John Gill Commentary 2 Samuel 15:1

"And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him." — 2 Samuel 15:1 (ASV)

And it came to pass after this
After the reconciliation of David and Absalom, and the latter was admitted to court again:

that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses ;
to make himself look grand and respectable among the people; perhaps he got these from his grandfather at Geshur in Syria:

and fifty men to run before him ;
which added to his pomp and magnificence; and such great personages in later time have had; Nero the Roman emperor never went on a journey with less than a thousand calashes or chariots, and a great number of men that ran before him {c}: and this was tacitly setting himself up for king, at least preparing for it, as Adonijah afterwards did in the same way and manner, (1 Kings 1:5) .

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FOOTNOTES:

1. 
   F3 Suetonius in Vit. Neron. c. 30. Vid. Senecae, Ep. 87. & 123.