2Sa 15:24-36 | TNotes | STEP | 15:24 Zadok was one of two priests who served David (8:17 ). He later anointed Solomon (1 Kgs 1:39 ) and became the high priest after Abiathar was deposed (1 Kgs 2:26-27 ).

15:24 ^a Zadok was one of two priests who served David (8:17 ^b). He later anointed Solomon (1 Kgs 1:39 ^c) and became the high priest after Abiathar was deposed (1 Kgs 2:26-27 ^d).
15:25 ^e take the Ark of God back: People fleeing invasion normally took their idols to avoid having the items fall into an enemy’s hands. The capture of a god could be interpreted by rebel elements to mean that the gods had abandoned the ruling dynasty. However, the Ark was not a mere idol or talisman (cp. 1 Sam 4:3-11 ^f; 5:6–6:9 ^g). It was the central object in the sanctuary and represented the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel (see Exod 40:34-35 ^h). David intentionally permitted the Ark to fall into Absalom’s hands, trusting God’s grace and promises (2 Sam 15:26 ⁱ; see 7:8-16 ^j) whether or not the Ark was with him.
15:27 ^k Ahimaaz and Jonathan supported David during Absalom’s coup d’etat by serving as his secret messengers (see 15:36 ^l; 17:17-22 ^m).
15:31 ⁿ let Ahithophel give ... foolish advice: David also sent a double-agent, Hushai, to confound Ahithophel’s advice (15:32-37 ^o; 17:1-14 ^p).
15:32 ^q At this point in Israel’s history, people worshiped God at multiple altars across the land. The Tabernacle as it had existed from the time of Joshua and Samuel was gone and the Temple was yet to be built.

• An Arkite was possibly a non-Israelite from the region south of Bethel (Josh 16:2 ^r).
15:34 ^s While David was confident that God’s providence was at work behind the scenes, he also took strategic action to further his own cause.