2 Samuel 15 - Printer Friendly

What does 2 Samuel 15 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

After David took Bathsheba and murdered Uriah (2 Samuel 11:1–5, 14–17), God sent the prophet Nathan to tell David the repercussions of his sins (2 Samuel 12:1–7). Because David had Uriah killed with violence, violence would never leave David's household. Because David betrayed his good friend, someone from David's household would betray him. Because David took Uriah's wife, someone in his household would take his wives.

The first curse came to pass when David's son Amnon raped his daughter Tamar, and Tamar's full brother Absalom murdered Amnon (2 Samuel 13).

The curse of betrayal begins in this chapter. After killing his brother, Absalom fled to his maternal grandfather and stayed in exile for three years (2 Samuel 13:37–38). Eventually, David invited him home, but it took another two years before he agreed to reconcile (2 Samuel 14:21–24, 28). With his position and dignity restored, Absalom is ready to conspire against his father.

Absalom begins by assuming the appearance of royal authority. He travels around Jerusalem in a chariot accompanied by fifty soldiers. He positions himself as the crown prince of Israel in the gate of the city, intercepting those who have come from around Israel to ask the king to settle their disputes. Absalom tells them the king can't help them, that David won't even commission a judge for their tribe, but Absalom would give them justice if he were king. Absalom also refuses to allow the people to bow before him, embracing them, instead (2 Samuel 15:1–6).

After four years, Absalom asks David to allow him to go to Hebron to make sacrifices to fulfill an old vow. David agrees. Absalom uses a network of rams' horns to cue his followers to declare him king. He even recruits David's best advisor, Ahithophel, to his side (2 Samuel 15:7–12).

When David hears, he quickly warns his servants and everyone loyal to him to flee the city before Absalom arrives. David takes his foreign bodyguard and 600 men from Gath and their families, leaving behind only ten concubines to care for the house and a few key men to spy on Absalom (2 Samuel 15:13–22).

The priests Zadok and Abiathar try to follow David with the ark. David tells them to stay in Jerusalem. David will live or die based on the Lord's will for him, not on the nearness of the ark. On the Mount of Olives, David recruits his friend Hushai to return to Jerusalem. His mission is to counter Ahithophel's counsel and send him news through Zadok's and Abiathar's sons (2 Samuel 15:23–37).

As the exiles continue east to the Jordan River, David meets one man who lies to him and another who curses him. Meanwhile, Absalom enters the city and follows Ahithophel's advice to sleep with David's concubines: a symbol that he is taking authority. This is also the fulfillment of God's third curse on David. Yet Hushai manages to counter Ahithophel's other advice enough to save David and his people. Eventually, Joab eventually kills Absalom in battle (2 Samuel 16—18). David deeply mourns Absalom, but he is finally free of the curse.

Second Samuel 15:1–6 explains how David's son, Absalom, wins enough support to overthrow his father (2 Samuel 15:7–17). He makes the most of his newly restored honor after literal and relational exile for five years after murdering his brother. Finally reconciled to David, Absalom assumes the role of crowned prince and champion of the people. He flatters the common people as he tells them his father won't hear their petitions. After four years, Absalom will be ready to make a direct move.

In Second Samuel 15:7–12, David's son prepares treason. Absalom has been manipulating visitors to Jerusalem for four years. He claims David won't give them justice, but Absalom would if he had the authority. Absalom goes to Hebron, where David was crowned king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4), and calls on his supporters to declare him king. Afraid of a battle in Jerusalem, David gathers his household and staff and flees the city. Along the way, David discovers who his friends are (2 Samuel 15:13–37).

Second Samuel 15:13–17 describes David gathering his household to flee Jerusalem. As part of God's curse for sinning against Uriah, David's son Absalom has declared himself king and is marching with his followers to Jerusalem. David would rather run than risk the safety of the city. He leaves ten concubines to care for his house. As he flees, he meets a loyal Philistine and priests willing to spy for him (2 Samuel 15:18–37). As a display of dominance over his father and authority over his father's kingdom, Absalom will publicly have sex with the concubines David leaves (2 Samuel 16:20–22).

Second Samuel 15:18–23 recounts how some Gentiles were even more loyal to David than his fellow Israelites. David's son Absalom is marching toward Jerusalem, intent on taking the throne. David and his household are fleeing the city. With them are three Philistine military units who serve David. Even after David urges them to avoid the inevitable war and go home, they stay with him. Much of David's army stays with Absalom (2 Samuel 17:25). Farther on, David will encourage the priests, their sons, and his advisor to stay. He trusts them to either foil Absalom's plans or send warning (2 Samuel 15:24–37).

Second Samuel 15:24–29 explains how David recruits his priests as spies. Absalom, David's son, has won the hearts of the Israelites and declared himself king. He's approaching Jerusalem with his followers. As David flees the city, his household and three Philistine military units come with him (2 Samuel 15:1–23). But when the priests Abiathar and Zadok arrive with the ark of the covenant, David sends them back. The ark belongs to God, not him, and the priests are in a good position to influence and spy on Absalom. With the help of their sons and David's friend Hushai, they thwart Absalom's plans (2 Samuel 17).

Second Samuel 15:30–37 details David losing one advisor and gaining another. David's best counselor, Ahithophel, has fallen to Absalom's charms. He follows as Absalom marches towards Jerusalem to take the throne. As David flees, he meets an old friend, Hushai. Hushai wants to come with David, but David sends him to the city to counter Ahithophel's plans. Hushai can't stop Absalom from sleeping with David's concubines (2 Samuel 16:20–23), but he does keep Ahithophel from attacking David's people while they're fleeing (2 Samuel 17).

Chapter Summary:

God's curses against David continue (2 Samuel 12:10–12). David's son Absalom stages a coup. His followers declare him king and escort him to Jerusalem. David and those faithful to him flee the city for the wilderness. He leaves behind two priests, their sons, and an advisor to thwart Absalom's plans. As he travels, David willingly endures every humiliation, not knowing which are from God. Joab kills Absalom, and the kingdom is restored (2 Samuel 16—18). Absalom's betrayal is not recorded in 1 Chronicles.

Chapter Context:

Second Samuel 15 continues the fulfillment of God's curse on David. As he betrayed his friend Uriah, so someone from David's house will betray him (2 Samuel 12:11). David's son Absalom steals the people's hearts and declares himself king. David and his household flee the city, leaving behind ten concubines and five spies. The spies protect David until Joab can kill Absalom in battle. David is humbled and forgives his enemies (2 Samuel 16—19).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

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