2 Samuel 15 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
2 Samuel 15
The stolen hearts and the rejected king
Editorial Christian reading within David’s royal history [NT1]. Absalom’s campaign precedes the flight later read typologically by Augustine [S3].
15:1–6 | Absalom at the gate
Verse MT 15:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:1
After this, Absalom provided himself with a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run ahead of him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:1
After this, Absalom provided himself with chariots, horses, and fifty men to run ahead of him.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has one chariot, Greek plural chariots. Both retain horses and fifty runners.
Verse MT 15:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:2
Absalom would rise early and stand beside the road to the gate. Whenever a man had a dispute to bring before the king for judgment, Absalom called to him, “What city are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of Israel’s tribes.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:2
Absalom would rise early and stand beside the road to the gate. Whenever a man with a case came before the king for judgment, Absalom called to him, “What city are you from?” The man would answer, “Your servant is from one of Israel’s tribes.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The repeated practice, setting, and exchange agree. The differing case terms are rendered in their judicial context.
Verse MT 15:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:3
Absalom would say to him, “Your claims are good and right, but no one from the king is here to hear you.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:3
Absalom would say to him, “Your claims are good and straightforward, but no one from the king is here to hear you.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek eukoloi emphasizes ease or straightforwardness, while Hebrew calls the claims right. Both are Absalom’s assertions to potential supporters, not independent verdicts on every case.
Verse MT 15:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:4
Absalom would say, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land! Every man with a dispute or case would come to me, and I would give him justice.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:4
Absalom would say, “Who will appoint me judge in the land, so that every man with a dispute or case will come to me and I will give him justice?”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The wish and rhetorical question express the same ambition and promise. The justice verb is used judicially, not as a statement about salvation.
Verse MT 15:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:5
Whenever a man approached to bow down to him, Absalom would stretch out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:5
Whenever a man approached to bow down to him, Absalom would stretch out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him warmly.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek uses an intensified kissing verb. Both describe the gesture by which Absalom received those who approached him.
Verse MT 15:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:6
Absalom did this to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:6
Absalom did this to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. Absalom made the hearts of the men of Israel his own.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew expressly uses a stealing image; Greek describes appropriation. Neither is reduced to a neutral statement of popularity.
15:7–12 | The vow and the conspiracy
Verse MT 15:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:7
At the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron and fulfill the vow I made to YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:7
At the end of forty years, Absalom said to his father, “Please let me go to Hebron and fulfill the vows I made to the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Both checked editions say forty years; no conjectural four replaces the number. Its starting point remains unstated. Hebrew has the king and one vow; Greek his father and plural vows.
Verse MT 15:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:8
Your servant made a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram: ‘If YHWH indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, I will serve YHWH.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:8
Your servant made a vow while I was living at Geshur in Syria: ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord.’”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The geographical designations Aram / Syria correspond here. Greek’s service verb has explicit worship force. Hebrew’s checked qere supplies the infinitive form in the emphatic return construction [Q15]; the promised return is not doubled into two journeys.
Verse MT 15:9 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:9
The king said to him, “Go in peace.” He rose and went to Hebron.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:9
The king said to him, “Go in peace.” He rose and went to Hebron.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The permission and departure agree.
Verse MT 15:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:10
Absalom sent spies throughout all Israel’s tribes, saying, “When you hear the horn’s sound, say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:10
Absalom sent spies throughout all Israel’s tribes, saying, “When you hear the horn’s sound, say, ‘King Absalom has begun to reign in Hebron!’”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek explicitly gives the title king as well as the reigning verb. Both retain the spies and agreed signal.
Verse MT 15:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:11
Two hundred invited men went with Absalom from Jerusalem. They went in their innocence and knew nothing of the matter.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:11
Two hundred invited men went with Absalom from Jerusalem. They went in their simplicity and knew nothing of the matter.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both expressly distinguish these invited men from informed conspirators.
Verse MT 15:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:12
While offering the sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh. The conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:12
While sacrificing, Absalom sent and summoned Ahithophel the Gelmonite, David’s counselor, from his city Gola. The conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek expressly adds summoned and has Gelmonite / Gola beside Hebrew Gilonite / Giloh. Hebrew’s sent construction is understood as sending for him in context. The growing conspiracy and support agree.
The fleeing David in the Church’s Passion reading
Attributed typology: Augustine interprets Psalm 3’s David–Absalom setting in relation to Christ and Judas [S3, §1]. This does not identify every companion or place as a Gospel figure.
15:13–23 | The departure and Ittai’s loyalty
Verse MT 15:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:13
A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:13
A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both report the transfer of allegiance through the heart image.
