2 Samuel 15:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the king 's servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides."

NIV: The king’s officials answered him, "Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses."

NASB: Then the king’s servants said to the king, 'Behold, your servants will do whatever my lord the king chooses.'

CSB: The king’s servants said to the king, "Whatever my lord the king decides, we are your servants."

NLT: We are with you,' his advisers replied. 'Do what you think is best.'

KJV: And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

NKJV: And the king’s servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.”

Absalom, David's son, has won the affections of the people of Israel (2 Samuel 15:6). He's declared himself king in Hebron, and he and a large crowd are marching to Jerusalem. Some in his group helped plan this coup; some are human shields tricked into coming with him to Hebron. David can't tell which is which. His priority is to protect his household and his people. A civil war inside Jerusalem would be devastating. David's closest servants immediately declare their devotion to him and not to Absalom. He gathers those he knows are loyal and flees (2 Samuel 15:7–12).

Throughout the day, David gets a better idea of who is still with him and who has joined Absalom. His Philistine bodyguards and mercenaries will do whatever he asks (2 Samuel 15:18–21). The priests and their sons are ready to follow David with the ark, but David realizes they'd be more effective as spies in Absalom's court (2 Samuel 15:24–29). David loses his counselor Ahithophel but is more than compensated by his old friend Hushai (2 Samuel 15:31–32). Despite losing much of the army, Joab (2 Samuel 8:16) and his brother Abishai remain true (2 Samuel 18:2).

This is enough. Hushai's influence, the priest's warnings, and Joab's military experience make very quick work of Absalom's rebellion. Within a short time, Absalom will be dead (2 Samuel 18:16–15). When the rebellious people realize what's happened, they fall over themselves trying to reinstate David as king (2 Samuel 19:8–10).

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).

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.

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.