2 Samuel 15 · Verse 14

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.
2 Samuel 15:14, King James Version

2 Samuel 15:14 in other translations

BSBAnd David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”
WEBDavid said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise! Let’s flee, or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
ASVAnd David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
YLTAnd David saith to all his servants who are with him in Jerusalem, ‘Rise, and we flee, for we have no escape from the face of Absalom; haste to go, lest he hasten, and have overtaken us, and forced on us evil, and smitten the city by the mouth of the sword.'
DARBYAnd David said to all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Rise up and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom. Be quick to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
BBEAnd David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Come, let us go in flight, or not one of us will be safe from Absalom: let us go without loss of time, or he will overtake us quickly and send evil on us, and put the town to the sword.
WebsterAnd David said to 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 should overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

What does 2 Samuel 15:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. David said ... Arise, and let us flee--David, anxious for the preservation of the city which he had beautified, and hopeful of a greater support throughout the country, wisely resolved on leaving Jerusalem.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 David said - Arise - let us flee - This, I believe, was the first time that David turned his back to his enemies. And why did he now flee? Jerusalem, far from not being in a state to sustain a siege, was so strong that even the blind and the lame were supposed to be a sufficient defense for the walls, see 2Sam 5:6. And he had still with him his faithful Cherethites and Pelethites; besides six hundred faithful Gittites, who were perfectly willing to follow his fortunes. There does not appear any reason why such a person, in such circumstances, should not act on the defensive; at least till he should be fully satisfied of the real complexion of affairs. But he appears to take all as coming from the hand of God; therefore he humbles himself, weeps, goes barefoot, and covers his head! He does not even hasten his departure, for the habit of mourners is not the habit of those who are flying before the face of their enemies. He sees the storm, and he yields to what he conceives to be the tempest of the Almighty.

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…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 15:13-23 →

2 Samuel 15:14 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.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
דָּ֠וִדDa.vidDavidH1732
לְכָל\־le.kholto allH3605
עֲבָדָ֨יו'a.va.Davservants hisH5650
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whoH834
אִתּ֤וֹ'i.To[were] with himH854
בִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙vi.ru.sha.Limin JerusalemH3389
ק֣וּמוּKu.muariseH6965
וְנִבְרָ֔חָהve.niv.Ra.chahso let us fleeH1272
כִּ֛יkiforH3588
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
תִֽהְיֶה\־tih.yeh-it will belongH1961
לָּ֥נוּLa.nuto <the> us
פְלֵיטָ֖הfe.lei.Tahan escapeH6413
מִפְּנֵ֣יmi.pe.Neifrom beforeH6440
אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם'av.sha.LomAbsalomH53
מַהֲר֣וּma.ha.RuhurryH4116
לָלֶ֗כֶתla.Le.khetto goH1980
פֶּן\־pen-lestH6435
יְמַהֵ֤רye.ma.Herhe should hurryH4116
וְהִשִּׂגָ֙נוּ֙ve.hi.si.Ga.nuand he will overtake usH5381
וְהִדִּ֤יחַve.hi.Di.achand he will thrustH5080
עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙'a.Lei.nuon usH5921
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הָ֣רָעָ֔הha.ra.'Ah<the> calamityH7451
וְהִכָּ֥הve.hi.Kahand he will strikeH5221
הָעִ֖ירha.'Irthe cityH5892
לְפִי\־le.fi-to [the] mouth ofH6310
חָֽרֶב\׃Cha.rev[the] swordH2719

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 15:14

  • 2 Samuel 19:9

    And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

  • Psalms 3:1-8

    A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. …

  • Psalms 51:18

    Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

  • 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.

  • Matthew 11:12

    And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

  • 2 Samuel 23:16-17

    And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth–lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord. And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

  • Psalms 55:3-11

    Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. …

  • Luke 10:15

    And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

  • Ezekiel 46:18

    Moreover the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.

  • Psalms 137:5-6

    If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Arise.
19:9; Ps 3:1; *title
bring. Heb. thrust.
Eze 46:18; Mt 11:12; *marg:
Lu 10:15
and smite.
23:16,17; Ps 51:18; 55:3-11; 137:5,6

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 2 Samuel 15:15

    And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

Read all of 2 Samuel 15

2 Samuel 15:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces David dijo á todos sus siervos que estaban con él en Jerusalem: Levantaos y huyamos, porque no podremos escapar delante de Absalom; daos priesa á partir, no sea que apresurándose él nos alcance, y arroje el mal sobre nosotros, y hiera la ciudad á filo de espada.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et David dit à tous ses serviteurs qui étaient avec lui à Jérusalem: Levez-vous, et fuyons, car nous ne saurions échapper devant Absalom. Hâtez-vous de vous en aller, de peur qu’il ne se hâte, et ne nous atteigne, et ne fasse tomber le malheur sur nous, et ne frappe la ville par le tranchant de l’épée.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da sprach David zu allen seinen Knechten, die in Jerusalem bei ihm waren: Machet euch auf und laßt uns fliehen; denn sonst wird es kein Entrinnen für uns geben vor Absalom. Eilet, hinwegzugehen, daß er nicht eilends uns erreiche und das Unglück über uns treibe und die Stadt schlage mit der Schärfe des Schwertes!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ait David servis suis qui erant cum eo in Jerusalem: Surgite, fugiamus: neque enim erit nobis effugium a facie Absalom: festinate egredi, ne forte veniens occupet nos, et impellat super nos ruinam, et percutiat civitatem in ore gladii.