And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.
Absalom was no sooner restored to court than he plotted the throne. He that bore his troubles with no humility became insufferably proud when they ended; the son of Jesse's son would not wait for succession but must wear the crown now. His heathen mother made him careless for Israel's peace, and David paid dearly for being unequally yoked with an unbeliever. When the king's favour came, gratitude should have moved him to oblige his father; instead he stole the people's hearts.
AI summary
Commenting on 2 Samuel 15:1-6
He stretched out his hand to take each man and kissed him, winning the people's affections through studied familiarity and courtesy. This was no mere greeting but a calculated warmth, more than custom allowed, designed to bend hearts toward himself and away from his father.
AI summary
2Sa 15:5 And when any one came near to him to prostrate himself before him, he took him by the hand and kissed him. It was by conduct of this kind that Agamemnon is said to have secured the command of the Grecian army (Euripid. Iphig. Aul. v. 337ff.).