Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 15:10
But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
10. spies ] Absalom’s emissaries are called spies, because they were sent secretly to ascertain public feeling, and only divulge their real purpose where they could count on support.
the sound of the trumpet ] The signal for revolt and for the gathering of his supporters, like the hoisting of a standard in modern times. He was to be proclaimed king simultaneously all over the country. Cp. ch. 2Sa 20:1 ; 1Ki 1:34; 2Ki 9:13.
in Hebron ] The choice of Hebron clearly shews that Absalom expected to find his chief support in the tribe of Judah. It is probable that the old tribal jealousies had been revived, and that Judah resented its absorption into the nation at large. Such a spirit of discontent would account for the slackness of Judah to bring back the king when the rebellion was over (ch. 2Sa 19:11). Hebron itself too probably contained many persons who were aggrieved by the removal of the court to Jerusalem. See Ewald’s Hist. of Israel, III. 176.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 10. Absalom sent spies] These persons were to go into every tribe; and the trumpet was to be blown as a signal for all to arise, and proclaim Absalom in every place. The trumpet was probably used as a kind of telegraph by the spies: trumpet exciting trumpet from place to place; so that, in a few minutes all Israel would hear the proclamation.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Absalom sent from Hebron; or, had sent from Jerusalem; that when he went to Hebron, they should go into the several tribes to sift the people, and to dispose them to Absaloms party, and acquaint them with his success.
As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet; which I shall take care to have sounded in several parts by other persons; and when that is done, you shall inform them of the reason of it. Or, as soon as you understand that the trumpet was sounded at Hebron; partly to call the people together for my assistance; and partly to celebrate my inauguration to the kingdom, which you shall speedily know by messengers whom I shall send to you to that end.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. Absalom sent spies throughoutall the tribes of IsraelThese emissaries were to sound theinclination of the people, to further the interests of Absalom, andexhort all the adherents of his party to be in readiness to join hisstandard as soon as they should hear that he had been proclaimedking. As the summons was to be made by the sound of trumpets, it isprobable that care had been taken to have trumpeters stationed on theheights, and at convenient stationsa mode of announcement thatwould soon spread the news over all the country of his inaugurationto the throne.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But Absalom sent spies throughout all the land of Israel,…. 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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 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 2Sa 15:11: “With Absalom there had gone two hundred men out of Jerusalem, invited (to the sacrificial festival), and going in their simplicity, who knew nothing at all of the affair.” ( : nothing at all.)
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(10) Sent spies.These were agents who were to sound the people in the various parts of the land, and doubtless to communicate the conspiracy only secretly, and to those whom they found favourably disposed. They started from Jerusalem, perhaps, at the same time with Absalom, or possibly had been sent out quietly, a few at a time, beforehand. The signal for rising was to be a messenger with a trumpet.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. Spies So called, says Keil, “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 placers where they could reckon upon support.”
Sound of the trumpet The common signal to call the people together for purposes of war or self-defence. Jer 4:5; Jer 4:19.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 15:10. But Absalom sent spies Before he left Jerusalem, Absalom took care to send his emissaries throughout all the tribes; doubtless under colour of inviting persons of distinction to the sacrifice, but in reality to carry the watchword and signal before agreed on between them.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(10) But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. (11) And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not anything. (12) And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
We feel pity for those two hundred men drawn by surprise into such a conspiracy: but as to Ahithophel, David’s counsellor and friend, we feel indignation at his conduct. But here, blessed Jesus! do I not feel my soul drawn to thee and thine unequalled trials, from the perfidy of Judas? Alas! what situation hath any of thy faithful ones been ever placed in from the baseness of unfaithful men, but thou hast experienced it before them. Probably, David wrote the forty-first Psalm on the occasion of this conspiracy, in which he particularly takes notice of the falseness of the familiar friend which eat bread with him. But if so, it is still more interesting and striking, typically considered, in reference to the perfidy of Judas towards our Lord Jesus Christ. And indeed, as such, the Lord himself applies it. See Joh 13:18 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 15:10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
Ver. 10. But Absalom sent spies. ] Under a show of messengers and invitants to Absalom’s feast, but indeed to underfeel the chief of each tribe, and to acquaint them with the intent of the meeting at Hebron. And hereunto probably Ahithophel – that old fox – had paved a way by his persuasions; though for the present he had withdrawn himself, and lay close, as having learned to put others before him in dangerous actions, and, with the ape, to take nuts out of the fire with the paw of the cat.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
spies: 2Sa 13:28, 2Sa 14:30
reigneth: 2Sa 19:10, Job 20:5-29, Psa 73:18, Psa 73:19
Hebron: 2Sa 2:1, 2Sa 2:11, 2Sa 3:2, 2Sa 3:3, 2Sa 5:5, 1Ch 11:3, 1Ch 12:23, 1Ch 12:38
Reciprocal: Jos 10:36 – Hebron 1Sa 30:31 – Hebron 2Sa 12:11 – I will raise 2Sa 20:1 – he blew 2Sa 22:19 – prevented 1Ki 1:18 – Adonijah 1Ki 1:34 – blow ye 2Ki 9:13 – blew with trumpets 1Ch 11:1 – Hebron Neh 6:7 – a king Psa 37:12 – General Psa 55:20 – broken Mic 7:6 – son
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 15:10. Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes Before he left Jerusalem he took care to send his emissaries into all parts; doubtless under colour of inviting persons of distinction to the sacrifice; but in reality to carry the watchword and signal, before agreed on between them. As soon as ye shall hear the sound of the trumpet, &c. This was the signal which was to be given for the peoples taking up arms, their hearing the sound of the trumpet, which Absalom took care should be blown in all the tribes at the same time, by persons purposely placed in the towns and villages, at such a distance from one another as that each trumpet could be heard by the person appointed to blow the next. The spies, or emissaries, immediately upon hearing the sound of it, were to proclaim that Absalom was crowned king in Hebron. Upon this being done, all his partisans, it is likely, shouted, God save King Absalom.