2 Samuel 15 · Verse 13

2 Samuel 15:13

And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

2 Samuel 15:13, King James Version

2 Samuel 15:13 in other translations

BSB	Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
WEB	A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”
ASV	And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
YLT	And he who is declaring tidings cometh in unto David, saying, ‘The heart of the men of Israel hath been after Absalom.'
DARBY	And there came one to David who reported saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
BBE	And one came to David and said, The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.
Webster	And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

What does 2 Samuel 15:13 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 13 The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom - It is very difficult to account for this general defection of the people. Several reasons are given: 1. David was old or afflicted, and could not well attend to the administration of justice in the land. 2. It does appear that the king did not attend to the affairs of state, and that there were no properly appointed judges in the land; see 2Sam 15:3. 3. Joab's power was overgrown; he was wicked and insolent, oppressive to the people, and David was afraid to execute the laws against him. 4. There were still some partisans of the house of Saul, who thought the crown not fairly obtained by David. 5. David was under the displeasure of the Almighty, for his adultery with Bath-sheba, and his murder of Uriah; and God let his enemies loose against him. 6. There are always troublesome and disaffected men in every state, and under every government; who can never rest, and are ever hoping for something from a change. 7. Absalom appeared to be the real and was the undisputed heir to the throne; David could not, in the course of nature, live very long; and most people are more disposed to hail the beams of the rising, than exult in those of the setting, sun. No doubt some of these causes operated, and perhaps most of them exerted less or more influence in this most scandalous business.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:13-23

David determined to quit Jerusalem. He took this resolve, as a penitent submitting to the rod. Before unrighteous Absalom he could justify himself, and stand out; but before the righteous God he must condemn himself, and yield to his judgments. Thus he accepts the punishment of his sin. And good men, when they themselves suffer, are anxious that others should not be led to suffer with them. He compelled none; those whose hearts were with Absalom, to Absalom let them go, and so shall their doom be. Thus Christ enlists none but willing followers. David cannot bear to think that Ittai, a stranger and an exile, a proselyte and a new convert, who ought to be encouraged and made easy, should meet with hard usage. But such value has Ittai for David's wisdom and goodness, that he will not leave him. He is a friend indeed, who loves at all times, and will adhere to us in adversity. Let us cleave to the Son of David, with full purpose of heart, and neither life nor death shall separate us from his love.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Samuel 15:13 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.

וַיָּבֹא֙vai.ya.Vo'and he cameH935

הַמַּגִּ֔ידha.ma.Gidthe messengerH5046

אֶל\־'el-toH413

דָּוִ֖דda.VidDavidH1732

לֵאמֹ֑רle.Mor<to> sayingH559

הָיָ֛הha.Yahit isH1961

לֶב\־lev-[the] heart ofH3820

אִ֥ישׁ'ish[the] man ofH376

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

אַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.ReiafterH310

אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם\׃'av.sha.LomAbsalomH53

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 15:13

Judges 9:3
And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
2 Samuel 15:6
And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Matthew 27:22
Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
Psalms 62:9
Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
2 Samuel 3:36
And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
Matthew 21:9
And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

The hearts.
6; 3:36; Jud 9:3; Ps 62:9; Mt 21:9; 27:22

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

Context

2 Samuel 15:12
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
2 Samuel 15:13
And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
2 Samuel 15:14
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

Read all of 2 Samuel 15

2 Samuel 15:13 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y vino el aviso á David, diciendo: El corazón de todo Israel va tras Absalom.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et il vint à David quelqu’un qui lui rapporta, disant: Les cœurs des hommes d’Israël suivent Absalom.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und es kam einer zu David, der ihm berichtete und sprach: Das Herz der Männer von Israel hat sich Absalom zugewandt.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Venit igitur nuntius ad David, dicens: Toto corde universus Israël sequitur Absalom.