2 Samuel 15:10

“But Absalom sent spies throughout all the land of Israel, etc.] 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.”

“HE FORMS A CONSPIRACY. (Sa2 15:10-12) Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel--These emissaries were to sound the inclination of the people, to further the interests of Absalom, and exhort all the adherents of his party to be in readiness to join his standard as soon as they should hear that he had been proclaimed king. As the summons was to be made by the sound of trumpets, it is probable that care had been taken to have trumpeters stationed on the heights, and at convenient stations--a mode of announcement that would soon spread the news over all the country of his inauguration to the throne.”

“spies: Sa2 13:28, Sa2 14:30 reigneth: Sa2 19:10; Job 20:5-29; Psa 73:18, Psa 73:19 Hebron: Sa2 2:1, Sa2 2:11, Sa2 3:2, Sa2 3:3, Sa2 5:5; Ch1 11:3, Ch1 12:23, Ch1 12:38 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 15:11”

“When Absalom went to Hebron, he sent spies into all the tribes of Israel to say, "When ye hear the sound of the trumpet, say, Absalom has become king in Hebron." We must suppose the sending the spies to have been contemporaneous with the removal of Absalom to Hebron, so that ויּשׁלח is used quite regularly, and there is no reason for translating it as a pluperfect. The messengers sent out are called "spies," because they were first of all to ascertain the feelings of the people in the different tribes, and were only to execute their commission in places where they could reckon upon support. The conspiracy had hitherto been kept very secret, as we may see from the statement in Sa2 15:11 :…”