John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And Absalom rose up early , etc.] Every morning, to show how diligent and industrious he should be, and closely apply himself to business, was he in any office trader the king, and especially when he should be king himself; this he did to ingratiate himself into the affections of the people: and stood beside the way of the gate ; either of the king’s palace, so Josephus f254 , or of the city, where courts of judicature are held: the former seems most probable by what follows: and it was [so], that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment ; that had a controversy with another man on any account, and came to the king to have it decided according to law, or the rules of justice and equity: then Absalom called unto him, and said, of what city [art] thou ? which question he asked, only to lead on to some further discourse: and he said, thy servant [is] of one of the tribes ; that is, of one of the cities of the tribes of Israel, and not of a city of another nation.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - David allows Absalom's pomp. Those parents know not what they do, wh indulge a proud humour in their children: many young people are ruine by pride. And those commonly are most eager for authority who leas understand its duties.
Original Hebrew והשׁכים7925 אבשׁלום53 ועמד5975 על5921 יד3027 דרך1870 השׁער8179 ויהי1961 כל3605 האישׁ376 אשׁר834 יהיה1961 לו ריב7379 לבוא935 אל413 המלך4428 למשׁפט4941 ויקרא7121 אבשׁלום53 אליו413 ויאמר559 אי335 מזה2088 עיר5892 אתה859 ויאמר559 מאחד259 שׁבטי7626 ישׂראל3478 עבדך׃5650
