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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him.

Context of 2 Samuel 15:1

In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. 2He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king 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

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 12:11“This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.
• Deuteronomy 17:16The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.”
• 1 Samuel 8:11He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.
• 1 Kings 1:5Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him.
• 1 Kings 10:26Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.
• Psalms 20:7Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
• Proverbs 11:2When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
• Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
• Proverbs 17:19Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
• Jeremiah 22:14He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace with spacious upper rooms.’ So he makes large windows in it, panels it with cedar and decorates it in 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