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| 1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. |
Prepared him chariots – A custom from his grandfather's court. R3262:1
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| 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. |
King for judgment – The king acted as a superior court, so that cases not satisfactorily adjudicated before the regular judges were appealed to him. R3262:2, R5700:2
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| 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. |
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| 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! |
I were made judge – Would that I were king! It would be different! R5700:3
Do him justice – Implying that his hearer had justice on his side and would be pleased with the results. R3262:2
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| 5 And it was so, that when any man came night to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. |
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| 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. |
Stole the hearts – By feigning humility and zeal for justice, by careful attention to his personal appearance and by attention to those in influential positions. R4276. 1
Many in our day are willing to steal the affections of another and to misrepresent another to their own advantage. R3262:3
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| 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. |
After 40 years – After four years; the error of a transcriber. R2025:5, R4276:2
Four years from his full acceptance back to fellowship with his father. R3262:3
Let me go – In order not to excite the suspicion of the king or others he asked permission to go. R3262:4, R4276:2 2 Samuel 15:10
Absalom reigneth – The people would gain the impression that the revolution of the kingdom was complete and that David was thoroughly vanquished. R3262:4
Although the Lord restored David to divine favor and communion, he punished him severely for his sin--Absalom's rebellion being the means employed. R1397:2, R3262:5
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| 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. |
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| 9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
Knew not anything – Were totally ignorant of the use that was being made of them. R3262:4
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| 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. |
Sent for Ahithophel – This would mean a tower of strength to Absalom's position and ambition. R4276:4
The conspiracy – Begun when Absalom returned from exile, or two years later. R3262:3
So today: the Lord will permit conspiracies against the truth, but to go only so far as they will work for his glory. R3262:6
Increased continually – Political intrigue stole the hearts of the people and made the cause of Absalom temporarily very prosperous. R2024:3
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| 13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. |
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| 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. |
Let us flee – David wished to avoid the horrors of civil war. He was overwhelmed with grief that his enemy was his son and that his former friends had become his enemies. R4277:1
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| 15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. |
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| 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. |
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| 17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. |
All the people – His bodyguard consisted mostly of foreigners. (vs. 18) R4277:2
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
An exile – It is supposed that the 4th Psalm and portions of the 3rd were written from the standpoint of David's experiences as an exile from his capital. R4277:3
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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.
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 25 And the king said unto Zadok, 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 show me both it, and his habitation: |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. |
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| 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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: |
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| 33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem. |
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