David's departure from Jerusalem with his entire household, described in terms that suggest the movement of the entire royal court and all who could flee with him, represents a massive logistical undertaking and a significant disruption of the normal functioning of the capital. The reference to the king stopping at the last house—presumably the house of a supporter sympathetic to his flight—and the gathering of his followers suggests the organized nature of the retreat and the pre-arranged nature of the flight plan. The movement of the entire household suggests that David did not expect to return quickly to Jerusalem and that he was preparing for an extended campaign to retake his throne. The verse emphasizes the scale of the disruption caused by the rebellion and the dramatic nature of the king's flight.

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