2 Samuel 15 30

2 Samuel 15:30 kjv

And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

2 Samuel 15:30 nkjv

So 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. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.

2 Samuel 15:30 niv

But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.

2 Samuel 15:30 esv

But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.

2 Samuel 15:30 nlt

David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill.

2 Samuel 15 verses

2 Samuel 15 30 Meaning

David's sorrowful ascent of the Mount of Olives portrays a scene of deep humility and national lament. The King, in flight from his rebellious son Absalom, adopts the outward signs of extreme grief, shame, and penitence. His weeping, covered head, and barefoot walk communicate profound distress and reliance on God rather than royal power. This imagery extends to his loyal companions, signifying a shared experience of tribulation and collective sorrow for the plight of their king and nation.

2 Samuel 15 30 Context

This verse occurs during Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. Having seized Jerusalem and proclaimed himself king, Absalom forces David to flee the capital. The narrative leading up to this verse details David's rapid decision to evacuate the city with his household and loyal supporters, to avoid bloodshed. 2 Samuel 15:30 paints a vivid picture of David's procession out of Jerusalem, specifically his journey over the Kidron Valley and up the Mount of Olives, which lay to the east. This was not a tactical retreat but a desperate flight, marked by personal humility and a profound sense of abandonment by both man and, seemingly, God. His actions reflect not just deep personal sorrow, but also a public expression of penance and mourning, perhaps acknowledging his own sins that might have led to this national crisis (referencing the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba, as prophesied by Nathan).

2 Samuel 15 30 Word analysis

• And David went up: Implies a physically demanding and symbolically significant journey of ascent, emphasizing struggle and humility rather than a regal procession.
• by the ascent: The Hebrew word ma`aleh (מַעֲלֶה) signifies an upward slope or an ascent, indicating a laborious and difficult climb. This underscores the arduous nature of David's flight.
• of the Mount of Olives: In Hebrew, Har Ha-Zeitim (הַר הַזֵּיתִים). This mountain, immediately east of Jerusalem, holds geographical and spiritual significance. It offered a view of the city he was abandoning and later became important in prophetic tradition (Zec 14:4) and the ministry of Jesus (Jn 18:1, Lk 19:41).
• weeping: The Hebrew word is bakah (בָּכָה), which means to weep, wail, or lament. This indicates deep, audible sorrow, not just shedding tears. It signifies an emotional outpouring of intense grief and distress.
• as he went up: Continues to emphasize the struggle; his weeping was continuous throughout the difficult ascent, a constant companion to his physical effort.
• and his head was covered: The Hebrew verb is chaphah (חָפָה), meaning to cover or conceal. This act was a common sign of deep mourning, humiliation, shame, or great distress in ancient Israelite culture (e.g., Jer 14:3-4, Esth 6:12). It suggested being overwhelmed by grief or disgrace.
• and he walked barefoot: The Hebrew word is yakhef (יָחֵף), meaning barefoot or unclothed. This was another widely recognized symbol of extreme humiliation, profound sorrow, public mourning, and distress, sometimes associated with captives or those undergoing ritual purification or expressing penance (e.g., Isa 20:2-4, Mic 1:8).
• and all the people who were with him: Shows the collective nature of the distress. David's suffering was not isolated; his loyal followers shared in his sorrow and demonstrated solidarity.
• covered every man his head: Reinforces the communal lament and identification with the king's grief and humiliation. It highlights the shared crisis affecting the entire group.
• and they went up, weeping as they went up: Reiterates the pervasive and consistent nature of the group's sorrow. This shared, audible weeping created a mournful atmosphere, signifying the magnitude of the national tragedy.

• David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives: This specific journey, an upward struggle away from the seat of his power, underscores his vulnerable and exiled state, foreshadowing Jesus' similar path over the Kidron Valley to Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives before His crucifixion (Jn 18:1, Lk 22:41-44). Both instances signify a moment of intense suffering and the humbling of a king.
• weeping as he went up: This repeated phrase emphasizes the continuous and profound emotional state. It's not a momentary sob but a sustained expression of grief, signifying David's utter despair and heartbreak over his kingdom, family, and fate.
• his head was covered, and he walked barefoot: These two acts collectively communicate extreme humiliation, vulnerability, and penitence. They are traditional symbols of utter distress, publicly declared, revealing David's stripped-down, defiled, and grieving state before God and his people, laying bare his helplessness.
• all the people... covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up: The communal participation signifies loyalty, shared grief, and a collective expression of shame and repentance alongside their king. It demonstrates a unified lament, emphasizing the depth of the crisis felt by the entire loyal contingent.

2 Samuel 15 30 Bonus section

• Symbolic Ascent: The act of "going up" (Hebrew alah) is often associated with spiritual ascent, going up to Jerusalem for pilgrimage, or drawing near to God. In this context, it takes on an ironic and sorrowful tone, as David is going up in humiliation away from Jerusalem, yet in doing so, he might be spiritually ascending by drawing closer to God in humility and dependence.
• Messianic Parallel: David's journey across the Kidron Valley and up the Mount of Olives while weeping, rejected by his own house, holds significant parallels with Jesus's final journey over the Kidron Valley to Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives (Jn 18:1), where He wept and prayed in anguish, soon to be betrayed. Both are rightful kings experiencing profound suffering and betrayal at a specific, prophetic location outside Jerusalem, highlighting the theme of the Suffering King.
• Covered Head Nuances: Beyond grief, a covered head could also symbolize a curse, humiliation, or shame. For David, it could signify his acceptance of a divine judgment or curse for his past sins, demonstrating a contrite heart seeking God's mercy rather than fighting to preserve his regal image.

2 Samuel 15 30 Commentary

2 Samuel 15:30 presents David in stark contrast to the majestic king. Stripped of his royal demeanor, he embodies utter brokenness and dependence, manifesting his grief through traditional mourning rites: covered head, bare feet, and bitter weeping. His choice to ascend the Mount of Olives, overlooking the lost city, deepens the pathos. This passage is a powerful testament to the king's humility and reliance on God even in deep suffering, a demonstration of accepting the consequence of sin, and an echo of Job's profound lament (Job 1:20). It also foreshadows a greater King, Jesus, who would also ascend the Mount of Olives, weeping over Jerusalem and enduring profound suffering and betrayal (Lk 19:41, Heb 5:7). David's actions reflect both penitence and an earnest plea for divine intervention, understanding that his power lay not in his earthly throne, but in the mercy of God. This raw depiction teaches the significance of genuine repentance and absolute trust in the Lord amidst trials.