Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
2 SAMUEL 15:19KJVWhat does 2 Samuel 15:19 mean?
2 Samuel 15:19 shows King David telling Ittai the Gittite not to follow him as he flees Jerusalem, but instead to return and stay with the new king, since Ittai is a foreigner and an exile. David is giving Ittai a way out, recognizing that Ittai does not owe him loyalty in this difficult moment.
In this verse, David is speaking to Ittai, a leader from Gath who had recently joined David’s group. The situation is tense: David is escaping from his son Absalom, who has taken over Jerusalem. David’s words highlight both Ittai’s outsider status and the hardship of exile, showing David’s concern for Ittai’s well-being and his fairness in not demanding loyalty from someone with no obligation.
The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 15:19
- "stranger" (נָכְרִי, nokhri): This word means a foreigner or someone from outside Israel. David is acknowledging that Ittai is not an Israelite by birth, which makes his loyalty even more striking.
- "exile" (גָּלָה, galah): This word refers to someone who has been driven out or banished from their homeland. David recognizes Ittai’s own experience of displacement, which adds depth to his offer for Ittai to stay behind.
Why 2 Samuel 15:19 matters
- This verse clears up that David is not forcing loyalty or service from those who are not bound to him by nationality or long-standing ties, showing his respect for personal choice.
- The mention of Ittai as both a "stranger" and "exile" highlights the diverse makeup of David’s followers and the hardships faced by those who align themselves with him.
- This moment sets up Ittai’s later loyalty, which becomes even more meaningful when he chooses to stay with David despite having every reason to leave.