Commentaire sur Samuel 2 15:41

And [an enfourage of] fifty men etc. All of them had their thighs removed and the heals of their feet cut out.¹Sanhedrin 21a. Rashi there explains that not having thighs enabled them to run faster and not having heels enabled them to step on sharp objects without any sensation of pain.

Section 21 describes the sin of Avshalom against his father, in that he rose against him, slept with his wives in front of all the Jews, and how things spun out of control between him and his father, and the advice of Achitophel and Chushi the Arkite, and the subject of Shimi son of Geira and his curse, until Avshalom fought with Dovid's men and died in war. The beginning of the section, "And it was after this that Avshalom prepared for himself a chariot and horses etc.," until "And all of the men were judged" etc., and I have asked about this section six questions:

The first question: What did Avshalom see which made him want to rebel against his father? We know that he was the oldest of his brothers and he had the status of being the firstborn, and he would inherit his father. And his father Dovid was old, close to 70 years old, and he would not live much longer, so why did Avshalom lead this great rebellion with no purpose? All the more so because he didn't do it earlier, when he was in the Land of Geshur or while he was in Yerushalayim for two years and didn't see the King's face, and if he didn't do it then, why did he think to do this now, when he was living in peace and harmony like a son honoring his father or loike a servant honoring his master? The second question

Avsholom rose early. Every morning.

From one of the tribes of Yisroel. From so and so tribe.

And I will judge him righteously. [Targum Yonosan translates:] "And I will judge him truthfully."

At the end of forty years. [After] Yisroel had asked Shmuel for a king this rebellion and weakening of the kingdom occurred.²This is the opinion of Rebe Nehuroi in the name of Rebbe Yohoshua brought in Temurah 14b. Rashi is explaining that these forty years are not describing how long Avsholom was engaged in his intriguing against the king. Rather, the verse is informing us that forty years after their improper request, the kingdom was weakened.

I would like to go. To Chevron.

And fulfill the vows [of bringing sacrifices] Our Rabbis said, "[Avsholom wanted] to bring lambs from Chevron³Ibid. because there, the lambs were fat."⁴Rashi there brings the Talmud in Menachos 87a that discusses the quality of the lambs of Chevron.

Invited and leaving in innovence. It is explained in the Yerushalmi tractate of Sotah⁵Chapter 1, halach 8. that he [Avsholom] requested of his father that he [Dovid] write [a document] for him that any two people that he request go with him, should go. He [proceeded] to show it [the document] to two people here and afterwords to two other people and in this way to many.⁶But he implied to Dovid that only two men would go. He kept using the same document for more and more pairs of men.

Far away. [Targum Yonasan translates:] "in a far away place."

By him. Near him, He stood in place and they passed by.

With the king. With Avsholom.

Because you are a foreigner. We are fleeing without provisions and food, and because you are a foreigner you will not find people that will have pity on you.

And even if you are estranged [from Avsholom]. And even if you are exiled from the king [Avsholom] because you do not want to be with him, then return to your home because it is not good to go with me because you [just] came yesterday.⁷This verse blends into verse 20 where Dovid explains more about why it is disadvantageous for Itai to stay with him.

And should I today cause you to move with us. I have no place that I can settle you there to escape because I am going to where circumstances have me go each day. When I hear that the pursuers are here I flee here. And so Yonasan translates [the verse], "And if you are estranged [from Avsholom] you can go home" [as:] "And if you you are estranged go [back] to your city."

I will consider it kindness and truth. I will credit you the favor of kindness and truth that you have done for me.

"Go and pass" Together with the rest of the people now that you do not want to part from me.

And all the people were passing. From the king and onwards according to his location they are called passers by.⁸Even though he was also passing by, since they were ahead of him, they are called passers by relative to his location.

They set down. Like, "They stopped,"⁹Previously in 6:17. [Yonasan translates:] "They stopped the Ark." They stood it off to one side and the people passed by because Dovid wanted it brought with him.

And Evyosor went off [to the side] until [all the people] finished etc. This is a shortened verse they set down the Ark of God until all the people finished travelling.¹⁰The words ויעל אביתר need to be placed at the end of the verse for interpretation.

Evyosor went off [to the side]. That day he was removed from the Kohanite service.¹¹As the Kohen Gadol. because He inquired of the Urim and Tumim but was not answered,¹²This showed that he was no longer qualified for this lofty position. The Urim and Tumim lit up certain letters on the kohen Gadol’s breastplate as a means for God to communicate to His people. See Shemos 28:30. Tzodok then replaced him. This is what we learned in Seder Olam in tractate Yuma.¹³

If you see this [as right]. I you see this as a good idea, "return to the city etc.

Your two sons with you. It will be in their power to inform me what they hear in the king's palace. And based on what they inform me I can escape.

The heights of Mount Olives. On Mount Olives.

David arose after separating from the Ark of God, and he arrived at the Mount of Olives, for there he separated from God's city and began to cry and cover his head and remove his sandals like a mourner.

Was covered. "Covered" in the manner of mourners.

Covered. [Yonasan translates:] "Covered."

Dovid was told [by an informer]. Dovid was told by the informer.

Ruin. Ruin as we find "The tool talks too much".¹⁴Koheles 10:14.

Arrived at the summit. At the mountain's summit.

Where he used to bow down to Elokim. Where he used to bow down. When he used to come to Yerusholoyim he would see from that [vantage] point the tent in which the Ark was [placed] and he would bow down.

Previously, I was your father's servant. This is like [saying], Previously I was your father's servant. It is a verse that [must be] cut.¹⁵The word וַאֲנִי needs to be “cut out” and placed in front of the phrase.

Was going to come to Yerosholoyim. Started thinking about coming to Yerusholoyim.¹⁶יָבוֹא denotes he will come in the future.