But Absalom sent spies throughout all the land of Israel
To sound the disposition of the people towards him, to insinuate things into their minds in favour of him, and to improve every opportunity of recommending him to their esteem and affections:
saying, as soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet;
in any place; and which it is probable he employed men to sound in many places:
then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron:
which is the cause of the trumpet's sounding; and by this means they would learn how the people stood affected to him, whether the news was grateful or not.