2 Samuel 15:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place.

NIV: Then the king said to Zadok, "Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again.

NASB: And the king said to Zadok, 'Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then He will bring me back and show me both it and His habitation.

CSB: Then the king instructed Zadok, "Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor with the Lord, he will bring me back and allow me to see both it and its dwelling place.

NLT: Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. 'If the Lord sees fit,' David said, 'he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again.

KJV: And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

NKJV: Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place.

When the Israelites came into the Promised Land, God told them to erect the tabernacle at Shiloh and keep the ark of the covenant there (Joshua 18:1). The priest Eli's sons took the ark into battle where the Philistines stole it (1 Samuel 4:10–11). King Saul also took it into battle (1 Samuel 14:18). The Bible never says what God thought about this one way or the other, and it never says that David took it into battle.

If David had thought this was a good idea, he would have seen this as a perfect time to bring the ark. His son, Absalom, has manipulated enough of Israel that David's kingship and life are in danger. David gathered servants and a military escort for an escape from Jerusalem as Absalom and his men approach. The priests Abiathar and Zadok want to come with him, with the ark and the Levites (2 Samuel 15:13–24). We're not told why, but it seems they want to make sure God is on David's side.

David stops them. He understands God doesn't need the ark to be physically near to save David from anything. The Lord's presence rests on the ark, but God's power is not limited by the ark's location. The Lord will save David if he finds favor in the Lord. God's power can easily bring him back to see the ark and God's dwelling place on earth if that's what God wants to do.

Further, if God isn't pleased with him, David accepts his fate (2 Samuel 15:26). He had a hand in creating this mess. He didn't punish his son Amnon after Amnon raped his sister Tamar. He neither punished nor forgave Absalom when Absalom avenged his sister and murdered Amnon (2 Samuel 13). Even more, he betrayed his friend and warrior Uriah by sleeping with his wife and murdering him. The entire situation is God's judgment on David (2 Samuel 12:10–11).

David has absolute confidence in God's power as well as a willingness to submit to God's plan, whether it benefits David or not. He will not try to force God's favor by taking the ark.

Also, by staying in the city, the priests and their sons can make excellent spies.

Second Samuel 15:24–29 explains how David recruits his priests as spies. Absalom, David's son, has won the hearts of the Israelites and declared himself king. He's approaching Jerusalem with his followers. As David flees the city, his household and three Philistine military units come with him (2 Samuel 15:1–23). But when the priests Abiathar and Zadok arrive with the ark of the covenant, David sends them back. The ark belongs to God, not him, and the priests are in a good position to influence and spy on Absalom. With the help of their sons and David's friend Hushai, they thwart Absalom's plans (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).