And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”
Parallel translations
- WEB David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee; or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David resolves to flee Jerusalem at once to spare the city and his men. His swift retreat shows both wisdom and humility under judgment.
Overview
Rather than risk a siege that would devastate Jerusalem, David chooses immediate flight. His decision reflects strategic prudence and perhaps acceptance of the trouble God foretold would come from his own house (12:11). David's willingness to suffer loss rather than destroy the city reveals a shepherd's heart, even amid his fall.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 2 Sam 19:9And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom.
- Ps 137:5–6If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function.
- Ps 3:1–8A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!
- Ps 51:18In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
- Matt 11:12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.
- Ezek 46:18The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people by evicting them from their property. He is to provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people will be displaced from his property.’”
- Luke 10:15And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!
- 2 Sam 12:11This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight.
- Ps 55:3–11at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.
- 2 Sam 23:16–17So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD,
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 15:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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