Absalom exploited the trust of the unsuspecting men for his own political ends.
In this passage, we see Absalom, the son of King David who lived around 1000 BC during the latter years of David’s reign (1010-970 BC), organizing a cunning effort to seize his father’s throne. We read, “Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem who were invited, and went innocently, and they did not know anything” (v.11). Jerusalem, situated on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains, served as the capital of the united kingdom under David’s rule. These two hundred men who followed Absalom left from this central location, unaware of the true purpose behind Absalom’s invitation.
By stating they “went innocently” (v.11), the scripture describes how these men had no knowledge of Absalom’s rebellious intentions. They traveled with him under the assumption that this event or journey was organized on legitimate grounds. In biblical culture, when someone was “invited,” it often implied a special or celebratory occasion, so these men likely trusted Absalom’s motives and did not suspect treason. This sheds light on how the outward appearance of respectability can hide manipulative schemes, a concept echoed elsewhere in scripture (Matthew 7:15).
Absalom’s act of drawing unsuspecting participants into his plot reveals the subtle nature of deception. Many centuries later, Jesus would caution His followers about deceptions that lead people astray (Matthew 24:4). Like these two hundred men, people can sometimes be aligned with rebellion or wrongdoing without fully understanding the ramifications of their involvement. This verse highlights the importance of discernment and the dangers of blindly following someone who appears charismatic or invites us into a cause without clarity.
Set to dark mode
2 Samuel 15:11 meaning
In this passage, we see Absalom, the son of King David who lived around 1000 BC during the latter years of David’s reign (1010-970 BC), organizing a cunning effort to seize his father’s throne. We read, “Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem who were invited, and went innocently, and they did not know anything” (v.11). Jerusalem, situated on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains, served as the capital of the united kingdom under David’s rule. These two hundred men who followed Absalom left from this central location, unaware of the true purpose behind Absalom’s invitation.
By stating they “went innocently” (v.11), the scripture describes how these men had no knowledge of Absalom’s rebellious intentions. They traveled with him under the assumption that this event or journey was organized on legitimate grounds. In biblical culture, when someone was “invited,” it often implied a special or celebratory occasion, so these men likely trusted Absalom’s motives and did not suspect treason. This sheds light on how the outward appearance of respectability can hide manipulative schemes, a concept echoed elsewhere in scripture (Matthew 7:15).
Absalom’s act of drawing unsuspecting participants into his plot reveals the subtle nature of deception. Many centuries later, Jesus would caution His followers about deceptions that lead people astray (Matthew 24:4). Like these two hundred men, people can sometimes be aligned with rebellion or wrongdoing without fully understanding the ramifications of their involvement. This verse highlights the importance of discernment and the dangers of blindly following someone who appears charismatic or invites us into a cause without clarity.