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2 Samuel 15:22

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 15:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
2 Samuel 15:22 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile; [return] to thine own place.
20Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren; mercy and truth be with thee.
21And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be.
22And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
23And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
24And, lo, Zadok also [came], and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:
← 2 Samuel 15:212 Samuel 15:23 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And David said unto Ittai, go, and pass over, etc.] It being his resolution to abide with him, he urged him no more to depart, but bid him pass over the brook Kidron before him: and Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men; the six hundred Gittites that were under his command: and all the little ones that [were] with him; that belonged to him and his men, and no doubt their wives also.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Little ones - For being so deeply engaged for David, he durst not leave his little ones to Absalom's mercy. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 15:23”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“and all the little: Sir John Chardin informs us,in a manuscript note on this place, that it is usual with the greatest part of the eastern people, especially the Arabs, to carry their whole family with them when they go to war. Sa2 15:22 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 15:23”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“After this assurance of his devotedness, David let Ittai do as he pleased. ועבר לך, "go and pass on." עבר does not mean to pass by, but to go forward. Thus Ittai and his men and all his family that was with him went forward with the king. By "the little ones" (taph) we are to understand a man's whole family, as in many other instances (see at Exo 12:37). Sa2 15:22-23 The king crosses the Kidron, and sends the priests back with the ark to Jerusalem. - Sa2 15:23. All the land (as in Sa1 14:25) wept aloud when all the people went forward; and the king went over the brook Kidron, and all the people went over in the direction of (lit. in the face of) the way to the desert. The brook Kidron is a…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification