2 Samuel 15:14
ESV
Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword."
NIV
Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword."
NASB
So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, 'Arise and let’s flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Go quickly, or he will hurry and overtake us, and bring disaster on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.'
CSB
David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, "Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! Leave quickly, or he will overtake us quickly, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword."
NLT
Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!' David urged his men. 'Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.'
KJV
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.
NKJV
So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
What does 2 Samuel 15:14 mean?
Although Absalom can keep his conspiracy to take the throne a secret until he has nearly accomplished it, David learns of Absalom's plan with enough time to run for his life with his supporters. David immediately decides that he must not get trapped in Jerusalem. So, he orders his servants to escape the city and get far enough away so that Absalom's forces cannot overtake them easily.If this were a foreign army, David could stay and fight. Jerusalem sits on a hill with high walls. The people would be safe. But this is the army of the prince, and David doesn't know how many people in Jerusalem are loyal to Absalom. If David shuts the gate against the rebels, Absalom's followers could open it again and fight David with Absalom's army.
On the other hand, undoubtedly many in Jerusalem are still loyal to David. Absalom is driven enough that he'd be willing to sacrifice some of his neighbors. David doesn't want to risk the lives of innocent residents. We never learn how many in Jerusalem are loyal, although the priests Abiathar and Zadok, as well as many in and around the city, are (2 Samuel 15:23–24).
There's also the problem that David doesn't have control of his army. As David flees, Absalom replaces Joab with Amasa, David's nephew (2 Samuel 17:25). David does have enough fighting men to break them up into groups of thousands, and Joab and his brother Abishai are still loyal to him, as is the Philistine mercenary Ittai (2 Samuel 18:1–2). But at this moment, David's priority is the safety of his people: those of his house and those of his city.
