2 Samuel 15 13

2 Samuel 15:13 kjv

And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

2 Samuel 15:13 nkjv

Now a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom."

2 Samuel 15:13 niv

A messenger came and told David, "The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom."

2 Samuel 15:13 esv

And a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom."

2 Samuel 15:13 nlt

A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, "All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!"

2 Samuel 15 verses

2 Samuel 15 13 Meaning

2 Samuel 15:13 communicates a stark and alarming report to King David: the loyalty of the vast majority of the Israelite populace has shifted dramatically, their allegiance now fixed on Absalom, David's son. This message signals the success of Absalom's meticulous conspiracy and the rapid onset of a widespread rebellion, posing an immediate existential threat to David's kingship and person. It reveals that the rebellion was not merely a military uprising but a profound, popular defection from the heart of the nation.

2 Samuel 15 13 Context

The verse "And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom" marks a pivotal moment in the dramatic narrative of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. It occurs after years of tension and unresolved familial conflict within David's household, particularly following Absalom's murder of Amnon and his subsequent exile and reluctant return. David's failure to address the murder of Amnon adequately, and perhaps his emotional detachment, created an environment for Absalom to manipulate.

Absalom, renowned for his charismatic personality and physical beauty (2 Sam 14:25), methodically orchestrated his bid for power over a four-year period (2 Sam 15:7). He engaged in a clever political campaign at the city gate, listening to grievances, offering false empathy, and implying that David's justice system was insufficient (2 Sam 15:1-6). He presented himself as the solution, "stealing the hearts of the men of Israel" (2 Sam 15:6). By feigning a vow fulfillment in Hebron, a city associated with David's anointing as king over Judah, Absalom initiated his coup from a symbolically potent location. The messenger's report in 2 Samuel 15:13, therefore, confirms the shocking efficacy of Absalom's scheme and the widespread popular support he garnered, indicating the depth of the defection and the immediate peril David faced.

2 Samuel 15 13 Word analysis

• And there came: (Hebrew: וַיָּבֹא, vayyavo') - Introduces the immediacy and suddenness of the grave news. The messenger's arrival signals a crucial turning point.
• a messenger: (Hebrew: הַמְבַשֵּׂר, hamvaser) - Literally "the one who brings tidings," often "the bearer of good news." In this context, ironically, the tidings are catastrophic. It highlights the formality and credibility of the information reaching the king.
• to David: Specifies the recipient of this urgent and destabilizing news. The entire weight of the report falls on the king.
• saying: (Hebrew: לֵאמֹר, le'mor) - A common Hebrew introductory particle, signaling that the direct speech or quotation that follows is of significant importance.

Words-Group Analysis:

• The hearts of the men of Israel: (Hebrew: הָיָה לֵב אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל, hayah lev ish yisrael) - This is the critical phrase.
  • Hearts (לֵב, lev): While singular in the Hebrew lev, it functions here collectively ("the heart of each man of Israel" or "the collective heart of Israel"). In biblical Hebrew thought, lev represents not merely emotion but also intellect, will, inner being, and commitment. This implies that the allegiance was deep-seated, voluntary, and pervasive throughout the nation, affecting their intentions and loyalties. It suggests a willing, fundamental shift in political and personal allegiance. It was not just a coerced or superficial following, but a genuine turning of the inner self.
  • of the men of Israel (אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל, ish Yisrael): "Man of Israel" here refers to the populace, the general population. The phrase conveys a widespread, almost universal, shift in public sentiment, not limited to a specific tribe or faction. This collective sentiment highlights the massive scale of the rebellion and Absalom's success in cultivating popular favor.
• are after Absalom: (Hebrew: אַחֲרֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם, acharei Abshalom) -
  • After (אַחֲרֵי, acharei): Implies active following, adherence, loyalty, and support. It means they are aligning themselves with him, supporting his cause, and are willing to follow his leadership. This is distinct from mere observation or passive agreement; it denotes commitment to his person and his agenda as a rival king. It signifies a profound act of transfer of loyalty from David to Absalom.
  • Absalom: David's son, indicating the bitter irony of this rebellion originating from within his own household, a fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy.

2 Samuel 15 13 Bonus section

The shock value of this messenger's report is paramount. Unlike a detailed battle report or specific threat, this message is a concise, piercing statement of fundamental betrayal from the very people David governed. The king instantly grasps the magnitude of the problem because "hearts" imply the deep-seated popular will. It is this pervasive disloyalty that forces David's immediate and strategically surprising decision to abandon Jerusalem, rather than attempting to defend it (2 Sam 15:14). His immediate flight, accompanied by his loyal retainers, underscores the absolute gravity of the situation as communicated by this one stark verse. This widespread turning of loyalty serves as a poignant reminder that genuine authority rests not just on position or power, but on the trust and commitment of the governed.

2 Samuel 15 13 Commentary

2 Samuel 15:13 delivers the devastating news of Absalom's successful co-option of popular support, confirming that his rebellion was no mere minor uprising but a formidable threat with widespread allegiance. The use of "the heart" emphasizes the deep, internal commitment of the people, signifying a genuine shift in their will and loyalty, rather than a superficial or forced conformity. This popular defection, described as "stealing the hearts" in 2 Samuel 15:6, was cultivated by Absalom's charismatic pretense of caring for the common person, leveraging their grievances against the current administration. David's past sins, particularly in the Bathsheba affair and his perceived lack of justice concerning Amnon's death, had likely eroded public trust and inadvertently provided fertile ground for Absalom's deceitful tactics. This verse thus captures the peak of Absalom's deceptive success and plunges David into an immediate crisis requiring swift, desperate action. The theological implication often considered is the unfolding of God's promised judgment upon David's house, even through sinful human actions, stemming from David's own disobedience.