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Sunday, July 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Green's Literal Translation

2 Samuel 15:1

And it happened afterward that Absalom prepared a chariot for himself, and horses, and fifty men running before him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ambition;   Candidate;   Electioneering;   Footman;   Usurpation;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ambition;   Worldly;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Chariots;   Judah, the Tribe of;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Chariot;   David;   War;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Guard;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Adonijah;   Ahimaaz;   Guard;   Harosheth of the Gentiles;   Judges;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Abiathar;   Absalom;   Court Systems;   Footman;   Runners;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   Chariot;   David;   Footman;   Guard Body-Guard;   Judges;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Trial-At-Law;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   David;   Jerusalem;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ab'salom;   Sol'omon;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Absalom (1);   Decision;   Games;   Horse;   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Absalom;   Horse;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
After this, Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Hebrew Names Version
It happened after this, that Avshalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
King James Version
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Lexham English Bible
It happened afterward that Absalom made himself a chariot with horses and fifty men running before him.
English Standard Version
After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
New Century Version
After this, Absalom got a chariot and horses for himself and fifty men to run before him.
New English Translation
Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.
Amplified Bible
After this, Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men as runners before him.
New American Standard Bible
Now it came about after this that Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run ahead of him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
After this, Absalom prepared him charets & horses, and fiftie men to runne before him.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened afterwards, that Absalom prepared for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him.
Contemporary English Version
Some time later, Absalom got himself a chariot with horses to pull it, and he had fifty men run in front.
Complete Jewish Bible
Some time later, Avshalom prepared himself a chariot and horses, with fifty men to run ahead of him.
Darby Translation
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Easy-to-Read Version
After this, Absalom got a chariot and horses for himself. He had 50 men run in front of him while he drove the chariot.
George Lamsa Translation
AND after this, Absalom prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
Good News Translation
After this, Absalom provided a chariot and horses for himself, and an escort of fifty men.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And after this it fortuned that Absalom caused to prepare himselfe chearettes and horses, and fyftye men, which were his fote me.
American Standard Version
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Bible in Basic English
Now after this, Absalom got for himself a carriage and horses, and fifty runners to go before him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
After this, Absalo prepared him charettes & horses, and fiftie men to runne before him.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe after this, that Absalom prepared him charets and horses, and fiftie men to runne before him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it came to pass after this that Abessalom prepared for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
English Revised Version
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Berean Standard Bible
Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run before him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor aftir these thingis Absolon made a chaar to hym, and knyytis, and fifti men, that schulden go bifor hym.
Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass afterwards, that Absalom prepareth for himself a chariot, and horses, and fifty men are running before him;
Update Bible Version
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
World English Bible
It happened after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
New King James Version
After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
New Living Translation
After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him.
New Life Bible
After this, Absalom got a war-wagon and horses, and fifty men to run in front of him.
New Revised Standard
After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run ahead of him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, after this, that Absolom prepared him chariots and horses, - and fifty men, to run before him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now after these things Absalom made himself chariots, and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
Revised Standard Version
After this Ab'salom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
THE MESSAGE
As time went on, Absalom took to riding in a horse-drawn chariot, with fifty men running in front of him. Early each morning he would take up his post beside the road at the city gate. When anyone showed up with a case to bring to the king for a decision, Absalom would call him over and say, "Where do you hail from?" And the answer would come, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now it came about after this that Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him.

Contextual Overview

1 And it happened afterward that Absalom prepared a chariot for himself, and horses, and fifty men running before him. 2 And Absalom rose up and stood by the side of the way of the gate. And it happened that every man who had a cause to come to the king for judgment, Absalom called to him and said, Of what city are you? And he said, Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Absalom said to him, Behold, your matters are good and right. And there is no listener to you from the king. 4 And Absalom said, Who shall make me a judge in the land, that every man who has a dispute, I will then declare him right, even with justice? 5 And it happened, when a man drew near to bow himself to him, he put out his hand and laid hold on him, and gave him a kiss. 6 And Absalom acted this way to all Israel who came in to the king for judgment. And Absalom stole the heart of the men of Israel.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 2980, bc 1024

Absalom: 2 Samuel 12:11, Deuteronomy 17:16, 1 Samuel 8:11, 1 Kings 1:5, 1 Kings 1:33, 1 Kings 10:26-29, Psalms 20:7, Proverbs 11:2, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 17:19, Jeremiah 22:14-16

