And David went up by the ascent of [mount] Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that [was] with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
Ver. 30. And wept as he went up.] Bewailing his own sins, and the deplorable state of the commonwealth at that time.
And had his head covered.] As was and is still the guise and garb of mourners, 2Sa 19:4 Est 6:12 Jer 14:3 partly for secrecy's sake, and partly for seriousness, that their minds might not be diverted or distracted. For which cause also our modern Jews do in their synagogues put on each man his taleth or square vestment, turning it back about their neck, that so they may be the more attentive at their prayers, without looking aside any way. a
And he went barefoot.] In token of sorrow and shame. Isa 20:3-4 Whether his bare feet by the hard stones were forced to yield bloody tokens of his humiliation, as our Henry II did when he went on pilgrimage to Becket's sepulchre, b we have not to say. Muleasses, king of Tunis, fleeing from his son Amida (another Absalom), was betrayed and taken by the sweet odours he had about him, and could not be without, no not in so great a danger.
And all the people.] Regis ad exemplum, &c. They sympathised.
a Leo Modena.
b Daniel.