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

Now it came about after this that Absalom provided himself with a chariot, horses and 50 men as runners before him. 2Absalom used to rise up early and stand beside the road to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a suit to come to the king for justice, then Absalom would call to him and say, “What town are you from?” Should he answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” 3Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no one assigned to you by 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“Thus says Adonai: Behold, I am going to raise up evil against you from your own household, and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
• Deuteronomy 17:16Only he should not multiply horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to multiply horses, because Adonai has said to you, “You must never go back that way again.”
• 1 Samuel 8:11“This will be the practice of the king that will reign over you,” he said. “He will draft your sons and assign them as his charioteers and horsemen, and they will run before his chariots.
• 1 Kings 1:5Now Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying: “I’ll be king!” So he prepared for himself chariots, horsemen and 50 men to run before him.
• 1 Kings 10:26Solomon accumulated chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.
• Psalms 20:7Now I know that Adonai saves His anointed. He answers him from His holy heaven with saving strength of His right hand.
• Proverbs 11:2When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
• Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
• Proverbs 17:19He who loves sin loves strife. One who builds a high gate invites destruction.
• Jeremiah 22:14who says: “I will build myself a big house with spacious rooms and cut out my windows for it, and panel it with cedar, and paint 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