New International Version David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him. New Living Translation David replied, “All right, come with us.” So Ittai and all his men and their families went along. English Standard Version And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. Berean Standard Bible “March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. Berean Literal Bible And David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little children who were with him. King James Bible 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. New King James Version So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over. New American Standard Bible Then David said to Ittai, “Go and cross over the brook Kidron.” So Ittai the Gittite crossed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. NASB 1995 Therefore David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. NASB 1977 Therefore David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. Legacy Standard Bible So David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. Amplified Bible So David said to Ittai, “Go on and cross over [the Brook Kidron].” So Ittai the Gittite crossed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. Berean Annotated Bible “March on then, said David (beloved) to Ittai (with me). So Ittai the Gittite (belonging to Gath) marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. Christian Standard Bible “March on,” David replied to Ittai. So Ittai of Gath marched past with all his men and the dependents who were with him. Holman Christian Standard Bible March on,” David replied to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and the children who were with him. American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version "Then come on!" David said. So Ittai and all his men and their families walked on past David. English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation So David told Ittai, "Go ahead and keep marching." So Ittai from Gath marched on with all his men and all the families who were with him. Good News Translation "Fine!" David answered. "March on!" So Ittai went on with all his men and their dependents. International Standard Version So David replied, "Come along, then!" So Ittai the Gittite went along also, accompanied by all of his men and all of his little ones. NET Bible So David said to Ittai, "Come along then." So Ittai the Gittite went along, accompanied by all his men and all the dependents who were with him. New Heart English Bible So David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over." Then Ittai passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him. Webster's Bible Translation 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. World English Bible David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd David says to Ittai, “Go and pass over”; and Ittai the Gittite passes over, and all his men, and all the infants who [are] with him. Berean Literal Bible And David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little children who were with him. Young's Literal Translation And David saith unto Ittai, 'Go and pass over;' and Ittai the Gittite passeth over, and all his men, and all the infants who are with him. Smith's Literal Translation And David will say to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite will pass over, and all his men, and all the little ones that are with him. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd David said to Ethai: Come, and pass over. And Ethai the Gethite passed, and all the men that were with him, and the rest of the people. Catholic Public Domain Version And David said to Ittai, “Come, and pass over.” And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all the men who were with him, and the rest of the multitude. New American Bible So the king said to Ittai, “Go, then, march on.” And Ittai the Gittite, with all his men and all the dependents that were with him, marched on. New Revised Standard Version David said to Ittai, “Go then, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. So Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men and all the little ones that were with him. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And David said to Ati: “Cross over; get yourself out!” And Ati the Gittite crossed over and all his men, and all the family that was with him. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And 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. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the king said to Ethi, Come and pass over with me. So Ethi the Gittite and the king passed over, and all his servants, and all the multitude with him. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context David Flees Jerusalem…21But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!” 22“March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. And as the king crossed the Kidron Valley, all the people also passed toward the way of the wilderness.… Cross References “March on then,” said David to Ittai. 2 Samuel 18:2 He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.” 1 Samuel 23:13 Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men 2 Samuel 23:29 Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, 1 Samuel 27:3 David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. 