2 Samuel 15:12 kjv
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
2 Samuel 15:12 nkjv
Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city?from Giloh?while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.
2 Samuel 15:12 niv
While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom's following kept on increasing.
2 Samuel 15:12 esv
And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.
2 Samuel 15:12 nlt
While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, one of David's counselors who lived in Giloh. Soon many others also joined Absalom, and the conspiracy gained momentum.
2 Samuel 15 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 41:9 | Even my close friend, whom I trusted... has lifted his heel against me. | Betrayal by a trusted friend |
| Jn 13:18 | ...that the Scripture might be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.' | Jesus references Ps 41:9, pointing to Judas |
| 2 Sam 16:23 | Now the counsel of Ahithophel in those days was as if one consulted the word of God. | Ahithophel's extraordinary wisdom |
| 2 Sam 15:1-6 | After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses... Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate... stealing the hearts of the men of Israel. | Absalom's cunning preparatory actions |
| 2 Sam 15:10 | Absalom sent secret messengers through all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, 'Absalom is king at Hebron!'" | Coordinated beginning of the revolt |
| 2 Sam 12:11 | Thus says the Lord, 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own house...' | Prophecy of judgment upon David's household |
| 2 Sam 17:1-4 | Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out and pursue David tonight..." | Ahithophel's aggressive counsel against David |
| 2 Sam 17:5-14 | Absalom said, "Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say." ... Then Hushai said to Absalom, "The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good." | Divine counteraction of Ahithophel's counsel |
| 2 Sam 17:23 | When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey... and hanged himself. | Ahithophel's end |
| Prov 21:30 | No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. | God frustrates human schemes |
| Prov 24:21-22 | My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who are given to change, for disaster will arise suddenly from them... | Warnings against rebellion |
| Isa 8:12 | "Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls conspiracy..." | God's perspective on human conspiracies |
| Ps 3:1-2 | O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, "There is no salvation for him in God." | David's lament amidst widespread opposition |
| Ps 55:12-14 | For it is not an enemy who taunts me... But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. | Pain of betrayal by a close friend |
| Job 5:12 | He frustrates the devices of various schemers, so that their hands achieve no success. | God thwarts evil plans |
| Matt 23:27-28 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness." | Religious hypocrisy |
| Gen 4:8 | Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. | Sibling jealousy and treachery |
| 1 Sam 22:9-10 | Then Doeg the Edomite, who was set over Saul's servants, answered... "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub..." | Example of an informer/betrayer |
| Ps 7:15 | He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. | Conspirators ensnared by their own schemes |
| Lk 22:47-48 | While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" | Betrayal with a sign of peace/affection |
| Rom 13:1-2 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed... | Command to obey legitimate authority |
| Eph 6:12 | For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. | Spiritual dimension of rebellion/conflict |
2 Samuel 15 verses
2 Samuel 15 12 Meaning
2 Samuel 15:12 describes Absalom's critical step in consolidating his rebellion against King David. While engaging in what appeared to be religious sacrifices in Hebron, Absalom strategically summoned Ahithophel, David's highly respected counselor, from his city. Ahithophel's defection provided a significant boost to Absalom's cause, causing the conspiracy to gain immediate strength and popularity, with his followers steadily increasing. This moment marks a turning point where Absalom's personal ambition transitioned into a formidable and widespread challenge to David's throne.
2 Samuel 15 12 Context
This verse is set at the peak of Absalom's elaborate and manipulative plot to usurp his father David's throne. Absalom had spent years cultivating popularity among the common people, presenting himself as a sympathetic alternative to David (2 Sam 15:1-6). His request to David to go to Hebron was a deceptive cover, claiming a need to fulfill a vow to the Lord. Hebron was strategically chosen as it was David's first capital, symbolic for launching a rebellion against his father. The "sacrifices" were likely a grand feast, drawing a crowd under a religious pretense while serving as a clandestine meeting for co-conspirators. The arrival of Ahithophel, David's most trusted and highly regarded advisor, signaled a massive blow to David's government and demonstrated the severe and widespread nature of the rebellion.
