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 bought a chariot and some horses. He had 50 men who ran in front of the chariot to give him honour. 2Every day, he got up early in the morning. Then he went to stand at the side of the road near the city's gate. He called out to anyone who was bringing a problem for the king to judge. He would ask them, ‘Which town have you come from?’ Then the man would tell Absalom which tribe of Israel he belonged to. 3Then Absalom would say, ‘I am sure that you are right. You deserve to receive justice. But the king has not given any of his officers authority to listen to you.’

2 Samuel 15:1 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass after thisאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• that Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
• preparedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
• him chariotsמֶרְכָּבָהmerkâbâh · chariotH4818
• and horsesסוּסsûs sûs · horseH5483
• and fiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםchămishshîym · fiftyH2572
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• to runרוּץrûts · to run: runH7323
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 15:1

• 2 Samuel 12:11This is what the Lord says, “I will cause someone from your own family to bring trouble to you. You yourself will see it happen! I will take your wives from you and I will give them to someone else. He will have sex with them in the daytime, for everyone to see.
• Deuteronomy 17:16A king must not get a lot of horses for himself. He must not send his people back to Egypt to buy more horses. The Lord has said to you, ‘Never return to Egypt for any reason!’
• 1 Samuel 8:11Samuel said to them, ‘This is how the king will rule over you: He will take your sons to be his soldiers. They will ride his horses and they will drive his chariots. They will have to run in front of his own chariot.
• 1 Kings 1:5At that time, David's son Adonijah, was telling everyone, ‘I will become the next king.’ He got for himself chariots and men who would ride on horses. He also had 50 men to run in front of him as his guards. Haggith was Adonijah's mother.
• 1 Kings 10:26Solomon brought together many chariots and horses for his soldiers to ride. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept some of them in Jerusalem where he lived as king. He put the others in cities that he had chosen for this.
• Psalms 20:7Some people hope that their chariots will keep them safe. Other people trust their horses to save them. But we will trust in the name of the Lord our God.
• Proverbs 11:2If people are proud, they will soon become ashamed. But if people are humble, they become wise.
• Proverbs 16:18If you are proud, you will soon come to an end. Anyone who boasts will soon fall down.
• Proverbs 17:19Someone who loves to argue loves sin. Someone who boasts causes trouble for himself.
• Jeremiah 22:14He says, “I will build a great palace for myself. It will have large rooms upstairs.” He puts windows in its walls. He covers the walls with cedar wood. He uses red paint to make it beautiful.

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