Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 15:23
And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
23. all the country ] Lit. all the land: the inhabitants who stood by to watch the procession, as distinguished from all the people, the army and retinue of followers accompanying David.
the brook Kidron ] The ravine of Kidron is the deep ravine on the east of Jerusalem, now commonly known as the Valley of Jehoshaphat, which separates the city from the Mount of Olives. No stream now flows in it except during the heavy rains of winter, nor is there any evidence that there was anciently more water in it than at present. The name, if it is a Hebrew word, means black, referring either to the blackness of the torrent flowing through it (Job 6:16), or more probably to the gloominess of the ravine. The Sept., following the common tendency to substitute a significant name of similar sound, calls it the ravine of the cedars ( Cedrn, cp. Joh 18:1). In the O. T. it is chiefly mentioned as an unhallowed spot used for a common cemetery, into which idolatrous abominations were thrown by reforming kings (1Ki 15:13; 2Ch 29:16; 2Ch 30:14 ; 2Ki 23:4; 2Ki 23:6 ; 2Ki 23:12; Jer 31:40). The single mention of it in the N. T. is perhaps designed to recall the present occasion and to suggest the parallel between David fleeing from Jerusalem, and Christ leaving the city which had rejected Him, as the treachery of Judas was the counterpart and “fulfilment” of that of Ahithophel (Joh 18:1; Joh 13:18).
toward the way of the wilderness ] The road to Jericho led through the northern part of the desert of Judah. Cp. 2Sa 15:28 and ch. 2Sa 16:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
2Sa 15:23
And all the country wept with a loud voice.
The way of the Cross
Notice the weeping people. (Luk 23:27-31.) Davids experience at this time contains many foreshadowings of the passion of our Lord, but also some contrasts, as the conduct of the priesthood. (Verse 24 compared with Joh 18:13; Joh 18:24.)
I. The ark sent back. In this incident Davids character rises to its height of moral grandeur. The ark was the symbol of Gods presence. (1Sa 4:1-11.) The Israelites in Elis time had degenerated into trust of the symbol, instead of that which it symbolized. (Jer 7:1-4; Mat 3:9.) David understood the spiritual truth underlying, but not inseparable from, the outward sign.
II. His motives in sending back the ark seem to have been:
1. An expression of his unworthiness, as one who had deeply sinned, and was suffering the consequences of sin, to enjoy the consolation of religion.
2. Trust in Jehovah Himself apart from ordinances and symbols. If I shall find favour, then I shall be restored to the sanctuary and its blessings; and if not, then what good will the ark do me? Without Gods favour it will only be a useless responsibility. This teaches us a deep spiritual lesson, needed in all ages, that mere outward forms of religion can never profit a heart not at peace with God. And in these expressions. David manifested strong faith. (Num 14:8; Dan 3:17-18; 1Jn 5:4.)
3. He feared to injure others by the withdrawal of the symbol of Gods presence, but would rather leave a witness in rebellious Jerusalem. (Psa 69:6; Psa 69:36.)
4. Besides this, he doubtless feared to imperil the ark itself, remembering the awful lesson of Uzzahs death.
III. A prayer immediately answered. (2Sa 15:31; 2Sa 16:23; 1Co 3:18-19; 1Co 1:18-25.) Ahithophels treachery specially alluded to. (Psa 41:9; Psa 55:12-15.) (R. E. Faulkner.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 23. The brook Kidron] This was an inconsiderable brook, and only furnished with water in winter, and in the rains. See Joh 18:1.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All the country, i.e. the generality of the people by whom they passed; for it must be considered that Absaloms friends and partisans were gone to him to Hebron, and the rest of the people thereabouts were either well-willers to David, or at least moved with compassion at the sad and sudden change of so great and good a king, which was able to affect a heart of stone.
The brook Kidron was near Jerusalem. See Mat 26:36; Joh 18:1.
