What Does II Samuel 15:20 Mean?

David continues his appeal to Ittai: "Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee." The blessing of "mercy and truth" (hesed ve'emet) is one of the most theologically rich phrases in the Old Testament, combining the covenantal loyalty of God with His unwavering faithfulness. David's use of this blessing reveals that even in his darkest hour, the king's theological vocabulary remains intact.

The phrase "I go whither I may" captures the pathos of David's situation: a king without a destination, a ruler without a throne, a father without a home. The contrast with the David of earlier years, who marched from victory to victory under the banner of divine guidance, is stark. This is the David of consequence, walking into the unknown because the known has been taken from him by the sin he committed and the justice he failed to administer.

The Lord Jesus, who had "not where to lay His head," went not "whither He may" but whither the Father sent Him. Every step of His earthly journey was directed by sovereign purpose, and the cross that appeared to be the destination of a defeated man was in reality the throne from which He conquered death, sin, and hell. The mercy and truth that David pronounced as a blessing upon Ittai became incarnate in the person of Christ, in whom "mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."