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 managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. 2Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, “What city are you from?” The person would answer, “I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will 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 am about to bring disaster on you from inside your own household! Right before your eyes I will take your wives and hand them over to your companion. He will have sexual relations with your wives in broad daylight!
• Deuteronomy 17:16Moreover, he must not accumulate horses for himself or allow the people to return to Egypt to do so, for the Lord has said you must never again return that way.
• 1 Samuel 8:11He said, “Here are the policies of the king who will rule over you: He will conscript your sons and put them in his chariot forces and in his cavalry; they will run in front of his chariot.
• 1 Kings 1:5Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith, was promoting himself, boasting, “I will be king!” He managed to acquire chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.
• 1 Kings 10:26Solomon accumulated chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem.
• Psalms 20:7Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we depend on the Lord our God.
• Proverbs 11:2When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
• Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
• Proverbs 17:19The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.
• Jeremiah 22:14He says, “I will build myself a large palace with spacious upper rooms.” He cuts windows in its walls, panels it with cedar, and paints its rooms red.

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