Verse MT 15:14 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:14
David said to all his servants with him in Jerusalem, “Rise, let us flee, or we will have no escape from Absalom. Hurry to leave, lest he hurry and overtake us, bring calamity upon us, and strike the city with the sword’s edge.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:14
David said to all his servants with him in Jerusalem, “Rise, let us flee, for we have no deliverance from Absalom. Hurry to leave, lest he hurry and overtake us, thrust calamity upon us, and strike the city with the sword’s edge.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The escape / deliverance terms and calamity verbs differ slightly. Both retain David’s urgency and concern for the city.
Saints: Interpreting Psalm 3, Augustine reads David’s flight from Absalom typologically in relation to Christ and the betraying disciple Judas. This is his spiritual interpretation of the psalm’s historical setting [S3, §1].
Verse MT 15:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:15
The king’s servants said to the king, “Whatever my lord the king chooses—here are your servants.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:15
The king’s servants said to the king, “Whatever our lord the king chooses—here are your servants.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew retains singular my lord in the servants’ collective answer; Greek has our lord.
Verse MT 15:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:16
The king went out, with all his household following him. The king left ten women, his concubines, to guard the house.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:16
The king went out, with all his household on foot. The king left ten of his concubines to guard the house.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has at his feet, rendered following him; Greek has their feet and expressly places the household on foot. Both leave ten concubines behind. No voluntary choice by the women is added.
Verse MT 15:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:17
The king went out, with all the people following him, and they stopped at the distant house.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:17
The king went out, with all his servants on foot, and they stopped at the house far away.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has all the people following him; Greek all his servants on foot. The distant-house expression is retained as a designation without claiming a verified site.
Verse MT 15:18 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:18
All his servants passed beside him, with all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites—six hundred men who had followed him from Gath—passing before the king.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:18
All his servants passed beside him, with all the Chetti and all the Pelethites, and they stood at the olive tree in the wilderness. All the people passed close beside him, all those around him, all the strong men and all the warriors—six hundred men—and they were at his side. All the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites—six hundred men who had come on foot from Gath—passed before the king.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds the olive-tree stop, expanded groups, and a repeated six hundred. Its first Chetti form is preserved rather than silently identified with the later Cherethites. Hebrew has followed him from Gath; Greek on their feet. The repeated Greek count is not added into an asserted total of twelve hundred.
Verse MT 15:19 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:19
The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:19
The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a stranger and have migrated from your own place.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew calls Ittai an exile, with its difficult place preposition contextually rendered from; Greek expressly says from your place with a migration verb. The king with whom he may stay is not renamed within the speech.
Verse MT 15:20 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:20
You came only yesterday. Should I make you wander with us today, when I myself am going wherever I may go? Return, and take your brothers back with you. May kindness and faithfulness be with you.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:20
If you arrived yesterday, shall I move you with us today, and must you also change your place? Yesterday was your departure; shall I move you with us today to go along? I myself will go wherever I may go. Return, and take your brothers back with you, and the Lord will show you mercy and truth.”
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds a departure notice and repeats the yesterday/today question, then expressly makes the Lord the giver of mercy and truth. Hebrew ends elliptically with kindness and faithfulness; the wish is supplied in English. Hebrew’s motion verb follows the checked qere [Q15]. Greek’s change-your-place clause remains provisional.
Verse MT 15:21 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:21
Ittai answered the king, “As YHWH lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether in death or in life, there your servant will be.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:21
Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord may be, whether in death or in life, there your servant will be.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both give the double oath and pledge of companionship through death or life. Hebrew repeats the king in the location clause; Greek does not. The Hebrew written conditional particle, omitted in the reading tradition, does not weaken the vow [Q15].
Verse MT 15:22 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:22
David said to Ittai, “Go and cross over.” Ittai the Gittite crossed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:22
The king said to Ittai, “Come and cross over with me.” Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his servants and the whole crowd with him.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has go, men, and little ones; Greek come with me, servants, and crowd. The dependent children in Hebrew are not removed to match Greek’s broader group.
Verse MT 15:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:23
All the land wept aloud as all the people passed on. The king crossed the Kidron torrent, and all the people passed toward the road to the wilderness.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:23
All the land wept aloud. All the people passed through the Kidron torrent, and the king crossed the Kidron torrent. All the people and the king passed toward the road to the wilderness.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek twice names Kidron and repeats the king in the final movement. The fuller crossing sequence remains. Torrent preserves the valley-watercourse term without specifying the water level.
15:24–29 | The ark sent back
Verse MT 15:24 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:24
Zadok was also there, with all the Levites carrying the ark of God’s covenant. They set down God’s ark, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished passing out of the city.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:24
Zadok was also there, with all the Levites carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Baithar. They set down God’s ark, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished passing out of the city.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek adds from Baithar and has the Lord’s covenant where Hebrew has God’s. Both retain the difficult timing of Abiathar’s ascent without inserting an unexpressed destination or ritual action.
