2 Samuel 15:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness.

NIV: The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

NASB: While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people were crossing over. The king was also crossing over the brook Kidron, and all the people were crossing over toward the way of the wilderness.

CSB: Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly while all the people were marching out of the city. As the king was crossing the Kidron Valley, all the people were marching past on the road that leads to the wilderness.

NLT: Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by. They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.

David's son Absalom is a shrewd politician. Because of his position as the king's son, he can only travel where the king designates. For the most part, he must remain in Jerusalem. He decides to play the part of a mighty prince/warrior, driving a chariot through the streets with a fifty-man honor guard. He stops at the city gates where travelers from throughout the nation enter, hoping to petition the king and right a wrong their local judges won't or can't fix. That's where Absalom meets them (2 Samuel 15:1).

First, Absalom asks where they come from. Then he tells them David hasn't commissioned a judge for their area; David won't give them justice. He tells them their cause is just, and he'd love to help, but David won't even let him be the arbiter of peace. When the men lean in to give Absalom the customary greeting of a lesser to a greater, Absalom intercepts them and treats them as royalty (2 Samuel 15:2–5).

After four years of manipulating people—insisting David won't help them and his own hands are tied—Absalom has loyal subjects from all over the kingdom. This he accomplishes without leaving Jerusalem or raising his father's suspicions. He asks his father permission to go to Hebron to offer sacrifices, and David sends him with blessings. Once he arrives, Absalom signals his co-conspirators around the nation to declare him king. He then gathers his men and marches on Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15:6–10).

When David hears, he quickly considers who in Jerusalem would be in Absalom's way and tells them to flee. His royal guard and a newly contracted militia go with him, despite the fact they're Philistines. They hurry east out of the city, across the Kidron Brook, and up the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:30).

David leaves behind a city in mourning. The people who live closest to him, in his city and in the neighborhoods on the mount, love him most. Among them are five men who prove very useful:

Abiathar and Zadok, the priests, try to join David with their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan. They bring the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10; 2 Samuel 6:12). David tells them to stay. The ark belongs to God, not him. The priests will make excellent spies, and their sons can be their messengers. Hushai, David's old friend, also tries to join him. But David has heard that his counselor, Ahithophel, has sided with Absalom. Hushai has the unique opportunity to infiltrate Absalom's court and counter Ahithophel's advice (2 Samuel 15:24–37). Working together, the five men save David and his people (2 Samuel 17).

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).

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.