This chapter relates how that Absalom by various artful methods stole away the hearts of the people of Israel, 2Sa 15:1; that pretending a vow he had made, he got leave of the king to go to Hebron to perform it, 2Sa 15:7; where he formed a considerable conspiracy, 2Sa 15:10; of which David having information, thought it advisable to depart from Jerusalem, both for his own safety, and the good of the city, which he did with his family, and guards, and much people, 2Sa 15:13; though he would have persuaded Ittai the Gittite to have returned, but could not prevail upon him, 2Sa 15:19; however, he sent back the priests and the Levites with the ark, lest any harm should come to that, 2Sa 15:24; and as he and the people went up the mount of Olives weeping, it was told him that Ahithophel was among the conspirators, on which he put up a prayer that his counsel might be infatuated, 2Sa 15:30; and Hushai the Archite coming to him at that juncture, he sent him back to Jerusalem to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, and to send him word by the priests what he should hear there from time to time, 2Sa 15:32.
Ver. 1. 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 : and this was tacitly setting himself up for king, at least preparing for it, as Adonijah afterwards did in the same way and manner, 1Ki 1:5.
Suetonius in Vit. Neron. c. 30. Vid. Senecae, Ep. 87.