2 Samuel 15:3

And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters [are] good and right; but [there is] no man [deputed] of the king to hear thee.

And Absalom {H53} said {H559} unto him, See {H7200}, thy matters {H1697} are good {H2896} and right {H5228}; but there is no man deputed of the king {H4428} to hear {H8085} thee.

Avshalom would say to him, "Look, your cause is good and just; but the king hasn't deputized anyone to hear your case."

Absalom would say, โ€œLook, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.โ€

And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

Commentary

2 Samuel 15:3 captures a pivotal moment in Absalom's meticulously planned rebellion against his father, King David. Here, Absalom intercepts individuals coming to the king for judgment, subtly undermining David's authority and winning the hearts of the people.

Context

This verse is part of Absalom's calculated strategy, as detailed in 2 Samuel 15:1-6. He positions himself at the city gate, a traditional place for legal proceedings and public gatherings, intercepting those who came to King David for justice. Absalom's goal was to sow discontent and lure the loyalty of the Israelite populace away from the reigning monarch. His words imply a failure in David's administration, suggesting that the king was either inaccessible or negligent in hearing his people's grievances, thereby creating fertile ground for his own ambitious takeover.

Key Themes

  • Usurpation and Deception: Absalom's words are a masterclass in political manipulation. He feigns concern for the people's "good and right" matters while subtly accusing the king of neglect, thereby positioning himself as the only one capable of rendering true justice. This act of stealing the hearts of the men of Israel was a direct path to rebellion.
  • Perceived Failure of Justice: Absalom capitalizes on any real or perceived shortcomings in David's judicial system. By declaring, "there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee," he paints a picture of an unresponsive or inefficient monarchy, creating a vacuum he intends to fill.
  • Ambition and Betrayal: This verse highlights Absalom's profound ambition, which led him to betray his own father and the established order. His method is not overt aggression but insidious flattery and a promise of better governance.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "no man [deputed] of the king to hear thee" (Hebrew: ืึตื™ืŸ ืฉืึนืžึตืขึท ืœึฐืšึธ ืžึตืึตืช ื”ึทืžึถึผืœึถืšึฐ, ein shomea leka me'et hammelech) literally means "there is no one listening to you from the king." This suggests a lack of official representation or a breakdown in the direct line of communication and justice from the king's court. Absalom's emphasis on "good and right" (ื˜ื•ึนื‘ึดื™ื ื•ึผื ึฐื›ึนื—ึดื™ื, tovim u'nechochim) validates the complainant's case, making his subsequent critique of the king's inaction all the more potent and persuasive in the eyes of the common people.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a powerful cautionary tale. It reminds us to be wary of those who, through flattery and cunning, sow discord and undermine legitimate authority by promising quick solutions or highlighting perceived deficiencies. It underscores the importance of:

  • Discernment: Discerning between genuine concern and manipulative tactics. Absalom's charm was a cloak for his destructive ambition.
  • Accessible Justice: The need for leaders, whether in government, church, or family, to ensure that those under their care have avenues for their concerns to be heard and addressed fairly. Neglect in this area can create fertile ground for disloyalty.
  • Integrity in Leadership: The incident highlights the consequences when leaders are perceived as disconnected or failing in their duties, even if that perception is fostered by malicious intent. David's own past actions, particularly in the Bathsheba incident (2 Samuel 12:11), had perhaps weakened his standing and opened the door for such a challenge from within his own house.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 20:12

    ยถ Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

  • Proverbs 30:17

    The eye [that] mocketh at [his] father, and despiseth to obey [his] mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

  • Proverbs 30:11

    [There is] a generation [that] curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

  • Matthew 15:4

    For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

  • 1 Peter 2:17

    Honour all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

  • 2 Samuel 8:15

    ยถ And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

  • Ezekiel 22:7

    In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.
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