Bible Strands
2 Samuel 15:27
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David speaks to Zadok the priest while fleeing Jerusalem, instructing him and Abiathar to return to the city with their sons. The words — הֲ/רוֹאֶ֣ה (ha./ro.'Eh) = a seer. David addresses Zadok with this title, acknowledging his recognized capacity to perceive divine direction. The thread — The designation "seer" aligns with 1 Samuel 9:9, where it identifies one who inquires of God. The relay mission of the priests' sons later surfaces in 2 Samuel 17:17 as they pass information from En-rogel. Why it lands — The text requires readers to accept God's sovereign will while actively using appointed messengers to gather intelligence. It demands a posture of trust that does not replace practical obedience.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 9:9 (Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)
- 2 Samuel 17:17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city.
- 2 Samuel 15:34 But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’
- 2 Samuel 15:36 Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.”
- 2 Samuel 24:11 When David got up in the morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer:
- 1 Chronicles 25:5 All these sons of Heman the king’s seer were given him through the promises of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.