Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel.
Parallel translations
- WEB Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
- KJV And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
- BSB Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
- NKJV Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him.
- NASB Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with 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 and the men of Israel enter Jerusalem with Ahithophel. The rebel forces take the capital that David has abandoned.
Overview
The scene shifts to Absalom occupying Jerusalem alongside his powerful counselor Ahithophel. The usurper's apparent triumph seems complete as he holds the city and the throne. Yet David's planted agent Hushai is already in place, and God's sovereign reversal is about to unfold.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- 2 Sam 15:37So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
- 2 Sam 15:12Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 16:15 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.