Toward the way of the wilderness; which was between Jerusalem and Jericho.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
23. the brook Kidrona wintertorrent that flows through the valley between the city and theeastern side of the Mount of Olives.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And all the country wept with a loud voice,…. The people that came out of the country villages round about, upon the report of the king’s leaving Jerusalem, because of his son’s conspiracy against him; these wept when they saw him in the circumstances in which he was, obliged to fly from a rebellious son:
and all the people passed over; the people that were with David passed over Kidron, and so the Cherethites, and Pelethites:
the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron; this explains what place it was they passed over, which is not before mentioned, but is particularly named in the account of the king’s passing over it; over which same brook the Messiah, his antitype, passed a little before his sufferings and death; of which brook, [See comments on Joh 18:1]. It is often by Josephus m called a valley, sometimes a brook, it having little water, except in winter; Mr. Maundrell n says, it ran along the bottom of the valley of Jehoshaphat, a brook in the wintertime; but without the least drop of water in it all the time, says he, we were in Jerusalem; and so Reland o, that in summertime it ceases to be a river, and has the name of a valley; and Le Bruyn says p, it is at present dried up; it runs along the valley of Jehoshaphat, and is not above three paces broad; it has no other but rain water, which flows from the adjacent hills:
and all the people passed over to the way of the wilderness; which lay between Jerusalem and Jericho.
m Antiqu. l. 8. c. 1. sect. 5. & l. 9. c. 7. sect. 3. De Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 3. c. 4. sect. 2. c. 6. sect. 1. n Journey from Aleppo, &c. p. 102. o Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 1. p. 294, 351. p Voyage to the Levant, ch. 48. p. 188.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(23) The brook Kidron.A valley with a watercourse, filled in winter, lying immediately east of Jerusalem, between the city and the Mount of Olives.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
23. The brook Kidron This mountain ravine commences a little more than a mile northwest of Jerusalem, runs more than a mile in an easterly direction, and then turns southward and passes directly below the walls of the city on the east. To the south of the city it joins with the valley of Hinnom, and runs off in a southeasterly direction, through a deep, wild gorge, to the Dead Sea. It contains the bed of a streamlet, but no water runs in it except after heavy rains have fallen on the surrounding hills.
Toward the way of the wilderness The way that led through the wild desert of Judah, which lay between Jerusalem and the Jordan, and extended south along the Dead Sea.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(23) And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
Much as I am pleased with what is here said of the affection of the people to David, I gladly leave the subject of David’s passing over Kidron, to view thee, thou dear Redeemer, accompanied with thy chosen few, going over the very same memorable brook, in the night of thy sufferings, when thou enteredst into the garden. Had my soul seen thee, dearest Jesus, in that awful hour; and had I then known what through thy gracious teachings I now know, that that Kidron’s brook, into which all the black, polluted waters, emptied themselves from the sacrifices of the temple, was typical of the guilt and defilement of my soul, which is poured upon thee; Oh! how should I, like the people following David, have lifted up my voice and wept. Joh 18:1 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 15:23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
Ver. 23. And all the country wept with a loud voice. ] All David’s friends did, when Absalom and his complices were jolly and jocund: but their good times lasted not long.
The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron.
Toward the way of the wilderness.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
all: i, e. all the country round him. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Whole). App-6.
country. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject) for the people. Figure of speech Prosopopceia. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
all the country: Rom 12:15
the brook: The brook Kidron, which is but a few paces broad, runs along the valley of Jehoshaphat, east of Jerusalem, to the south-west corner of the city, and then, turning to the south-east, empties itself into the Dead Sea. Like the Ilissus, it is dry at least nine months in the year, being only furnished with water in the winter, and after heavy rains: its bed is narrow and deep, which indicates that it must formerly have been the channel for waters which have found some other, and probably subterraneous course.
Kidron: 1Ki 2:37, Joh 18:1, Cedron
the wilderness: 2Sa 16:2, Mat 3:1, Mat 3:3, Luk 1:80
Reciprocal: 2Sa 15:28 – General 1Ki 15:13 – the brook 2Ki 23:4 – Kidron 2Ch 30:14 – the brook Neh 2:15 – the brook Isa 15:5 – with Jer 31:40 – the brook
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 15:23. All the country wept All about Jerusalem, and the generality of the people by whom they passed, being extremely afflicted to see their king, under whom they had lived in great peace and prosperity, reduced to such extremities. It must be considered, that Absaloms friends and partisans were gone to him to Hebron, and the rest of the people thereabouts were either well-wishers to David, or at least moved with compassion at the sad and sudden change of so great and good a king, which was sufficient to affect a heart of stone. All the people passed over All that continued faithful to David in those parts. The king also passed over the brook Kidron Or Cedron, which was near Jerusalem. The very same brook which Christ passed over, when he entered upon his sufferings, Joh 18:1. Toward the way of the wilderness Which lay between Jerusalem and Jericho.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
15:23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and {o} all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
(o) That is, the four hundred men.