2 Samuel 15:12

12 While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he summoned David's advisor Ahithophel, who was from Giloh, to come from his hometown. So the conspiracy grew stronger, and Absalom's following grew.

2 Samuel 15:12 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 15:12

And Absalom sent for Ahithophel, the Gilonite, David's
counsellor
To advise with about this treasonable affair he was engaged in, and to get out of him David's secrets, who was reckoned the best counsellor in the land; and he might rather hope he would come to him, if he was the grandfather of Bathsheba, as say the Jews, ( 2 Samuel 11:3 ) ( 23:34 ) ; since he might be disgusted with and resent David's adultery with Bathsheba his granddaughter, and the murder of her husband Uriah: him he sent for,

from his city, [even] from Giloh;
a city in the tribe of Judah, in the mountainous part of it, near to Hebron, where Absalom now was; and, according to Bunting ^F9, twenty miles from Jerusalem, see ( Joshua 15:48 Joshua 15:51 Joshua 15:54 ) ;

while he offered sacrifices;
not Ahithophel, but Absalom, his peace offerings at Hebron, to which he invited Ahithophel to come and partake of:

and the conspiracy was strong;
or there was a great number in the conspiracy, who were assembled together:

for the people increased continually with Absalom;
being drawn to him by the comeliness of his person, his affable behaviour, the pomp and magnificence in which he appeared, the great number of the principal inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and he the king's eldest son, and so heir to the crown; whereas it might begin to be rumoured about, that David designed Solomon, a son of Bathsheba, a young prince, to be his successor, which did not meet with general approbation at first.

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 Travels p. 149.

2 Samuel 15:12 In-Context

10 But Absalom sent secret agents throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: "When you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!'"

11 Two hundred invited guests went with Absalom from Jerusalem. They were innocent and knew nothing of this matter when they went.

12 While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he summoned David's advisor Ahithophel, who was from Giloh, to come from his hometown. So the conspiracy grew stronger, and Absalom's following grew.

13 A messenger came to David, reporting, "The hearts of the Israelites have gone over to Absalom."

14 Then David told all the servants who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come on! We have to run for it, or we won't be able to escape Absalom. Hurry, or he will catch up with us in no time, destroy us, and attack the city with the sword."