And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

2 SAMUEL 15:22KJV
Know the Bible

2 Samuel 15:22 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 15:22 mean?

2 Samuel 15:22 describes David accepting Ittai’s decision to accompany him as he leaves Jerusalem. Ittai goes with his men and their little ones, so the departure involves families as well as fighting men.

David’s instruction comes after Ittai has pledged to stay with him in verse 21. “Pass over” pictures the group moving onward with David’s company, following his direction to go.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 15:22

  • “Gittite” — גִּתִּי (gittī): This word means a person from Gath. Ittai is identified with a Philistine city, making his place among David’s followers noteworthy.
  • “little ones” — טַף (ṭaf): This word refers to young children. Its presence shows that those accompanying Ittai included dependents, not just his men.

Why 2 Samuel 15:22 matters

  • Ittai’s presence is a choice David has accepted, not simply an order given to a subordinate. In verse 19, David had urged him to return rather than wander with him.
  • The mention of the little ones makes the scale of the journey clearer. David’s departure includes people who depend on the men traveling with him.
  • The movement in verse 22 prepares for the crossing described next. Verse 23 says that the people passed over the Kidron brook as they went toward the wilderness.

Where else these words appear

“Ittai” Hebrew H863 · used in 8 verses

  • 2 Samuel 15:19 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 18:2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
  • 2 Samuel 18:12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

“Gittite” Hebrew H1663 · used in 10 verses

  • Joshua 13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
  • 2 Samuel 15:18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
  • 2 Samuel 21:19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

“ones” Hebrew H2945 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 34:29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.
  • Numbers 16:27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
  • Deuteronomy 31:12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: