John Gill Commentary 2 Samuel 15:17

"And the king went forth, and all the people after him; and they tarried in Beth-merhak." — 2 Samuel 15:17 (ASV)

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) .