Bible Strands
2 Samuel 15:12
While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Absalom acts while performing sacrifices, secretly summoning Ahithophel from Giloh to join his rebellion. This occurs at the moment his public display of piety transitions into active political consolidation, immediately following the arrival of two hundred invited guests who remain unaware of the plot.
The words — וַיִּשְׁלַח (va.yish.lach) means “and he sent,” marking the decisive secret dispatch that shifts the rebellion from public spectacle to active conspiracy. יוֹעֵץ (yo.etz) denotes “counselor,” identifying Ahithophel as David’s former strategic advisor whose defection provides Absalom with institutional legitimacy.
The thread — The narrative of a trusted counselor turning against a king runs directly into 2 Samuel 15:31, where David receives news of Ahithophel’s defection and prays for divine intervention. The geographic anchor to Giloh connects to Joshua 15:51, which lists the town among Judah’s allotted cities, grounding the political betrayal in established tribal territory.
Why it lands — The text records how religious ritual and political conspiracy merge to accelerate a coup, demanding recognition of how institutional authority can be subverted from within. It requires the reader to observe the mechanics of rebellion without moralizing, tracking how secret alliances shift public allegiance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 15:31 Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
- Psalms 41:9 Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
- Joshua 15:51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh—eleven cities, along with their villages.
- Psalms 55:12 For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
- Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
- 2 Samuel 17:14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
- 2 Samuel 17:23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
- 1 Kings 21:12 They proclaimed a fast and gave Naboth a seat of honor among the people.
- Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!
- Numbers 23:1 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”