2 Samuel 15 19

2 Samuel 15:19 kjv

Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

2 Samuel 15:19 nkjv

Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place.

2 Samuel 15:19 niv

The king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland.

2 Samuel 15:19 esv

Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home.

2 Samuel 15:19 nlt

Then the king turned and said to Ittai, a leader of the men from Gath, "Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile.

2 Samuel 15 verses

2 Samuel 15 19 Meaning

David, fleeing from Absalom’s rebellion, addresses Ittai the Gittite, questioning his continued loyalty and urging him to return to Jerusalem. David expresses concern for Ittai's well-being due to his status as a "foreigner" (ger) and an "exile" (goleh) from his homeland, suggesting Ittai should align himself with Absalom, who would now effectively rule in Jerusalem, rather than face the hardships of flight with David. This reflects David’s compassionate and selfless nature even in profound distress.

2 Samuel 15 19 Context

Chapter 15 of 2 Samuel describes Absalom's carefully planned and swiftly executed rebellion against his father, King David. Absalom usurped the throne by winning the hearts of the people over four years, culminating in a conspiracy in Hebron. News reaches David in Jerusalem that "the hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom," forcing David to make an immediate and painful decision to flee the capital to avoid bloodshed in the city. As David exits Jerusalem, surrounded by his loyal household and fighting men, including the Cherethites, Pelethites, and the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath, he encounters Ittai the Gittite. This verse marks David's direct address to Ittai, highlighting Ittai’s unique position as a foreign mercenary commander and prompting a significant display of loyalty.

2 Samuel 15 19 Word analysis

• Then: (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer, "And he said") - Connects this immediate dialogue to David’s flight and assessment of his followers, indicating a spontaneous but important address.
• the king: (הַמֶּלֶךְ - hammēleḵ, "the king") - Refers to David. Despite fleeing and facing usurpation, his identity as "the king" is retained, especially by his loyal followers and even by David himself in this context.
• said: (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer, "And he said") - Standard verb for speech.
• to Ittai: (אֶל-אִתַּי - ’el-’ittay, "to Ittai") - The direct object, indicating a specific, personal address. Ittai is a prominent figure introduced for this interaction.
• the Gittite: (הַגִּתִּי - haggittî, "the Gittite") - An appellation meaning "from Gath," a Philistine city. This identifies Ittai as a foreigner, likely a mercenary who came from Gath to serve David. This foreign origin makes his loyalty even more remarkable and significant in the narrative.
• Why: (לָמָּה - lāmāh, "why?") - A question born of concern and compassion, not accusation. David questions Ittai's motive, likely from a protective stance, given Ittai’s vulnerable position.
• goest thou also: (גַּם-אַתָּה הֹלֵךְ - gam-’attāh hōlēḵ, "you also go") - The "also" ("gam") emphasizes Ittai's decision to join David's desperate flight alongside David's loyal Israelites. It highlights Ittai's surprising and notable choice given his foreign status.
• with us?: (עִמָּנוּ - ‘immānû, "with us?") - David identifies with his fleeing company, implicitly suggesting the hardships Ittai would endure by staying with them.
• Return: (שׁוּב - shûḇ, "Return!") - An imperative, meaning "turn back" or "go back." David is giving a direct command to depart from his immediate retinue.
• and abide: (וּשְׁבָה - ûšəḇāh, "and stay" or "and dwell") - Another imperative, meaning to "sit," "reside," or "remain." David advises Ittai to establish himself securely.
• with the king: (אֶת-הַמֶּלֶךְ - ’eṯ-hammeleḵ, "with the king") - Here, "the king" refers to Absalom, who had established himself in Jerusalem. David is advising Ittai to return to the capital and seek security by aligning himself with the new, de facto ruler, Absalom. This reveals David's remarkable selflessness and pragmatic care for Ittai's safety over his own personal loyalty.
• for he is a stranger: (כִּי-נָכְרִי - kî-nāḵərî, "for (you are) a foreigner/stranger") - Ittai's legal and social status. As a "foreigner" (גֵּר - gēr, which also means sojourner, used in the next phrase "an exile from your home"), Ittai lacked the same familial and societal ties that might obligate an Israelite to David. David acknowledges this vulnerability.
• and also an exile: (וְגַם-גֹּלֶה - wəḡam-gōleh, "and also an exile") - Further emphasizes Ittai's transient and vulnerable state. An "exile" (גֹּלֶה - goleh) is someone displaced from their native land, likely having sought refuge with David. David reminds Ittai of his unrooted status.
• thy place: (מְקוֹמְךָ - məqômḵā, "your place") - This likely refers to Jerusalem or any settled location, as opposed to wandering in flight. Ittai has no original "place" in Israel, having come from Gath. David is contrasting a stable place under Absalom with a dangerous, unstable life in flight with David.

• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite": Sets up a profound dialogue between a fleeing monarch and a foreign commander, highlighting the gravity of their interaction and Ittai's unusual identity in the court.
  • "Why goest thou also with us?": David’s rhetorical question immediately brings Ittai’s peculiar loyalty into focus, inviting an explanation for his continued presence on such a perilous journey.
  • "Return and abide with the king": This directive is David’s selfless counsel, prioritizing Ittai's welfare over his own need for allies, by advising him to return to Jerusalem and align with Absalom. It starkly illustrates David's character under duress.
  • "for he is a stranger and also an exile from thy place": This phrase encapsulates David's compassion and astute understanding of Ittai's precarious status. It explains why Ittai should prioritize safety with the "new king" rather than remain with David. David knows Ittai has no inherent tribal land or kinship connections in Israel to fall back on during a civil war.

2 Samuel 15 19 Bonus section

Ittai's story serves as a counterpoint to Goliath, another Gittite, whom David himself famously defeated. This creates a compelling narrative arc, where a man from the very city that produced Israel's greatest enemy becomes one of David's most devoted supporters in his hour of greatest need. This turnaround underscores God's ability to draw people from unexpected places into His purposes and use them mightily. Some scholars suggest that David's previous experience seeking refuge in Gath (1 Sam 21, 27) might have been how Ittai, or at least his 600 men, first came to be attached to David. This connection implies a deeper history and relationship that goes beyond mere mercenary service, hinting at a loyalty forged in previous shared adversities, making Ittai's declaration in the next verse all the more powerful. Ittai stands as a remarkable testament to unwavering fidelity, illustrating how faithfulness to God's anointed can transcend ethnic and political divides.

2 Samuel 15 19 Commentary

2 Samuel 15:19 provides a profound insight into the characters of David and Ittai. David, at the height of his personal and political crisis, exhibits remarkable compassion and selfless concern for a non-Israelite. His instruction to Ittai to return and "abide with the king" (Absalom) demonstrates that David's priorities extended beyond self-preservation to the well-being of his followers, particularly those in vulnerable positions like Ittai, who was both a "foreigner" and an "exile." This reflects the biblical injunctions to care for the sojourner and echoes the heart of God for the marginalized.

Ittai’s presence as a Gittite (from Philistine Gath) is extraordinary, given the historical animosity between Israelites and Philistines. His loyalty, which stands in stark contrast to the betrayal by Absalom and many Israelites, elevates him as an exemplary figure of faith and devotion, not to David simply as a man, but as God’s anointed king. This highlights a theme woven throughout scripture: that God’s saving work is not confined to national boundaries, but extends to all who are willing to respond in faithfulness, regardless of origin. This encounter serves as a dramatic precursor to Ittai's resounding declaration of loyalty in the following verse, showcasing his unwavering commitment to David's cause, come what may, emphasizing a bond stronger than nationality or personal safety.