Albert Barnes

While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh.

“Ahithophel - It has been with great probability supposed that Ahithophel was estranged from David by personal resentment for his conduct in the matter of Bath-sheba and Uriah (see 2Sa 11:3).”

and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.

“Passed on - Rather, “crossed” the Brook Kidron, as in 2Sa 15:22-23. Gittites - During David’s residence in the country of the Philistines he attached such a band to himself; and after the settlement of his kingdom, and the subjugation of the Philistines, the band…”

The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.

“Art not those a seer? - If the text be correct, the sense would be, “Art thou not a seer? therefore go back to the city, and observe, and certify me of what thou seest” 2Sa 15:28.”

“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me…

“Thy master’s son - Meaning Saul’s grandson 2Sa 9:6. David asks the question, evidently hurt at the apparent ingratitude of Mephibosheth. It is impossible to say whether Mephibosheth was quite guiltless or not. If Ps.”

As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out.

“Bahurim - See 2Sa 3:16 note. It seems to have lain off the road, on a ridge 2Sa 16:13, separated from it by a narrow ravine, so that Shimei was out of easy reach though within hearing, and within a stone’s throw 2Sa 16:6, 2Sa…”

And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!

“Come out - Rather, “Go out,” namely, of the land, into banishment. Compare Jer 29:16. Thou bloody man - See the margin.”

The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the…

“All the blood of the house of Saul - Shimei probably put to David’s account the death of Saul, and Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, slain in battle by the Philistines with whom David was in league; of Ish-bosheth, slain in consequence of David’s league…”

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”

“This dead dog - See the marginal reference and 2Sa 9:8 note. Go over - The ravine, possibly with a stream of water 2Sa 17:20, which lay between them and Shimei.”

Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”

“His cursing - Another reading has “my curse,” i. e., the curse that has fallen upon me. David recognizes in every word and action that he was receiving the due reward of his sin, and that which Nathan had foretold.”

Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace.

“Taking possession of the harem was the most decided act of sovereignty (see 1Ki 2:22). It was also the greatest offence and insult that could be offered. Such an act on Absalom’s part made reconciliation impossible.”

Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.

“This night - The night of the day on which David fled, and Absalom entered into Jerusalem. Ahithophel’s idea was to fall upon David by surprise, and in the first confusion of the surprised army to seize and kill David only.”

and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband.

“The man whom thou seekest - namely, David. Ahithophel means to say: “If I can only smite David, there will be no civil war, all the people will peaceably submit.””

Hushai replied, “This time the advice of Ahithophel is not sound.”

“At this time - Rather, “The counsel which Ahithophel has given this time is not good.” He contrasts it with that given before 2Sa 16:21, which was good. This gave an appearance of candour to his conduct, and so gave weight to his dissent.”

Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location.

“Some pit, or in some other place - The Hebrew has “in one of the pits,” or “in one of the places.” Hence, “place” must have some defined meaning.”

Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over.

“Hushai, like a wise and prudent man, knowing, too, Absalom’s weak and fickle character, would not depend upon the resolution, taken at his instigation, not to pursue the king, but took instant measures to advertise David of his danger.”

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them.

“En-rogel - See the marginal reference. A wench - Hebrew “the maid servant,” namely, of the high priest, either Zadok or Abiathar, or possibly one employed in some service in the temple courts. (1Sa 2:22 note.)”

Then the man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well, scattering grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

“A covering - Hebrew “the covering,” perhaps “the hanging” or “awning” at the door of the house, as the word seems to mean when spoken of the tabernacle.”

When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied.

“As soon as ever she had hid the men she went into the house, as if busy about her usual occupations.”

When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown.

“To his city - To Giloh (marginal reference). Ahithophel was probably influenced by deep mortification at the slight put upon him by rejecting his counsel. He is a memorable example of the impotence of worldly wisdom. Compare the marginal reference.”

Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.

“Mahanaim - See 2Sa 2:8. The same reasons which induced Abner to choose it for Ishbosheth probablv made it a good rallying point for David.”

Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash…

“Ithra an Israelite - Or “Jether the Ishmeelite” 1Ch 2:17. “Ithra” and “Jether” are practically the same names. “Israelite” in the text is wrong. It should be either “Ishmaelite” or “Jezreelite” 2Sa 3:2.”

When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim.

“Shobi’s father may have been the king of the Ammonites, and Shobi appointed by David as tributary king or governor of Ammon after he took Rabbah 2Sa 12:29.”

honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”

“Cheese of kine - Or, as others, “milch cows,” which is more in accordance with the context, being coupled with “sheep,” and is more or less borne out etymologically by the Arabic. God’s care for David was evident in the kindness of these people.”

He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite.

“A third part - This seems to have been a favorite division with the Hebrew commanders (see Jdg 7:16; Jdg 9:43; 1Sa 11:11; 2Ki 11:5-6) and with the Philistines also 1Sa 13:17.”

So David’s army marched into the field to engage Israel in the battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim.

“Against Israel - Implying that the revolt was in a great measure that of the ten tribes, Saul’s party, against the kingdom. The wood of Ephraim - This would naturally be sought in the west of Jordan (marginal reference).”