2 Samuel 15:36 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Behold, their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok 's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar 's son, and by them you shall send to me everything you hear."

NIV: Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear."

NASB: Behold their two sons are there with them, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything that you hear.'

CSB: Take note: their two sons are there with them—Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. Send them to tell me everything you hear."

NLT: and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on.'

KJV: Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

NKJV: Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”

When David heard his son Absalom was marching from Hebron to Jerusalem, his immediate worry was the safety of his people. He told them to quickly pack and get to the gate. He left ten concubines to care for the house and rushed out (2 Samuel 15:15–17).

David reached the gate and watched the people filing out. When Ittai and his band of Philistine mercenaries approached, David urged him to stay. They had only just arrived, and Absalom would treat them well. Ittai dismissed David; they'd rather go into exile with their families than abandon David now (2 Samuel 15:18–22).

But when Abiathar and Zadok arrived with the ark of the covenant, David insisted. The ark belongs in Jerusalem, and they belong to the ark. If they stayed, they would make excellent spies. Zadok was already a seer. They could figure out what Absalom was planning and send a message through their sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan. The priests agreed (2 Samuel 15:24–29).

David passes through the gate, headed east, and climbs the Mount of Olives, mourning as he goes. A message comes: David's counselor Ahithophel has fallen in with Absalom. David barely has time to process the news when Hushai, an old friend, appears. Hushai is the last piece David needs (2 Samuel 15:32–33).

The man is as wise as he is old. David tells him to go back to Jerusalem and convince Absalom that he is willing to share his wisdom as he did with David. His first job is to counter whatever guidance Ahithophel gives. His second is to find a way to tell Abiathar and Zadok what Absalom is doing. The priests will tell their sons, and the sons will find David (2 Samuel 15:35).

Hushai does as David says. He arrives just as Ahithophel tells Absalom to have sex with David's concubines: a symbol of dominance and replacement (2 Samuel 16:15–22). But when Ahithophel tells Absalom to quickly to overtake David, Hushai goes to work. He tells Absalom his father is far too great a warrior. He says Absalom needs to recruit a larger army. While Absalom follows Hushai's purposefully wrong advice, the old man gets words to the priests, and David and his people cross the Jordan to safety (2 Samuel 17).

Second Samuel 15:30–37 details David losing one advisor and gaining another. David's best counselor, Ahithophel, has fallen to Absalom's charms. He follows as Absalom marches towards Jerusalem to take the throne. As David flees, he meets an old friend, Hushai. Hushai wants to come with David, but David sends him to the city to counter Ahithophel's plans. Hushai can't stop Absalom from sleeping with David's concubines (2 Samuel 16:20–23), but he does keep Ahithophel from attacking David's people while they're fleeing (2 Samuel 17).

God's curses against David continue (2 Samuel 12:10–12). David's son Absalom stages a coup. His followers declare him king and escort him to Jerusalem. David and those faithful to him flee the city for the wilderness. He leaves behind two priests, their sons, and an advisor to thwart Absalom's plans. As he travels, David willingly endures every humiliation, not knowing which are from God. Joab kills Absalom, and the kingdom is restored (2 Samuel 16—18). Absalom's betrayal is not recorded in 1 Chronicles.

Second Samuel 15 continues the fulfillment of God's curse on David. As he betrayed his friend Uriah, so someone from David's house will betray him (2 Samuel 12:11). David's son Absalom steals the people's hearts and declares himself king. David and his household flee the city, leaving behind ten concubines and five spies. The spies protect David until Joab can kill Absalom in battle. David is humbled and forgives his enemies (2 Samuel 16—19).