Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 15:2

And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was [so], that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city [art] thou? And he said, Thy servant [is] of one of the tribes of Israel.

2. beside the way of the gate ] By the side of the road leading to the gate of the king’s palace, where he sat to transact business. Cp. ch. 2Sa 19:8. From this practice the Sultan’s government is still popularly called in Turkey “the Sultan’s gate,” and the Sublime Porte, which is the French equivalent of Bab-i-Humayoon (the high gate), the name of the principal gate of the palace at Constantinople, is used by us as a synonym for the Turkish government.

a controversy ] Better, a suit, as in 2Sa 15:4.

of one of the tribes of Israel ] Belongs to such and such a tribe or city: naming the particular one in each case.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Beside the way of the gate – See Rth 4:1 note.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

2Sa 15:2-6

And Absalom rose up early in the morning.

Courtesy wins hearts

Lady Montague, speaking of gentle manners, remarked: Civility costs nothing, but buys everything. Said Burleigh to Queen Elizabeth: Win hearts, and you have the brains and the purses of all.

Servile flattery

Compare the description of Bolingbrokes behaviour which Shakespeare puts into the mouth of Richard II.:–

Ourself and Bushy, Bagel here and Green,

Observed his courtship to the common people;
How he did seem to dive into their hearts
With humble and familiar courtesy,
What reverence he did throw away on slaves,
Wooing poor craftsmen with the craft of smiles.

King Richard II., Act 1:1-26, Sc. 4.

(A. F. Kirkpatrick, M. A.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Rose up early; thereby making a show of self-denial, and diligence, and solicitude for the good of the public, and of every private person, as he had opportunity.

Beside the way of the gate; either, first, Of the kings palace. Or rather, secondly, Of the city; for that was the place of judicature or judgment, for which these men came.

Absalom called unto him, preventing him with the offers of his assistance.

Of what city art thou? as if he were ready to make particular inquiry into the state of his cause.

Of one of the tribes of Israel; or rather, of one city (which word is easily understood out of the foregoing question) of the tribes of Israel, i.e. of an Israelitish city, either this or that; of such or such a city.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

2-6. Absalom rose up early, andstood beside the way of the gatePublic business in the East isalways transacted early in the morningthe kings sitting an hour ormore to hear causes or receive petitions, in a court held anciently,and in many places still, in the open air at the city gateway; sothat, as those whose circumstances led them to wait on King Davidrequired to be in attendance on his morning levees, Absalom had torise up early and stand beside the way of the gate. Through thegrowing infirmities of age, or the occupation of his government withforeign wars, many private causes had long lain undecided, and a deepfeeling of discontent prevailed among the people. Thisdissatisfaction was artfully fomented by Absalom, who addressedhimself to the various suitors; and after briefly hearing their tale,he gratified everyone with a favorable opinion of his case.Studiously concealing his ambitious designs, he expressed a wish tobe invested with official power, only that he might accelerate thecourse of justice and advance the public interests. His professionshad an air of extraordinary generosity and disinterestedness, which,together with his fawning arts in lavishing civilities on all, madehim a popular favorite. Thus, by forcing a contrast between his owndisplay of public spirit and the dilatory proceedings of the court,he created a growing disgust with his father’s government, as weak,careless, or corrupt, and seduced the affections of the multitude,who neither penetrated the motive nor foresaw the tendency of hisconduct.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And Absalom rose up early,…. Every morning, to show how diligent and industrious he should be, and closely apply himself to business, was he in any office trader the king, and especially when he should be king himself; this he did to ingratiate himself into the affections of the people:

and stood beside the way of the gate; either of the king’s palace, so Josephus d, or of the city, where courts of judicature are held: the former seems most probable by what follows:

and it was [so], that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment; that had a controversy with another man on any account, and came to the king to have it decided according to law, or the rules of justice and equity:

then Absalom called unto him, and said, of what city [art] thou? which question he asked, only to lead on to some further discourse:

and he said, thy servant [is] of one of the tribes; that is, of one of the cities of the tribes of Israel, and not of a city of another nation.

d Antiqu. l. 7. c. 9. sect. 1.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

2. The way of the gate The way to the gate of the city, along which persons having complaints were wont to come. The gate of the city was the well known place of the ancient court. Rth 4:1.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

(2) And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. (3) And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. (4) Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! (5) And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. (6) And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

It is awful to consider the depth of guilt and sin in the heart of man. Here is a man wishing himself a Judge, that merited judgment, and punishment, for the murder even of his own brother! Here is such a character aspiring to a crown, and yet apparently so very humble as to embrace the poorest creature in the kingdom. Dearest Jesus! hadst thou not come down from heaven to redeem our nature, and hadst thou not sent thy blessed Spirit to renew our nature; what man alive would have believed that the same seeds of sin as are here seen bringing forth their deadly fruit in the instance of Absalom, are in every man’s heart by nature. Lord keep me from that evil man myself!

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

2Sa 15:2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was [so], that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city [art] thou? And he said, Thy servant [is] of one of the tribes of Israel.

Ver. 2. And Absalom rose up early. ] As ambition is restless, and like the crocodile, groweth as long as it liveth. Hereby, also, he would make the people believe that he was very solicitous of their good, since up so early for the purpose.

That when any man that had a controversy. ] So he showeth himself, as Jerome a calleth Crates, Gloriae animal, popularis aurae vile mancipium, basely popular.

a Epist. ad Julian. Consolator.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)