Back to 2 Samuel 15

2 Samuel 15:32-37

When David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his tunic torn, and earth on his head. David said to him, “If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me; but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’ Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. Send to me everything that you shall hear by them.”

So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    When David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his tunic torn, and earth on his head.

    David said to him, “If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me;

    but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’

    Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

    Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. Send to me everything that you shall hear by them.”

    So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

  • KJV King James Version

    And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

    Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:

    But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

    And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

    Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and Jonathan Abiathar’s son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

    So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the ascent, where God was wont to be worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.

    And David said unto him: 'If thou passest on with me, then thou wilt be a burden unto Me;

    but if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom: I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant in time past, so will I now be thy servant; then wilt thou defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

    And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

    Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye shall hear.'

    So Hushai David's friend came into the city; and Absalom was at the point of coming into Jerusalem.

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Cross-references (26)

  • Joshua 16:2 (v32) It went out from Bethel to Luz, and passed along to the border of the Archites to Ataroth;
  • 2 Samuel 16:15-16 (v37) Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had…
  • 2 Samuel 17:15-16 (v35) Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel that way; and I have…
  • 2 Samuel 17:17 (v36) Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a female servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David. For…
  • 2 Samuel 19:35 (v33) I am eighty years old, today. Can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear the voice…
Show all 25 cross-references
  • 1 Chronicles 27:33 (v37) Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.
  • 2 Samuel 15:27 (v36) The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son,…
  • 2 Samuel 1:2 (v32) on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head. When he came to David, he…
  • Psalms 3:3-5 (v32) But you, Yahweh, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cry to Yahweh with my voice, and he answers me out…
  • 2 Samuel 16:16-19 (vv32, 34) When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” Absalom…
  • Joshua 8:2 (v34) You shall do to Ai and her king as you did to Jericho and her king, except you shall take its goods and its livestock for yourselves. Set…
  • 2 Samuel 13:19 (v32) Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way,…
  • 2 Samuel 15:20 (v34) Whereas you came but yesterday, should I today make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your…
  • 2 Samuel 15:30 (v32) David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot. All the people…
  • 2 Samuel 17:5-14 (v34) Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear likewise what he says.” When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke…
  • 2 Samuel 18:19-33 (v36) Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me now run and carry the king news, how Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies.” Joab said to him,…
  • 1 Kings 8:44-45 (v32) “If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to Yahweh toward the city which…
  • 1 Kings 11:7 (v32) Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the mountain that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the…
  • Job 1:20-21 (v32) Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came out of my…
  • Psalms 3:7 (v32) Arise, Yahweh! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked.
  • Psalms 4:1-3 (v32) Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. You sons of men, how…
  • Psalms 50:15 (v32) Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
  • Psalms 91:15 (v32) He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him.
  • Matthew 10:16 (v34) “Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
  • Luke 19:29 (v32) When he came near to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples,

25 distinct cross-references across this passage (26 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (17 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v34 Though Hushai dissembled here at the King’s request, yet…

Though Hushai dissembled here at the King’s request, yet may we not use this example to excuse our dissimulation.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv32–37 2Sa 15:32 And it came to pass, that [when]…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv32, 33, 34, 36 He worshipped God; looking towards Jerusalem, where the ark…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv32–37 And it came to pass, that when David was…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv34, 36, 37 And say - That is, as faithful to thee,…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv32, 33, 37 Verse 32. Where he worshipped God] Though in danger…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv32, 33, 34, 36 2Sa 15:32. The top of the mount, where he…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v32 Render ... “when David was come to the top…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv32–34 The Lord, before he lost sight of the holy…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v32 when David was come to the top of the…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv32–34 32. To the top — Of Mount Olivet.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv32, 33, 34, 37 32. the top of the mount] The head or…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv32, 34 (32) Where he worshipped God.—Rather, where men worship. The…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv32, 33, 34, 37 Where he worshipped God; more correctly, where God was…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v32 Hushai the Archite came to meet him.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv32, 35 It came about
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv32, 34 15:32 At this point in Israel’s history, people worshiped…
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