2 Samuel 15:7-11; 2 Samuel 15:31-34,37
Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD. And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
A. W. PINK (1886-1952): When the news arrives that Absalom had set up the standard of revolt at Hebron, David’s only thought was immediate flight.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): The matter was bad enough; yet it seems to have been made worse to him than really it was; for he was told that “the hearts of the men of Israel were after Absalom,” that is, the generality of them, at least the leading men. But David was the more apt to believe it, because now he could call to mind the arts that Absalom had used to inveigle them, and perhaps reflected upon it with regret that he had not done more to secure his own interest, of which he had been too confident.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): With Absalom went two hundred men invited by him to partake of his peace offerings, as the payment of his vow in Hebron, part of which was made a feast. “They went in their simplicity,” to partake of the feast, being harmless and upright in their intentions, having no thought of disloyalty and rebellion, “and they knew not anything” of an intended conspiracy.
A. W. PINK: Immediately after Ahithophel’s coming to Absalom, we are informed, ‘and the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.” His joining with Absalom greatly strengthened Absalom’s cause. There is no doubt he was the chief instrument in this conspiracy, and the prime reason why so many in Israel turned from the king to his traitorous son. His official status and the great influence he possessed over the people made Absalom glad to avail himself of his help, both to sink the spirits of David’s party and to inspire his own with confidence, for Ahithophel was commonly regarded as a prophet: “The counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom,” 2 Samuel 16:23. But what made Ahithophel respond so readily to Absalom’s invitation, and cause him to find greater favour in the eyes of the people, as one who had been grievously wronged and deserved to be avenged of his adversity?
THE EDITOR: Trace the horizontal thread line in God’s tapestry, by considering details which in their vertical context alone seem unimportant; but connected together horizontally, they shine clear light on the deep design of Absalom’s political agitation, and show God using men’s own personal motivations to accomplish His purposes.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): There is nothing in this Bible which is unimportant.
A. W. PINK: In 2 Samuel 23:1-39, the names are given of the men who formed David’s special ‘bodyguard, among them, “Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,” and Uriah the Hittite.” Eliam and Uriah were fellow-officers—and Uriah married the “daughter of Eliam,” 2 Samuel 11:3. Thus Bathsheba, whom David grievously wronged, was the grand-daughter of Ahithophel, and Uriah, whom he cruelly murdered, was Ahithophel’s grandson by marriage! Does not this explain why David’s “familiar friend,” Psalm 41:9, became his deadly foe, and account for his readiness to aid Absalom, seeking to avenge the dishonour brought upon his house? Does not this explain why Absalom approached Ahithophel with confidence, made known to him his treason, and counted on him welcoming the news?
THE EDITOR: When Absalom entered Jerusalem, he asked Ahithopel what to do. “Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house,” Ahithopel said, “and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel,” 2 Samuel 16:20,21. Thus Ahithopel took his own revenge upon David for the adulterous seduction of his grand-daughter.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): Absalom incestuously defiling his father’s bed, perpetrates a detestable crime, Leviticus 18:8.
THE EDITOR: Absalom’s crime fulfills God’s judgment concerning David’s sin of commission with Bathsheba: “I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun,” 2 Samuel 12:11. But behold God’s perfect symmetry! Amnon had defiled his half-sister, an incestuous crime that David failed to punish, Leviticus 18:11—and this sin of omission also comes home to him in the same event.
C. H. SPURGEON: Every sin has one twig in God’s rod appropriated to itself. Suffice it to say, that in God’s hand there are punishments for each particular transgression, and it is very singular to notice how in Bible history almost every saint has been chastened for the sin he has committed by the sin itself falling upon his own head.
ALEXANDER CARSON (1776-1844): God’s purpose is brought about by those whose only view is fulfill their own purposes—men think, and resolve, and act for themselves; yet Jehovah is executing His purposes even through their wickedness…This is a depth we cannot fathom; but it is a truth necessary for the honour of the character of God; and one which the Scriptures leave no room for doubt.
THE EDITOR: Fleeing Absalom, David “came to Bahurim,” where Shimei, a man of the house of Saul, came out cursing him, saying, “Come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man,” 2 Samuel 16:5-8.
MATTHEW POOLE (1624-1679): He maliciously imputes the blood of Abner and Ish-bosheth to David, as if they had been killed by his contrivance—especially Ish-bosheth, because he only gave Joab hard words instead of punishing him.
THE EDITOR: Did David now remember his failure to punish Joab? Though he had not sought either of those deaths, there is a certain symmetry here: another sin of omission had come home to him.
A. W. PINK: Bahurim has been mentioned previously in this context—2 Samuel 3:16. Did David now recall how the husband from whom he had torn Michal had followed her to this very place, and then turned back weeping? We cannot be sure. But the remembrance of later more evil deeds now subdued David’s spirit, and caused him to meekly submit to these outrageous insults.
THE EDITOR: Like Bathsheba’s complicity in adultery, perhaps Michal had some measure of complicity in agreeing to that adulterous second marriage, because later, we know that “she despised David in her heart,” 2 Samuel 6:16. Abishai wanted to behead Shimei for his insolence. But David’s refusal echoes his words at Abner’s funeral: “What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah?” “Let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David…Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day,” 2 Samuel 16:10-12.