Verse MT 15:25 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:25
The king said to Zadok, “Take God’s ark back to the city. If I find favor in YHWH’s eyes, He will bring me back and show me the ark and His dwelling place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:25
The king said to Zadok, “Take God’s ark back to the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, He will bring me back and show me the ark and its beauty.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s dwelling place is provisionally referred to God; the ark’s place is another possible attachment. Greek’s feminine possessive connects beauty with the ark. Both entrust a possible return to divine favor.
Verse MT 15:26 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:26
But if He says, ‘I take no pleasure in you,’ here I am. Let Him do to me what is good in His eyes.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:26
But if He says, ‘I have not taken pleasure in you,’ here I am. Let Him do to me what is good in His eyes.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both retain David’s willingness to accept the contrary divine decision. The divine speaker is clear from the preceding verse.
Verse MT 15:27 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:27
The king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer? Return to the city in peace, with your two sons—Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan son of Abiathar—with you.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:27
The king said to Zadok the priest, “Look, you are returning to the city in peace, with your two sons—Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan son of Abiathar—with you.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s seeing expression is provisionally read as a question about a seer; Do you see? is also possible. Greek gives a plural look command and a return statement. Both move from Zadok individually to the priests and their two sons collectively.
Verse MT 15:28 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:28
Look, I will wait in the wilderness plains until word comes from you to inform me.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:28
Look, I am encamped at Araboth in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew follows qere plains against written crossings or fords [Q15]. Greek transliterates Araboth and uses a military camping verb rather than waiting. The chosen meeting-area wording is not treated as a verified archaeological location.
Verse MT 15:29 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:29
Zadok and Abiathar took God’s ark back to Jerusalem and stayed there.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:29
Zadok and Abiathar took the ark back to Jerusalem, and it stayed there.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew explicitly names God’s ark and ends with a plural they stayed. Greek ends with a singular stayed, provisionally referred to the ark; a personal subject is grammatically possible but not named.
15:30–37 | The ascent, the prayer, and Hushai’s mission
Verse MT 15:30 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:30
David went up the ascent of the Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered, and he walked barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads, each one, and went up weeping as they went.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:30
David went up the ascent of the Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered, and he walked barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads, each one, and went up weeping as they went.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The ascent, covered heads, bare feet, and repeated weeping agree. Later Christian connections belong to the editorial headings or attributed reception, not to added words in either translation.
Verse MT 15:31 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:31
David was told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “YHWH, please turn Ahithophel’s counsel into folly.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:31
David was told, “Ahithophel too is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Lord my God, please scatter Ahithophel’s counsel.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s irregular report clause is contextually rendered as a report to David; Greek is expressly passive. Hebrew asks for folly; Greek for scattering and adds my God to the address. The Hebrew syntax remains a review item.
Verse MT 15:32 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:32
As David came to the summit, where one used to bow down to God, Hushai the Archite came to meet him, his tunic torn and earth on his head.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:32
As David came to Roos, where he bowed down to God, Hushai the Archite, David’s companion, came to meet him, his tunic torn and earth on his head.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek transliterates Hebrew’s summit term as Roos and adds David’s companion. Hebrew’s worship clause is rendered as customary, with an indefinite worshiper; David himself is another possible subject. Greek describes a completed act. Both retain the mourning signs.
Verse MT 15:33 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:33
David said to him, “If you cross over with me, you will be a burden to me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:33
David said to him, “If you cross over with me, you will be a burden to me.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both state the practical consequence of accompanying David without an added reason for Hushai’s burdensomeness.
Verse MT 15:34 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:34
But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. I was your father’s servant formerly, and now I am your servant,’ you can defeat Ahithophel’s counsel for me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:34
But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your brothers have passed on, and the king, your father, has passed on behind me. Now I am your servant, O king; let me live. I was your father’s servant then and just now, and now I am your servant,’ you can scatter Ahithophel’s counsel for me.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds the report about the brothers and father, a plea to live, and an expanded time expression. Both provide Hushai’s intended speech and counter-counsel assignment. No claim of sincere allegiance to Absalom is inserted.
Verse MT 15:35 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:35
Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Whatever you hear from the king’s house, tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:35
Look, Zadok and Abiathar the priests are there with you. Whatever you hear from the king’s house, tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Hebrew’s rhetorical question and Greek’s statement identify the same intermediaries. The repeated priestly titles are retained.
Verse MT 15:36 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:36
Their two sons are there with them: Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. Send me through them everything you hear.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:36
Their two sons are there with them: Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. Send me through them everything you hear.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The messengers and the plural command to relay information agree.
Verse MT 15:37 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:37
Hushai, David’s friend, entered the city, while Absalom was coming into Jerusalem.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:37
Hushai, David’s companion, entered the city, while Absalom was coming into Jerusalem.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both bring Hushai and Absalom toward the same city. The clauses do not require an invented interval between their arrivals.