The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 363

thing depends upon gathering a powerful working thero secretly for Absl\lom for some following et first; end usually a good deRI time. As Ditvid'e counsellor, hie proper or vigour Rnd even force ie noce881Lry to place of residence would hl\Ve been Jeru- make men take pitrt in a revolt. But as the salem, but the conspirnoy bad been kept so numbers swell, adherents readily flock in to secret tbl\t he had been nble to get away whitt seems to be the winning side. without suspicion. He ie now eummoued Ver. 11.-Two hundred men. These, to Abealom'e side, and hie preecnoe there doubtless, were courtiers and men or rank, brings in so ml\ny adherents that a rl\pi<l who were so aocustomed to AbsRlom's love maroh on Jorusalem might hove put David or display, that, when oalled, that is, invited, into their power. The Revised Version is they would go without suspicion. To Ab- right in translating, while he offered the salom their attendance was most import1mt, BBAlriAoea; namely, those whioh he had not only because, being compromised, many v,,wed, and which were the reason given "'·ould join him, and even all of them for a for his visit to Hebron. time be forced to yield obedience, but be- Ver. 14.-A.rise, and let ua flee. The re- cause they would make the people of Hebron bellion of Absalom, and David's humiliating suppose that Absalom bad a powerful body flight, bring out all the better parts of the of supporters at Jerusalem. It is quite king's character, and set him once again possible the.t at Hebron, nnd generally in before us as a man after God'e own heart, Judah, there was grPAt disoontent because For this period is richly illustrated by the Da,id had left their tribe to choose a capital psalms which were written under the pres- elecw here, and because he did not show them sure of this great affliction, and which are any decided preference over the other tribes, marked by firm con.fidenee in God, and an whose good will be would rightly seek to e.Bsured sense of the Di vine nearness and conciliate. The existence of much jealousy protection.. Pe. xli. shows how poignant was between Judah and the ten tribes is plain his anguish e.t Ahithophel's treachery, but from eh. xix.. 41-43. it inspired no fear: "As for me, thou up- Ver. 12.-Ahithophel the Gilonite. The boldest me in mine integrity, and settest me desertion of De.~id by .Ahithophel is in every before thy face for ever" (Ps. xli. 12). It was way remarkable, even if be were Bathsheba's a firm faith which prompted suoh words. grandfather (see note on eh. xi. 3). For he In Ps. lxiii., written "in the wilderness of was fa.r too subtle a man to have joined the Judah," before David had reached the conspiracy unless he had felt reasonably Jordan, he gives utterance to his grief at the sure that it would be sncce;eful. Successful loss of his religious privileges at Jerusalem; it would have been had hie advice been but Jehovah is still bis strong Tower, and followed; but so correctly did he estimate his dwelling will be in God's tabernacle for the result if David were allowed time to ever. Ps. iii. and iv. are his morning and gather his friends, that, when his counsel evening hymns written." when he fled from was rejected, be withdrew immediately Absalom his son." Ps. lv. is one more sad to Giloh, and committed suicide. Still if even than Ps. xii. He describes in it his the revolt had been successful, it would panic-stricken feelings when the news have involved, if not the death of Bath- reached him, hie longing to escape from the eheba, yet certainly that of her sons, and turmoil of life, and flee into the wilderness the exclnsion of Ahithophel's great-grand- and be at rest ; and bis grief at his desertion children from the throne. In Ps. xii, by men in. whose company he had worshipped written at this time, we learn what were in the house of God. U pan this follows an out- David's feelings when he heard the news burst of vehement indignation, me.de the more of this conspir11oCy, and .Ahitbophel is the bitter by the sense of the treachery where- familiar friend, in whom he had trusted, by he he.d been duped into connivance with and who he.d eaten e.t his table, but now Absa.lom's plans (ver. 21); but amidst it all raised up his heel to kick e.t him. In John his confidence ~as unshaken that if he cast xiii. 18 the words are quoted of Judas his burden upon God, "he would sustain him, hcariot, of whom Ahithophel was a type in e.nd never suffer the righteous to be moved." his treachery e.nd in his death by his own Finally, in Ps. uvii. we have the contrast hand. The translation, "een.t for Ahitho- between.Jehove.h's a.biding goodness and tha phel," can.not be maintained. The Hebrew inconstancy of men; while Pse. lxi. and lm. is " sent A.hithophel," but for what purpose were probably written a.t Me.hane.im, when or on what emba.sey is not mentioned. As David's anguish of mind was being assuaged. thns something must have dropped out of and e. calm confidence was taking its place, the Hebrew text, it possibly may be the Everywhere in e.11 of them David speaks as preposition "for," 0.8 this giv'-'8 a good sense. one who had now given a.II hi~ heart to God. For Giloh, Abithophel's town, was situated As regards hie tenor and flight (Ps. Iv. 5- a few miles to the south of Hebron (Josh. 8), it me.y seem strange the.t David should xv. 51), and .Ahithophel Lo.d probably been he.ve withdrawn so hurriedly from a city so 011. xv. 1-37.J THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL.