And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Parallel translations
- WEB After this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him.
- BSB Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.
- NKJV After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
- NASB Now it came about after this that Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run ahead of him.
- NLT After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him.
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
Absalom acquires a chariot, horses, and fifty runners to project royal grandeur. He begins building a public image as a king-in-waiting.
Overview
Now fully restored, Absalom immediately stages a royal entourage to impress the people. The display, reminiscent of the trappings Samuel warned kings would seize (1 Samuel 8:11), reveals his ambition for the throne. This calculated self-promotion launches the slow, deliberate campaign by which he will steal the kingdom from his father.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Kgs 1:5Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
- 1 Sam 8:11And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
- 2 Sam 12:11Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
- Ps 20:7Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
- Prov 17:19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
- 1 Kgs 1:33The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:
- Prov 16:18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
- 1 Kgs 10:26–29And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.
- Deut 17:16But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
- Jer 22:14–16That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.
- Prov 11:2When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
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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 15:1 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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