1 Samuel 30:9-10 So David and his six hundred men went to the Brook of Besor, where some stayed behind / because two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the brook. But David and four hundred men continued in pursuit. and all the little ones who were with him. Deuteronomy 31:12-13 Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and to follow carefully all the words of this law. / Then their children who do not know the law will listen and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” Joshua 8:35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua failed to read before the whole assembly of Israel, including the women, the little ones, and the foreigners who lived among them. Genesis 46:5-7 Then Jacob departed from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel took their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him, along with their children and wives. / They also took the livestock and possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt. / Jacob took with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring. Ruth 1:16-17 But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. / Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” 1 Samuel 20:42 And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city. 2 Samuel 19:37-38 Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.” / The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight, and I will do for you whatever you desire of me.” 1 Kings 11:38 If you listen to all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight in order to keep My statutes and commandments as My servant David did, then I will be with you. I will build you a lasting dynasty just as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. Genesis 31:49 It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other. 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 1 Samuel 22:23 Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life is seeking mine as well. You will be safe with me.” 2 Kings 2:2 and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. Treasury of Scripture 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. Jump to Previous Ahead David Families Forward Gittite Infants Ittai It'tai Little March Marched Ones Passed PassethJump to Next Ahead David Families Forward Gittite Infants Ittai It'tai Little March Marched Ones Passed Passeth2 Samuel 15 1. Absalom, by fair speeches and courtesies, steals the hearts of Israel.7. By pretense of a vow, he obtains leave to go to Hebron 10. He makes there a great conspiracy 13. David upon the news flees from Jerusalem 19. Ittai will leave him 24. Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark 30. David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping, 31. He curses Ahithophel's counsel 32. Hushai is sent back with instructions “March on then,” said David to Ittai. David accepts Ittai’s pledged loyalty and directs him to continue with the fleeing company. Though driven from Jerusalem by Absalom’s rebellion, David remains God’s anointed king and leads with humility rather than forcing a foreigner to share his hardship. Ittai’s willingness to remain with David recalls the faithfulness owed to the Lord’s appointed ruler. 2Sa 18:2 He sent out the troops, a third under Joab,… So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men Ittai came from Gath, a Philistine city long associated with Israel’s enemies, yet he and his men identify themselves with David. Having only recently arrived in Israel, Ittai had vowed to stand with David in life or death (2 Samuel 15:21). His loyalty shows that devotion to God’s king was not limited by nationality. The faithful allegiance of this Gentile leader anticipates the gathering of people from every nation into God’s kingdom, later displayed in the salvation of Gentiles such as Cornelius (Acts 10). 2Sa 23:29 Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai… and all the little ones who were with him. Ittai’s company included children as well as fighting men, making their departure an act of costly trust. They left the security of Jerusalem to follow David into uncertainty, sharing the danger and hardship brought by Absalom’s revolt. Their presence reveals the human burden of the kingdom’s crisis and reflects God’s concern for households traveling under the care of His appointed servant. Deu 31:12-13 Assemble the people—men, women, children… Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe King of Israel, who is fleeing from his son Absalom's rebellion. David's leadership and faith are tested during this time of crisis. 2. Ittai the Gittite A foreigner from Gath who shows loyalty to David. Despite being a newcomer, Ittai chooses to follow David, demonstrating faithfulness and courage. 3. Absalom's Rebellion The backdrop of this event, where Absalom, David's son, has declared himself king, forcing David to flee Jerusalem. 4. The March The act of Ittai and his men, including their families, joining David in his flight, symbolizing loyalty and commitment. 5. Gath A Philistine city, indicating Ittai's origins and highlighting the diverse following David had, even among foreigners. Teaching Points Loyalty and CommitmentIttai's decision to follow David despite the risks teaches us about the importance of loyalty and commitment in our relationships and faith journey. Faith in Leadership David's acceptance of Ittai's loyalty reflects the importance of recognizing and valuing the support of others, even those who are new or different from us. Courage in Uncertainty Ittai's willingness to march with David into an uncertain future encourages us to trust God and step out in faith, even when the path is unclear. Inclusivity in God's Kingdom The inclusion of Ittai, a foreigner, in David's ranks reminds us that God's kingdom is open to all who choose to follow Him, regardless of their background. Family and Faith The mention of "the little ones" with Ittai highlights the role of family in our faith journey, encouraging us to lead our families in following God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 15:22?2. How does 2 Samuel 15:22 demonstrate loyalty in challenging circumstances? 