2 Samuel 15 · Verse 1

2 Samuel 15:1

And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 Samuel 15:1, King James Version

2 Samuel 15:1 in other translations

BSBSome time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.
WEBAfter this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him.
ASVAnd it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass afterwards, that Absalom prepareth for himself a chariot, and horses, and fifty men are running before him;
DARBYAnd it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
BBENow after this, Absalom got for himself a carriage and horses, and fifty runners to go before him.
WebsterAnd it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

What does 2 Samuel 15:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2Sa 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 splendid retinue, which would make him "the observed of all observers."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Absalom conspires against his father, and uses various methods to seduce the people from their allegiance to their king, 2Sam 15:1-4. Under pretense of paying a vow at Hebron, he obtains leave from David to go thither; and, by emissaries sent through the land, prepares the people for revolt, 2Sam 15:7-11. He gains over Ahithophel, David's counsellor, 2Sam 15:12. David is informed of the general defection of the people; on which he, and his life-guards and friends, leave the city, and go towards the wilderness, 2Sam 15:13-18. The steadfast friendship of Ittai, the Gittite, 2Sam 15:19-22. David's affecting departure from the city, 2Sam 15:23. He sends Zadok and Abiathar with the ark back to Jerusalem, 2Sam 15:24-29. He goes up Mount Olivet; prays that the counsel of Ahithophel may be turned into foolishness, 2Sam 15:30-31. He desires Hushai to return to Jerusalem, and to send him word of all that occurs, 2Sam 15:32-37. Verse 1 Absalom 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, magnificent, eloquent, and popular prince; he was also rich, ambitious, and vain of his personal accomplishments: after the death of Amnon, and his reconciliation to his father, he saw no hindrance in his way to the throne. He despised Solomon because of the meanness of his birth, and his tender years. He was himself of the blood royal, not only by his father David, but also by his mother Maacah, daughter to Talmai, king of Geshur: and, doubtless, in his own apprehension, of sufficient age, authority, and wisdom, to sustain the weight of government. There was properly now no competitor in his way: Amnon, David's first-born, was dead. Of Chileab, his second son by Abigail, we hear nothing; and Absalom was the third: see 2Sam 3:2-5. He, therefore, seemed to stand nearest to the throne; but his sin was, that he sought it during his father's life, and endeavored to dethrone him in order to sit in his stead.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:1-6
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.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Samuel 15:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַֽיְהִי֙vay.Hiand it wasH1961
מֵאַ֣חֲרֵיme.'A.cha.reifrom afterH310
כֵ֔ןKhenthusH3651
וַיַּ֤עַשׂvai.Ya.'asand he acquiredH6213
לוֹ֙lofor <the> himself
אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם'av.sha.LomAbsalomH53
מֶרְכָּבָ֖הmer.ka.Vaha chariotH4818
וְסֻסִ֑יםve.su.Simand horsesH5483
וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםva.cha.mi.Shimand fiftyH2572
אִ֖ישׁ'ishmanH376
רָצִ֥יםra.Tzim[who] ranH7323
לְפָנָֽיו\׃le.fa.Nav<to> before himH6440

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Samuel 15:1

  • 1 Kings 1:5

    Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

  • 2 Samuel 12:11

    Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

  • Psalms 20:7

    Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

  • 1 Samuel 8:11

    And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

  • Proverbs 11:2

    When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

  • 1 Kings 10:26-29

    And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem. And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance. And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price. And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.

  • 1 Kings 1:33

    The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:

  • Deuteronomy 17:16

    But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.

  • Jeremiah 22:14-16

    That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion. Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord.

  • Proverbs 17:19

    He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

  • Proverbs 16:18

    Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Absalom, by fair speeches and courtesies, steals the hearts of Israel.
7 Under pretence of a vow, he obtains leave to go to Hebron.
10 He makes there a great conspiracy.
13 David upon the news flees from Jerusalem.
19 Ittai will not leave him.
24 Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark.
30 David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping.
31 He curses Ahithophel's counsel.
32 Hushai is sent back with instructions.

A.M. 2980. B.C. 1024. Absalom.
12:11; De 17:16; 1Sa 8:11; 1Ki 1:5,33; 10:26-29; Ps 20:7; Pr 11:2
Pr 16:18; 17:19; Jer 22:14-16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 15:1

    And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

  • 2 Samuel 15:2

    And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

Read all of 2 Samuel 15

2 Samuel 15:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		ACONTECIÓ después de esto, que Absalom se hizo de carros y caballos, y cincuenta hombres que corriesen delante de él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et il arriva, après cela, qu’Absalom se procura des chars et des chevaux, et 50 hommes qui couraient devant lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah hernach, da schaffte sich Absalom Wagen und Rosse an, und fünfzig Mann, die vor ihm herliefen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Igitur post hæc fecit sibi Absalom currus, et equites, et quinquaginta viros qui præcederent eum.