2 Samuel 15:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the Lord.’"

NIV: While your servant was living at Geshur in Aram, I made this vow: ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron. ’ "

NASB: For your servant made a vow while I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’?'

CSB: For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram, saying: If the Lord really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron."

NLT: For while your servant was at Geshur in Aram, I promised to sacrifice to the Lord in Hebron if he would bring me back to Jerusalem.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’ ”

Absalom knows his father well. The first time he wanted to leave Jerusalem to betray his father's trust, he claimed he wanted to celebrate the sheep-shearing. David, the shepherd-king, probably felt sentimental about such a feast. If David had been less emotional and more thoughtful, he might have guessed Absalom's plan to murder his brother (2 Samuel 12:23–29).

If there's one thing David loves more than tending sheep, it's worshiping God. Absalom asks David if he can go to Hebron, where he was born and spent his early years, to bless God for bringing him home from exile (2 Samuel 15:7). That exile was imposed because he murdered his brother (2 Samuel 13:37–38). Possibly glad that his wayward son is showing devotion to God, David sends him with his blessing (2 Samuel 15:9).

It was common during this era for people to make conditional vows to the Lord: If the Lord does "x," then I will do "y." In this case, Absalom claims that while in exile, he vowed to offer special worship to God at Hebron he could return to his position in David's court at Jerusalem. David could hardly say no. Failing to keep a vow to God was a great offense to God and deeply foolish.

But Absalom isn't going to Hebron to meet with God. He's going to meet with men he's spent four years grooming to rebel against his father and install him as king. To build up his numbers, he brings two hundred men from Jerusalem who have no idea what's going on. The longer they're away, the more people join. By the time Absalom turns back for Jerusalem, David must flee or risk warfare in his own city (2 Samuel 15:13–17).

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).

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.