2 Samuel 15:11 Meaning and Explanation
“And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Two hundred invited men from Jerusalem accompany Absalom innocently, with no knowledge of his true intentions.
What Does 2 Samuel 15:11 Mean?
Two hundred men from Jerusalem travel with Absalom, invited as guests to what they think is a religious feast. The narrator stresses their innocence: they went in their simplicity and knew nothing of the plot. Their unwitting presence lends Absalom's gathering an air of legitimacy.
The deceiver uses the honest to mask his deceit. These men become props in a rebellion they never chose, their good faith exploited to make treason look respectable. It is a warning to walk wisely and not lend our names and presence to causes we have not examined. The innocent can be swept into another's sin; the Lord asks us to be harmless as doves yet wise as serpents.
2 Samuel 15:11 in the Original Language
tom (תֹּם), 'simplicity' -- innocence or integrity of heart, here the unsuspecting good faith of the guests.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 15:11
What does 2 Samuel 15:11 mean?
Two hundred invited men from Jerusalem accompany Absalom innocently, with no knowledge of his true intentions.