2 Samuel 15:12

“And Absalom sent for Ahithophel, the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, etc.] 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, (<101103>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 f259, twenty miles from…”

“Absalom sent for Ahithophel--who he knew was ready to join the revolt, through disgust and revenge, as Jewish writers assert, at David's conduct towards Bath-sheba, who was his granddaughter. Giloh--near Hebron. the conspiracy was strong--The rapid accession of one place after another in all parts of the kingdom to the party of the insurgents, shows that deep and general dissatisfaction existed at this time against the person and government of David. The remnant of Saul's partisans, the unhappy affair of Bath-sheba, the overbearing insolence and crimes of Joab, negligence and obstruction in the administration of justice--these were some of the principal causes that contributed to the success…”

“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 2 Samuel 11:3). While he offered sacrifices - Rather, that Absalom sent for Ahithophel to be present when he offered the sacrifices; the intention being that all who partook of the sacrifice should be bound together to prosecute the enterprise. Absalom, too, would take advantage of the excitement of the great feast to inflame the ardour of the guests, and pledge them irrevocably to his cause. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Sacrifices - Which he did not in devotion to God; but merely that upon this pretence he might call great numbers of people together. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 15:14”

“15:12 Ahithophel was Bathsheba’s grandfather (cp. 11:3; 23:34); years later, he might still have been angry over what David did to his granddaughter. • Giloh was located in the region of Hebron (Josh 15:51, 54).”

“Ahithophel: Sa2 15:31, Sa2 16:20-23, Sa2 17:14, Sa2 17:23 David's: Psa 41:9, Psa 55:12-14; Mic 7:5, Mic 7:6; Joh 13:18 Giloh: Jos 15:51 while he offered: Num 23:1, Num 23:14, Num 23:30; Kg1 21:9, Kg1 21:12; Psa 50:16-21; Pro 21:27; Isa 1:10-16; Tit 1:16 the people: Psa 3:1, Psa 3:2, Psa 43:1, Psa 43:2 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 15:13”

“Moreover, Absalom sent for Ahithophel, David's councillor, to come from his own town Giloh, when he offered the sacrifices. The unusual construction of את ישׁלח with מעירו may be explained from the pregnant character of the expression: he sent and bade come, i.e., he summoned Ahithophel out of his city. Giloh, Ahithophel's home, was upon the mountains of Judah, to the south or south-west of Hebron (see at Jos 15:51). Ahithophel had no doubt been previously initiated into Absalom's plans, and had probably gone to his native city, merely that he might come to him with the greater ease; since his general place of abode, as king's councillor, must have been in Jerusalem. "And the conspiracy…”