3. What can we learn from Ittai's commitment to David in our own lives? 4. How does Ittai's loyalty reflect Christ's call to follow Him? 5. In what ways can we show unwavering support to our spiritual leaders today? 6. How does Ittai's decision inspire us to trust God's plan during trials? 7. What does 2 Samuel 15:22 reveal about loyalty and obedience in biblical leadership? 8. How does 2 Samuel 15:22 reflect the themes of trust and authority in the Bible? 9. What historical context is essential to understanding 2 Samuel 15:22? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 15? What Does 2 Samuel 15:22 Mean “March on then”− David’s brief command signals urgent movement and resolute faith. • Earlier he had told Ittai, “Return and stay with the new king” (2 Samuel 15:19–20), but now he releases him to follow freely—echoing Joshua’s charge “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9). • By saying “then,” David affirms God’s unfolding plan in real time, much like his confidence in 1 Samuel 17:47 that “the battle is the LORD’s.” • The statement calls every believer to keep moving forward even when the path is unclear (Hebrews 11:8–10). said David to Ittai − A fugitive king speaks to a foreign commander, modeling inclusive leadership rooted in covenant loyalty. • David earlier welcomed Philistine warriors who had joined Israel (1 Chronicles 12:1–22). • His personal address mirrors Jesus’ intimacy with Gentile centurions who displayed great faith (Matthew 8:10). • The conversation underscores Proverbs 27:10—“do not forsake your friend”—even in crisis. So Ittai the Gittite marched past − Ittai immediately obeys, illustrating steadfast allegiance. • Like Ruth’s “Where you go I will go” (Ruth 1:16), Ittai commits to David’s fate. • His march parallels Jonathan’s armor-bearer who said, “I am with you heart and soul” (1 Samuel 14:7). • The scene anticipates the disciples who “left everything and followed Him” (Luke 5:11). with all his men − Loyalty is corporate, not merely individual. • Whole households rallied to Moses at the exodus (Exodus 12:37) and later to David at Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1–2). • The unity of Ittai’s band reflects Psalm 133:1—“How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.” • Their collective march pictures the church as “one body with many members” (1 Colossians 12:12). and all the little ones who were with him − Families share in the cost of discipleship. • God includes children in covenant journeys—from Noah’s ark (Genesis 7:1) to the wilderness family camp around the tabernacle (Numbers 2:34). • This detail reminds parents to guide sons and daughters in faith (Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Ephesians 6:4). • Psalm 127:3 affirms that children are “a heritage from the LORD,” worth protecting even on dangerous roads. summary 2 Samuel 15:22 reveals a snapshot of loyal obedience amid upheaval. David’s permission, Ittai’s instant march, the solidarity of seasoned warriors, and the inclusion of vulnerable children together illustrate courageous trust in God’s sovereign plan. The verse challenges believers to press forward, shoulder to shoulder, bringing our whole households under the Lord’s banner no matter how uncertain the journey appears. Verse 22. - All the little ones; Hebrew, all the taf; in ver. 20 called "his brethren," that is, all the relatives and dependents who had accompanied him in his exile. Their presence with him proves that he had entirely broken with the Philistines, and left his country for good. He may have taken this step for religious reasons, though his swearing by Jehovah (ver. 21) does not prove it, as Achish did the same (1 Samuel 29:6); or Ittai, after the capture of Gath by David (2 Samuel 8:1), may have made himself unpopular by becoming the ally of the conqueror, and so finally have determined to leave the city, and find a home in Israel.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “March on then,”וַעֲבֹ֑ר (wa·‘ă·ḇōr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on said וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say David דָּוִ֛ד (dā·wiḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to Ittai. אִתַּ֖י (’it·tay) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 863: Ithai -- perhaps 'companionable', an Israelite, also a Philistine So Ittai אִתַּ֤י (’it·tay) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 863: Ithai -- perhaps 'companionable', an Israelite, also a Philistine the Gittite הַגִּתִּי֙ (hag·git·tî) Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1663: Gittite -- an inhabitant of Gath marched past וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞ר (way·ya·‘ă·ḇōr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on with all וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every his men אֲנָשָׁ֔יו (’ă·nā·šāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person and all וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the little ones הַטַּ֖ף (haṭ·ṭap̄) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2945: A family who [were] אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that with him. אִתּֽוֹ׃ (’it·tōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among Additonal Resources 2 Samuel 15:22 Blue Letter Bible2 Samuel 15:22 Bible Gateway 2 Samuel 15:22 Bible.com 2 Samuel 15:22 NIV |
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