John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:1
Moreover, Ahithophel said unto Absalom ,.... Either at the same time, or quickly after he had given the foregoing advice: let me now choose out twelve thousand men : out of those that were with Absalom, which shows their number to be large; and twelve thousand are pitched upon with respect to the twelve tribes of Israel, a thousand from every tribe; Josephus has only ten thousand: and I will arise and pursue after David this night ; he took upon him to be general of the army, as well... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:1-14
Absalom is now in peaceable possession of Jerusalem; the palace-royal is his own, as are the thrones of judgment, even the thrones of the house of David. His good father reigned in Hebron, and only over the tribe of Judah, above seven years, and was not hasty to destroy his rival; his government was built upon a divine promise, the performance of which he was sure of in due time, and therefore he waited patiently in the mean time. But the young man, Absalom, not only hastens from Hebron to... read more