Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 15:25

25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the Ark of God into the City: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation.

Partly, out of Care and Reverence to the Ark, which though sometimes it was, and might be carried out to a certain place; yet he might justly think unfit to carry it from place to place he knew not whither, and to expose it to all the hazards and inconveniences to which he himself was likely to be Exposed: partly out of respect to the Priests, whom by this means he thought he should expose to the Rage of Absalom, as he had before Exposed them to Saul's Fury on another occasion, 1 Sam. 22. And partly, that by this means he might have the better opportunity to search ou[illegible: 1+ letters], and to Counter-work Absaloms Plots; which was so necessary, not onely for himself, but for the defence and maintenance of the Ark, and all Gods Ordinances, and of the true Religion.

i. e. The Tabernacle which David had lately built for it, Chap. 6. 17. in which the Ark, and God, by means thereof, ordinarily dwelt. And hereby he insinuates another reason of his returning the Ark to Ierusalem, because there was the Tabernacle made for the receit of it.