16 And the king H4428 went forth, H3318 and all his household H1004 after H7272 him. And the king H4428 left H5800 ten H6235 women, H802 which were concubines, H6370 to keep H8104 the house. H1004
And Ahithophel H302 said H559 unto Absalom, H53 Go in H935 unto thy father's H1 concubines, H6370 which he hath left H3240 to keep H8104 the house; H1004 and all Israel H3478 shall hear H8085 that thou art abhorred H887 of thy father: H1 then shall the hands H3027 of all that are with thee be strong. H2388 So they spread H5186 Absalom H53 a tent H168 upon the top of the house; H1406 and Absalom H53 went in H935 unto his father's H1 concubines H6370 in the sight H5869 of all Israel. H3478
And David H1732 came H935 to his house H1004 at Jerusalem; H3389 and the king H4428 took H3947 the ten H6235 women H802 his concubines, H6370 whom he had left H3240 to keep H8104 the house, H1004 and put H5414 them in ward, H4931 and fed H3557 them, but went not in H935 unto them. So they were shut up H6887 unto the day H3117 of their death, H4191 living H2424 in widowhood. H491
And now this blessing H1293 which thine handmaid H8198 hath brought H935 unto my lord, H113 let it even be given H5414 unto the young men H5288 that follow H1980 H7272 my lord. H113
And Abigail H26 hasted, H4116 and arose, H6965 and rode H7392 upon an ass, H2543 with five H2568 damsels H5291 of hers that went H1980 after H7272 her; and she went H3212 after H310 the messengers H4397 of David, H1732 and became his wife. H802
Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Behold, I will raise up H6965 evil H7451 against thee out of thine own house, H1004 and I will take H3947 thy wives H802 before thine eyes, H5869 and give H5414 them unto thy neighbour, H7453 and he shall lie H7901 with thy wives H802 in the sight H5869 of this sun. H8121
[[A Psalm H4210 of David, H1732 when he fled H1272 from H6440 Absalom H53 his son.]] H1121 LORD, H3068 how are they increased H7231 that trouble H6862 me! many H7227 are they that rise up H6965 against me.
And G2532 be G4964 not G3361 conformed G4964 to this G5129 world: G165 but G235 be ye transformed G3339 by the renewing G342 of your G5216 mind, G3563 that G1519 ye G5209 may prove G1381 what G5101 is that good, G18 and G2532 acceptable, G2101 and G2532 perfect, G5046 will G2307 of God. G2316
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Samuel 15
Commentary on 2 Samuel 15 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 15
Absalom's name signifies "the peace of his father,' yet he proves his greatest trouble; so often are we disappointed in our expectations from the creature. The sword entailed upon David's house had hitherto been among his children, but now it begins to be drawn against himself, with this aggravation, that he may thank himself for it, for, had he done justice upon the murderer, he would have prevented the traitor. The story of Absalom's rebellion begins with this chapter, but we must go over three or four more before we see the end of it. In this chapter we have,
2Sa 15:1-6
Absalom is no sooner restored to his place at court than he aims to be in the throne. He that was unhumbled under his troubles became insufferably proud when they were over; and he cannot be content with the honour of being the king's son, and the prospect of being his successor, but he must be king now. His mother was a king's daughter; on that perhaps he valued himself, and despised his father, who was but the son of Jesse. She was the daughter of a heathen king, which made him the less concerned for the peace of Israel. David, in this unhappy issue of that marriage, smarted for his being unequally yoked with an unbeliever. When Absalom was restored to the king's favour, if he had had any sense of gratitude, he would have studied how to oblige his father, and make him easy; but, on the contrary, he meditates how to undermine him, by stealing the hearts of the people from him. Two things recommend a man to popular esteem-greatness and goodness.
2Sa 15:7-12
We have here the breaking out of Absalom's rebellion, which he had long been contriving. It is said to be after forty years, v. 7. But whence it is to be dated we are not told; not from David's beginning his reign, for then it would fall in the last year of his life, which is not probable; but either from his first anointing by Samuel seven years before, or rather (I think) from the people's desiring a king, and the first change of the government into a monarchy, which might be about ten years before David began to reign; it is fitly dated thence, to show that the same restless spirit was still working, and still they were given to change: as fond now of a new man as then of a new model. So it fell about the thirtieth year of David's reign. Absalom's plot being now ripe for execution,
2Sa 15:13-23
Here is,
2Sa 15:24-30
Here we have,
2Sa 15:31-37
Nothing, it seems, appeared to David more threatening in Absalom's plot than that Ahithophel was in it; for one good head, in such a design, is worth a thousand good hands. Absalom was himself no politician, but he had got one entirely in his interest that was, and would be the more dangerous because he had been all along acquainted with David's counsels and affairs; if therefore he can be baffled, Absalom is as good as routed and the head of the conspiracy cut off. This David endeavours to do.