The Meaning of 2 Samuel 15:2 Explained

2 Samuel 15:2

KJV: And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

YLT: and Absalom hath risen early, and stood by the side of the way of the gate, and it cometh to pass, every man who hath a pleading to come unto the king for judgment, that Absalom calleth unto him, and saith, 'Of what city art thou?' and he saith, 'Of one of the tribes of Israel is thy servant.'

Darby: And Absalom rose early, and stood beside the way of the gate; and it was so, that when any man who had a controversy had to come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

ASV: And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that, when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Absalom  rose up early,  and stood  beside  the way  of the gate:  and it was [so], that when any man  that had a controversy  came  to the king  for judgment,  then Absalom  called  unto him, and said,  Of what  city  [art] thou? And he said,  Thy servant  [is] of one  of the tribes  of Israel. 

What does 2 Samuel 15:2 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 15:1-12 - The Plot Of The Ambitious Son
David's government had become lax. Many causes were awaiting trial. Cases demanding his royal decision had accumulated. Suitors could get nothing done. Discontent was rife. The king had forfeited the former love and respect of his people. Perhaps the story of his sin had leaked out. It is thought, also, that at this time he was smitten by disease and that Psalms 41:1-13; Psalms 55:1-23 record the sufferings of those withered years. Meanwhile, Absalom was undermining the throne and dividing the heart of the people.
How soon the heart may become alienated from its rightful king! The Absaloms ingratiate themselves, and wean away our loyalty, and love from Jesus. Is there a favorite that fawns on you, and entices you to a lower level than you occupied in earlier, happier days? If so, your King may be driven from the citadel of your soul, and you may be left to mourn over the tragedy caused by the transference of your heart's affections. Be warned ere it be too late. Deal sternly with Absalom! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 15

1  Absalom, by fair speeches and courtesies, steals the hearts of Israel
7  By pretense of a vow, he obtains leave to go to Hebron
10  He makes there a great conspiracy
13  David upon the news flees from Jerusalem
19  Ittai will leave him
24  Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark
30  David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping,
31  He curses Ahithophel's counsel
32  Hushai is sent back with instructions

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 15:2 mean?

And would rise early Absalom and stand upon beside the way to the gate so whenever it was any man who had to a lawsuit came to the king for a decision that would call Absalom to him and say from where this city [are] you and he would say from one of the tribes of Israel Your servant [is]
וְהִשְׁכִּים֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם וְעָמַ֕ד עַל־ יַ֖ד דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשָּׁ֑עַר וַיְהִ֡י כָּל־ הָאִ֣ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־ יִהְיֶה־ לּוֹ־ רִיב֩ לָב֨וֹא אֶל־ הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט וַיִּקְרָ֨א אַבְשָׁל֤וֹם אֵלָיו֙ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵֽי־ מִזֶּ֥ה עִיר֙ ؟ אַ֔תָּה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מֵאַחַ֥ד שִׁבְטֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַבְדֶּֽךָ

וְהִשְׁכִּים֙  And  would  rise  early 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַם  
Sense: to rise or start early.
אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם  Absalom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִישָׁלֹום 
Sense: father-in-law of Rehoboam.
וְעָמַ֕ד  and  stand 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
יַ֖ד  beside 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
דֶּ֣רֶךְ  the  way  to 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
הַשָּׁ֑עַר  the  gate 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
וַיְהִ֡י  so  whenever  it  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כָּל־  any 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הָאִ֣ישׁ  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
רִיב֩  a  lawsuit 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רִיב 
Sense: strife, controversy, dispute.
לָב֨וֹא  came 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
לַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט  for  a  decision 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
וַיִּקְרָ֨א  that  would  call 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
אַבְשָׁל֤וֹם  Absalom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִישָׁלֹום 
Sense: father-in-law of Rehoboam.
אֵלָיו֙  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  and  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵֽי־  from  where 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: אֵי  
Sense: where?, whence?.
מִזֶּ֥ה  this 
Parse: Preposition-m, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
עִיר֙  city 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
؟ אַ֔תָּה  [are]  you 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר  and  he  would  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מֵאַחַ֥ד  from  one 
Parse: Preposition-m, Number, masculine singular construct
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
שִׁבְטֵֽי־  of  the  tribes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
עַבְדֶּֽךָ  Your  servant  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.