II Samuel 15:17-37
“And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.” (II Samuel 15:17-18)
All David’s servants and the men who had been with him in the wilderness, as well as the Chreithites, his Secret Service and the Pelethites or military staff. There were also six hundred Philistines from Gath who had chosen to ally themselves with David rather than the Philistine rulers.
“Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.” (II Samuel 15:19-20)
David pointed out that the fight was not Ittai or the Philistines fight and that he would not be offended if they felt it was better to stay out of it. After all, they had already been cut off from their own people, and if David was defeated, would also become enemies of Absalom. David could not assure them that he would prevail.
“And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.” (II Samuel 15:21-22)
Ittai responded that they had committed to follow David, and not to Israel. They would be wherever he and his men were. Recognizing the loyalty, David accepted their offer to accompany him.
“And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.” (II Samuel 15:23)
While the conspiracy included a lot of people, the majority were not involved and were upset at what was happening, just as they usually are about any such upheaval. When David went out into the desert a lot of people accompanied him.
“And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there. ” (II Samuel 15:24-29)
Saul had had the priests murdered for helping David, and when Abiathar came to David, he had promised to protect them. When David fled Jerusalem, they went along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant with them. When he saw them, David told them to go back. If God wanted David to be king, he bring him back, or if not he would not. That would not negate God’s promise to Israel.
God’s plans don’t change because the leader does, and we need to learn to follow him rather than the leader. The priests had a responsibility to all the people, not just to David. If David didn’t come back they needed to be there for the people. As the priest, people would confide what they heard to Zadoc, and he could send his or Abiathar’s son to let David know what was happening, so they could still play a vital role in helping David.
“And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. ” (II Samuel 15:30-31)
As David and his followers were traveling, someone told him that Ahithophel had thrown in with Absalom. II Samuel 16:23 describes Ahithophel’s advice. “And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God.” David knew how valuable his advice was and prayed that the Lord would make his advice be foolish instead.
“And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.” (II Samuel 15:32-36)
David stopped at the top of mount Olivet to worship God. While he was theire, his old friend Hushai came up to him in obvious distress over his plight. David was concerned that his health would not permit him to stay with them, and told him he would accomplish more if he could somehow counteract Ahithophel’s advice.
He asked him to go back and pretend to ally himself with Absalom, in order to learn teir plans. He could then get a message to the priests and their sons could take it to David. Hushai agreed to serve as a spy for David.
“So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.” (II Samuel 15:37)
“And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.” (II Samuel 15:17-18)
All David’s servants and the men who had been with him in the wilderness, as well as the Chreithites, his Secret Service and the Pelethites or military staff. There were also six hundred Philistines from Gath who had chosen to ally themselves with David rather than the Philistine rulers.
“Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.” (II Samuel 15:19-20)
David pointed out that the fight was not Ittai or the Philistines fight and that he would not be offended if they felt it was better to stay out of it. After all, they had already been cut off from their own people, and if David was defeated, would also become enemies of Absalom. David could not assure them that he would prevail.
“And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.” (II Samuel 15:21-22)
Ittai responded that they had committed to follow David, and not to Israel. They would be wherever he and his men were. Recognizing the loyalty, David accepted their offer to accompany him.
“And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.” (II Samuel 15:23)
While the conspiracy included a lot of people, the majority were not involved and were upset at what was happening, just as they usually are about any such upheaval. When David went out into the desert a lot of people accompanied him.
“And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there. ” (II Samuel 15:24-29)
Saul had had the priests murdered for helping David, and when Abiathar came to David, he had promised to protect them. When David fled Jerusalem, they went along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant with them. When he saw them, David told them to go back. If God wanted David to be king, he bring him back, or if not he would not. That would not negate God’s promise to Israel.
God’s plans don’t change because the leader does, and we need to learn to follow him rather than the leader. The priests had a responsibility to all the people, not just to David. If David didn’t come back they needed to be there for the people. As the priest, people would confide what they heard to Zadoc, and he could send his or Abiathar’s son to let David know what was happening, so they could still play a vital role in helping David.
“And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. ” (II Samuel 15:30-31)
As David and his followers were traveling, someone told him that Ahithophel had thrown in with Absalom. II Samuel 16:23 describes Ahithophel’s advice. “And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God.” David knew how valuable his advice was and prayed that the Lord would make his advice be foolish instead.
“And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.” (II Samuel 15:32-36)
David stopped at the top of mount Olivet to worship God. While he was theire, his old friend Hushai came up to him in obvious distress over his plight. David was concerned that his health would not permit him to stay with them, and told him he would accomplish more if he could somehow counteract Ahithophel’s advice.
He asked him to go back and pretend to ally himself with Absalom, in order to learn teir plans. He could then get a message to the priests and their sons could take it to David. Hushai agreed to serve as a spy for David.
“So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.” (II Samuel 15:37)
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