2 Samuel 15:30
ESV
But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.
NIV
But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.
NASB
And David was going up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, and his head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his own head, and they were going up, weeping as they went.
CSB
David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. All of the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they ascended.
NLT
David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill.
KJV
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.
NKJV
So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.
What does 2 Samuel 15:30 mean?
David is in mourning. His son Absalom has spent four years winning the hearts of men from throughout Israel, and he did it without ever leaving Jerusalem. After David allowed him to go to Hebron, Absalom declared himself king and co-conspirators spread the news. Absalom is now marching toward Jerusalem with his followers and two hundred innocent men from Jerusalem who aren't exactly sure what's going on (2 Samuel 15:1–11).David may be shocked, but he would have understood both Absalom's motives and God's purposes. After Nathan confronted David with his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah, God revealed David's judgment. As David had betrayed his friend, someone from David's house would betray him (2 Samuel 12:11). Absalom's revolt is David's punishment.
The king's reaction is complicated. He fully accepts God's judgment. Whether it be death or restoration, David knows God is sovereign, just, and merciful (2 Samuel 15:25–26). While he will submit to God, he will not submit to Absalom. Before he even leaves the city, David commissions the priests to spy on Absalom and send him word of the upstart's plans (2 Samuel 15:27–28). And yet, even has he does what he can and trusts God's will, David freely mourns. God will decide what will happen, but in this moment, David is exiled from his home and his people. As he leads his people to safety, he also leads them in mourning.
As if Absalom's betrayal wasn't enough, David receives more bad news. His trusted advisor, Ahithophel, has sided with the enemy. There's nothing he can do, so he cries out to God, "O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness" (2 Samuel 15:31).
God listens. Before David even reaches the summit of the Mount of Olives, he meets his friend Hushai. The old man is the perfect foil for Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:32–37). He infiltrates Absalom's advisory council. When Ahithophel tells Absalom to organize what forces he has and attack David's party immediately, Hushai tells him to wait until he can gather a larger army. That delay means everything. David's people can cross the Jordan to safety, regroup, and meet Absalom in battle. The fighting is fierce, but the results prove that it's still God's plan for David to be king (2 Samuel 17—18).