2 Samuel 15 12 Word analysis
- And while Absalom was offering sacrifices: The Hebrew word for "offering sacrifices" is zabach (זָבַח), often meaning to slaughter for a communal meal or a sacrificial feast. This highlights Absalom's use of religious pretext for his political conspiracy. He clothed his rebellion in piety to garner support, exploiting a public ceremony to gather adherents under the guise of devoutness, which was a deeply deceptive act.
- he sent for: The Hebrew term shalach (שָׁלַח) indicates a deliberate and purposeful action. Absalom didn't just stumble upon Ahithophel; he specifically, intentionally summoned him, knowing his value to the conspiracy.
- Ahithophel the Gilonite: Ahithophel ('Achitophel, אֲחִיתֹפֶל) means "my brother is folly" or "brother of folly." This name is ironic given his famed wisdom. His joining Absalom marked a profound betrayal, coming from his hometown of Giloh. He was known for being so shrewd that his advice was like an oracle from God (2 Sam 16:23). Some scholars suggest Ahithophel might have been Bathsheba’s grandfather, seeking revenge for Uriah's death, thereby linking this rebellion to David's prior sin.
- David's counselor: This title underscores the gravity of Ahithophel's defection. He was not just any advisor but one intimately familiar with David's plans, strategies, and weaknesses. His presence with Absalom gave the rebellion immense credibility and strategic advantage, instantly elevating it beyond a fringe revolt.
- from his city, Giloh: Giloh (גִּלֹה) was a city in the hill country of Judah, far enough from Jerusalem for Absalom's plan to unfold without immediate detection but close enough for communication. Ahithophel's immediate response to Absalom's call highlights his pre-existing alignment or strong motivation for disloyalty.
- So the conspiracy grew strong: The Hebrew word qesher (קֶשֶׁר) explicitly denotes "conspiracy," "treason," or "plot." The verb chazaq (חָזַק) means "grew strong" or "strengthened." This indicates the immediate and powerful impact of Ahithophel's defection. It suggests the plot gained not just numbers, but internal coherence, strategic direction, and solidity. It became a truly formidable challenge, moving from clandestine meetings to open rebellion.
- and the people with Absalom kept increasing: The phrase holekh vachazeq (הֹלֵךְ וָחָזֵק) literally translates to "going and strengthening" or "going and being strong," functioning idiomatically as "continually increasing and growing stronger." This emphasizes the momentum and burgeoning popularity of Absalom's movement. It was not a static group but a continuously swelling crowd, indicating widespread popular support that threatened to overwhelm David.
2 Samuel 15 12 Bonus section
The betrayal by Ahithophel serves as a significant prefigurement of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. Both were trusted counselors or disciples, intimately familiar with the strategies and inner circle of their respective masters (David and Jesus). Their defection marked a critical turning point in the respective narratives, leading to a period of intense trial and flight/suffering for the anointed one. David's profound anguish over Ahithophel's treachery, expressed in passages like Psalm 41 and 55, deeply echoes the pain felt by Jesus concerning Judas. Ahithophel's suicide after his counsel was rejected further provides a tragic parallel to Judas's own desperate end. This highlights a recurring biblical theme: the profound suffering caused by betrayal from those in one's closest circles, especially against God's anointed.
2 Samuel 15 12 Commentary
This verse encapsulates the strategic and psychological turning point of Absalom's rebellion. By luring Ahithophel, David's preeminent and most trusted advisor, into his conspiracy, Absalom delivered a severe blow to David's leadership and stability. The act was executed under the deceptive cloak of religious devotion, highlighting Absalom's cunning and hypocrisy. Ahithophel's unmatched wisdom immediately lent significant gravitas and practical intelligence to the fledgling rebellion, transforming it from a mere uprising into a credible coup d'état. The verse effectively portrays the snowballing effect of the rebellion: Absalom's calculated move secured a master strategist, which in turn dramatically emboldened his followers and rapidly swelled their ranks. This convergence of deception, high-profile betrayal, and burgeoning popular support solidified the conspiracy's strength, directly leading to David's forced flight from Jerusalem. It serves as a stark reminder of the deep-seated consequences of sin (Nathan's prophecy over David's house) and the bitter reality of betrayal by those closest to us.