17 The king went forth, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
And tarried in a place - He probably waited till he saw all his friends safely out of the city.
And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was (i) far off.
(i) That is, from Jerusalem.
And the king went forth,.... From Jerusalem; which is repeated, that it might be observed in what a hurry and fright he was:
and all the people after him; his family, court, and servants, and as many of the people of Jerusalem as chose to go with him:
and tarried at a place that was afar off; when they had got at some distance from the city, they stopped and stayed a while; it could not be a great way from it, for they had not as yet passed over the brook Kidron, 2-Samuel 15:23.
When outside the city the king and all the people in his suite (i.e., the royal family and their servants) halted at "the house of the distance." המּרחק is probably a proper name given to a house in the neighbourhood of the city and on the road to Jericho, which was called "the farthest house," viz., from the city.
Far off - At some convenient distance, tho' not very far.
*More commentary available at chapter level.