1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:
26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
The 15th chapter of 2 Samuel in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a pivotal point in the story of King David. This chapter focuses on the events leading up to David's exile from Jerusalem due to his son Absalom's rebellion. It also highlights the themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the consequences of sin. Through this chapter, we see the consequences of David's past mistakes and the fulfillment of God's prophecies. This essay will provide a detailed summary of the events in chapter 15 and discuss the deeper meaning and significance of this chapter in the larger context of the Bible.
To fully understand the significance of chapter 15 of 2 Samuel, it is essential to provide some context to the events leading up to this chapter. David, the beloved king of Israel, had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed. As a result, God had pronounced judgment on David's household, and his son Absalom had taken it upon himself to avenge his sister Tamar's rape by David's other son, Amnon. Absalom had fled to Geshur and had not seen or spoken to his father for two years. David, with the help of his nephew Joab, had eventually allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem but had not allowed him to see or speak to him.
Feeling rejected and resentful, Absalom began to plot against his father, David, and eventually started a rebellion against him. This is where chapter 15 begins.
The chapter begins with Absalom's cunning plan to win the hearts of the people of Israel and to overthrow his father, David. He begins by standing at the gate of the city and intercepting anyone who comes to seek judgment from the king. Absalom would greet them warmly and tell them that there is no one to hear their case and that if he were the king, he would give them justice. Absalom would also tell them that their case was valid and that they had been forgotten by the king. He would then kiss them and offer to help them, thus winning their hearts and support.
Absalom's plan was successful, and he gained the support of many people in Israel. He then approached his father, David, and asked for permission to go to Hebron to fulfill a vow he had made to God. David, unaware of Absalom's true intentions, granted him permission. Absalom then went to Hebron, where he declared himself king and gathered an army to go against his father.
Meanwhile, David received news of Absalom's rebellion and was advised by his loyal followers to flee from Jerusalem to avoid being captured or killed. David gathered his family and followers and left Jerusalem on foot, weeping and barefoot as a sign of mourning and repentance. He left ten of his concubines behind to take care of the palace, and he crossed over the Kidron Valley and headed towards the wilderness.
As David was fleeing, he met Zadok the priest and his sons, who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant. David instructed them to take the Ark back to Jerusalem and to stay loyal to him, saying, "Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him." (2 Samuel 15:25-26)
David also met his trusted advisor, Hushai, who had come to warn him about Absalom's plans. David instructed Hushai to return to Jerusalem and pretend to support Absalom, thus becoming a spy for David. Hushai obeyed David and returned to Jerusalem, where he became an advisor to Absalom.
However, David's most trusted counselor, Ahithophel, had betrayed him and joined Absalom's rebellion. This was a significant blow to David, as Ahithophel had been a close friend and advisor to him for many years. This betrayal also fulfilled a prophecy from Nathan, who had warned David that his own household would rise against him.
As David continued his journey of exile, he was met by a man named Ziba, who was the servant of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan. Ziba told David that Mephibosheth had betrayed him and had joined Absalom's rebellion. This was a shock to David, as Mephibosheth was the only surviving heir of Jonathan and was supposed to be loyal to David. However, this event also fulfilled another prophecy from Nathan, who had warned David that the sword would never depart from his household.
David also met Shimei, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, who cursed and threw stones at David as he passed by. Shimei accused David of being a murderer and a man of blood, reminding him of his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. David's loyal followers wanted to kill Shimei, but David stopped them, saying, "Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him. It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day." (2 Samuel 16:11-12)
This event also fulfilled a prophecy from Nathan, who had warned David that calamity would come upon him from his own household.
Chapter 15 of 2 Samuel is a turning point in the story of David. It shows the consequences of his past mistakes and the fulfillment of God's prophecies. Through Absalom's rebellion and the betrayal of David's close friends, we see the consequences of David's sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. David's exile from Jerusalem is also symbolic of his exile from God's presence due to his sin.
However, this chapter also highlights the themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the consequences of sin. We see how Absalom betrays his own father and how David's close friends, Ahithophel and Mephibosheth, also betray him. This is a reminder that even those closest to us can turn against us, and that sin can have far-reaching consequences.
Moreover, we see the loyalty of David's followers, such as Zadok, Hushai, and Abiathar, who remain faithful to him even in the face of betrayal and danger. This is a reminder of the importance of staying loyal to God and to those whom we have made commitments to.
Lastly, this chapter also shows the consequences of sin. David's sin with Bathsheba and Uriah not only affected him but also his family and ultimately the entire nation of Israel. It is a reminder that our actions have consequences and that we must be careful to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Chapter 15 of 2 Samuel is significant in the larger context of the Bible as it is a foreshadowing of the ultimate betrayal and exile of Jesus Christ. Just as Absalom betrayed and overthrew his father, David, Jesus was betrayed by one of his own disciples, Judas Iscariot, and was crucified and exiled from God's presence for a time. However, just as David eventually returned to Jerusalem and was restored as king, Jesus rose from the dead and was exalted to the right hand of God.
This chapter also serves as a reminder that God's prophecies will always come to pass. Despite David's efforts to prevent Absalom's rebellion, it still occurred, as it was part of God's plan. This is a reminder that God is always in control, and His will shall be done.
Chapter 15 of 2 Samuel in the KJV Holy Bible is a crucial chapter in the story of David. It highlights the consequences of sin, the themes of betrayal and loyalty, and the fulfillment of God's prophecies. Through the events in this chapter, we see the consequences of David's past mistakes and the fulfillment of God's plan. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining faithful to God and to those whom we have made commitments to. Ultimately, this chapter foreshadows the ultimate betrayal and exile of Jesus Christ, making it a significant part of the larger narrative of the Bible.
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