Bible Strands
2 Samuel 15:32
When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David reaches a summit during Absalom’s revolt, where Hushai the Archite meets him wearing torn robes and dust on his head. The event occurs immediately after David prays for the disruption of Ahithophel’s counsel.
The words — הָ/רֹאשׁ (ha./Rosh) literally means “the top,” identifying the location as a high place. יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה (yish.ta.cha.Veh) translates to “he bowed down,” denoting the site’s established function for worship.
The thread — The gesture of torn garments and dust on the head reappears when a messenger from Saul’s camp reports the king’s death (2 Samuel 1:2). The title “Archite” points to the tribal boundary recorded in Joshua 16:2.
Why it lands — The text records a physical encounter at a former worship site amid political collapse, noting the mourning attire of Hushai and the location’s prior religious use. It requires the reader to observe how human grief and loyalty are positioned directly after a prayer for divine intervention, without adding emotional commentary.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
Cross-references
- Joshua 16:2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz) and proceeded to the border of the Archites in Ataroth.
- 2 Samuel 1:2 On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage.
- Psalms 3:3 But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.
- 2 Samuel 13:19 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her robe. And putting her hand on her head, she went away crying aloud.
- 2 Samuel 15:30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.
- 2 Samuel 16:16 And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
- 1 Kings 8:44 When Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the LORD in the direction of the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your Name,
- 1 Kings 11:7 At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites.
- Job 1:20 Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,
- Psalms 3:7 Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.