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 22:17 - footmen 2 Samuel 3:3 - Absalom 2 Samuel 16:2 - What meanest 1 Kings 14:27 - guard Psalms 3:1 - when Psalms 86:14 - O God Psalms 132:1 - all his afflictions Proverbs 15:5 - fool John 12:15 - sitting

Cross-References

Genesis 15:1
After these things the Word of Jehovah came to Abram in a vision, saying, Do not fear, Abram; I am your shield, your reward will increase greatly.
Genesis 15:2
And Abram said, Lord Jehovah, what will You give to me since I am going childless and the son of the inheritance of my house is Eleazar of Damascus?
Genesis 15:3
And Abram said, Behold! You have given no seed to me; and lo, the son of my house is inheriting of me!
Genesis 15:4
And behold! The Word of Jehovah came to him saying, This one shall not be inheriting. But he that shall come forth out of your own bowels shall be your heir.
Genesis 15:5
And He brought him outside and said, Look now at the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them. And He said to him, So shall your seed be.
Genesis 15:6
And he believed in Jehovah. And He counted it to him for righteousness.
Genesis 15:10
And he took all these for Him, and he divided them in the middle; and he laid each piece against one another, but he did not divide the bird.
Genesis 15:14
and I also will judge that nation whom they shall serve; and afterward they shall come out with great substance.
Genesis 15:16
And in the fourth generation they shall come here again; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
Genesis 15:17
And it happened, the sun had gone down, and it was dark. Behold! A smoking furnace and a torch of fire that passed between those pieces!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass after this,.... After the reconciliation of David and Absalom, and the latter was admitted to court again:

that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses; to make himself look grand and respectable among the people; perhaps he got these from his grandfather at Geshur in Syria:

and fifty men to run before him; which added to his pomp and magnificence; and such great personages in later time have had; Nero the Roman emperor never went on a journey with less than a thousand calashes or chariots, and a great number of men that ran before him c: and this was tacitly setting himself up for king, at least preparing for it, as Adonijah afterwards did in the same way and manner, 1 Kings 1:5.

c Suetonius in Vit. Neron. c. 30. Vid. Senecae, Ep. 87. & 123.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass ... - The working out of Nathan’s prophecy (marginal reference) is the clue to the course of the narrative. How long after Absalom’s return these events occurred we are not told.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XV

Absalom conspires against his father, and uses various methods

to seduce the people from their allegiance to their king, 14.

Under pretence of paying a vow at Hebron, he obtains leave from

David to go thither; and, by emissaries sent through the land,

prepares the people for revolt, 7-11.

He gains over Ahithophel, David's counsellor, 12.

David is informed of the general defection of the people; on

which he, and his life-guards and friends, leave the city, and

go towards the wilderness, 13-18.

The steadfast friendship of Ittai, the Gittite, 19-22.

David's affecting departure from the city, 23.

He sends Zadok and Abiathar with the ark back to Jerusalem,

24-29.

He goes up Mount Olivet; prays that the counsel of Ahithophel

may be turned into foolishness, 30-31.

He desires Hushai to return to Jerusalem, and to send him word

of all that occurs, 32-37.

NOTES ON CHAP. XV

Verse 2 Samuel 15:1. Absalom prepared him chariots and horses — After all that has been said to prove that horses here mean horsemen, I think it most likely that the writer would have us to understand chariots drawn by horses; not by mules or such like cattle.

Fifty men to run before him. — Affecting in every respect the regal state by this establishment. Of this man Calmet collects the following character: "He was a bold, violent, revengeful, haughty, enterprising, magnificent, eloquent, and popular prince; he was also rich, ambitious, and vain of his personal accomplishments: after the death of Amnon, and his reconciliation to his father, he saw no hindrance in his way to the throne. He despised Solomon because of the meanness of his birth, and his tender years. He was himself of the blood royal, not only by his father David, but also by his mother Maacah, daughter to Talmai, king of Geshur: and, doubtless, in his own apprehension, of sufficient age, authority, and wisdom, to sustain the weight of government. There was properly now no competitor in his way: Amnon, David's first-born, was dead. Of Chileab, his second son by Abigail, we hear nothing; and Absalom was the third: see 2 Samuel 3:2-5. He, therefore, seemed to stand nearest to the throne; but his sin was, that he sought it during his father's life, and endeavoured to dethrone him in order to sit in his stead."


 
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