palace.
17
So the king went out, and all the people with him followed. At the last house they stopped
18
while all his servants passed on beside him, and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites, and also all the Gittites, six hundred men in number, who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19
Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner, and besides, you are an exile from your own place.
20
You came only yesterday; should I today make you wander with us, when I myself am going wherever I may? Return, and take your brothers back with you. May the LORD show you kindness and faithfulness!”
21
But Ittai answered the king, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for life or for death, there also will your servant be.”
22
Then David said to Ittai, “Go on, then.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.
23
And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king crossed the Kidron brook, and all the people went on toward the wilderness.
24
And behold, Zadok was there also, with all the Levites carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God—Abiathar also came—until all the people had finished crossing out of the city.
25
Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, then he will bring me back and let me see it again, and also its dwelling place.
26
But if he says, ‘I have no delight in you,’ then here I am; let him do to me what seems good in his eyes.”
27
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace, you and Abiathar, with your two sons, your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan.
28
See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
29
So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there.
30
But David went up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered, and he walked barefoot. And all the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up weeping as they went.
31
When David was told, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom,” David said, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
32
When David came to the summit, where people worshiped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.
33
David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.
34
But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in times past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.
35
Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? So whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36
Behold, their two sons are there with them, Ahimaaz the son of Zadok and Jonathan the son of Abiathar; by them you shall send me everything you hear.”
37
So Hushai, David’s friend, came into Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.
💔👑🗡️ Summary of 2 Samuel 15 – Absalom Rebels and Wins the People’s Hearts
2 Samuel 15 describes the beginning of Absalom’s rebellion against his father, King David. After two years back in Jerusalem, Absalom used his charisma and political cunning to steal the hearts of the people. He declared himself king in Hebron and began a coup. David, though king, chose to flee from Jerusalem to avoid bloodshed. This chapter shows the danger of ambition without character, and the humility of a true king who leaves the outcome to God.
📌 1. Absalom Steals the People’s Hearts (verses 1–6)
➡️ Absalom built an image: chariots, horses, personal guards
➡️ He stood at the city gate, greeting those who came to appear before the king
➡️ Cunningly, he said: “There is no representative of the king to hear you”
➡️ He made the people feel sympathy and kissed their hands
🎯 Image and eloquence can deceive the heart if they are not joined with truth.
📌 2. The Rebellion Begins in Hebron (verses 7–12)
➡️ After 4 years, Absalom asked permission to go to Hebron “to pay a vow”
➡️ But instead he declared himself king and invited important leaders
➡️ Including Ahithophel, David’s counselor, who turned to support Absalom
🎯 When ambition meets opportunity and influence, rebellion arises.
📌 3. David Flees from Jerusalem (verses 13–23)
➡️ Hearing the news of the rebellion, David decided to leave the city
➡️ He did not want Jerusalem to become a battlefield, though he was still king
➡️ Many loyal followers went with him, including foreign troops
🎯 A true leader is willing to bear shame in order to protect his people.
📌 4. David Arranges Support and Strategy (verses 24–37)
➡️ The priest Zadok and the Levites brought the ark of the covenant, but David told them to return it
➡️ He said, “If the Lord is pleased with me, He will bring me back”
➡️ David told Hushai, his friend, to return to the palace to serve as a spy and frustrate Ahithophel’s counsel
🎯 David’s faith was great: he placed power in the hands of God, not in his own strength.
📖 Main Teaching
- Ambition without morality is a path to destruction
- The people are easily swayed by image and sweet words without integrity
- A true leader chooses peace over pride
- God values humility more than position
- In crisis, faith and wisdom must go together
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“You are like whitewashed tombs…”
➡️ Like Absalom: beautiful on the outside, rotten within — a misleading display.
“The hired hand runs away when the wolf comes… because he does not care for the sheep.”
➡️ David did not flee out of fear, but to protect the people, unlike a false shepherd.
“If possible, live at peace… do not take revenge; vengeance belongs to the Lord.”
➡️ David did not retaliate directly — he entrusted judgment to God.
“Christ emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant…”
➡️ David followed the example of Christ, who was willing to come down for the sake of God’s great plan.
🕊️ “Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” – 2 Samuel 15:6
🕊️ “If I find favor in the sight of the LORD, He will bring me back again.” – 2 Samuel 15:25
🕊️ “But if not… let Him do to me as seems good in His sight.” – 2 Samuel 15:26
🕊️ “But David went on up the Mount of Olives, weeping…” – 2 Samuel 15:30
