2 Samuel 15:1

2 Samuel 15:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
• New International Version (NIV)In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

Context of 2 Samuel 15:1

Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him. 2He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” 3Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.”

2 Samuel 15:1 word by word

וַֽיְהִי֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיַּ֤עַשׂ לוֹ֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם מֶרְכָּבָ֖ה וְסֻסִ֑ים וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ רָצִ֥ים לְפָנָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

• Some time laterהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• Some time laterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• Some time laterכֵּןkên · soH3651
• Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
• provided forעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
• a chariotמֶרְכָּבָהmerkâbâh · chariotH4818
• with horsesסוּסsûs sûs · horseH5483
• and fiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםchămishshîym · fiftyH2572
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• to runרוּץrûts · to run: runH7323
• ahead of himפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 15:1

• 2 Samuel 12:11This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight.
• Deuteronomy 17:16But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’
• 1 Samuel 8:11He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots.
• 1 Kings 1:5At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.
• 1 Kings 10:26Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.
• Psalms 20:7Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
• Proverbs 11:2When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
• Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
• Proverbs 17:19He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
• Jeremiah 22:14who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 15:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Absalom prepared him chariots and horses - After all that has been said to prove that horses here mean horsemen, I think it most likely that the writer would have us to understand chariots drawn by horses; not by mules or such like cattle. Fifty men to run before him - Affecting in every respect the regal state by this establishment. Of this man Calmet collects the following character: "He was a bold, violent, revengeful, haughty, enterprising…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1And it came to pass … - The working out of Nathan‘s prophecy (marginal reference) is the clue to the course of the narrative. How long after Absalom‘s return these events occurred we are not told.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Absalom's ambition. (1-6) His conspiracy. (7-12) David leaves Jerusalem. (13-23) David sends back the ark. (24-30) He prays against Ahithophel's counsel. (31-37) Verses 1-6 David allows Absalom's pomp. Those parents know not what they do, who indulge a proud humour in their children: many young people are ruined by pride. And those commonly are most eager for authority who least understand its duties.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1a chariot with horses and fifty men: These items were clear signs of kingship. Samuel warned that a king would take these from the people (1 Samuel 8:11). David's son, Adonijah, also gathered these when he wanted to be king (1 Kings 1:5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-92Sa 15:1-9. Absalom Steals the Hearts of Israel. 1. Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him--This was assuming the state and equipage of a prince. The royal guards, called runners, avant couriers, amounted to fifty (1Ki 1:5). The chariot, as the Hebrew indicates, was of a magnificent style; and the horses, a novelty among the Hebrew people, only introduced in that age as an appendage of royalty (Psa 32:9; 66:12), formed a…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 15:1

• Ambition
• Candidate
• Electioneering
• Footman
• Usurpation

In the dictionaries

• Absalom
• Appoint
• Barefoot
• Guard
• Hear
• Prepare
• Steal
• Turn
• Absalom (1)
• Bible, the

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings