The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 196
SECT. CXCVI.
ABſalom being now admitted to come to Court, contrives to get his Fathers Kingdom from him. And thus God executes upon David the heavy doom which he had threatned, viz. That he would raiſe up evil againſt him out of his own houſe, Ch. 12.11. Abſalom remembring the diſpleaſure his Father had ſhewed againſt him for murthering his Brother Amnon, and fearing leſt for that he judged him unfit to ſucceed him in the Government, and having poſſibly ſome intimation that Solomon was deſigned for the Crown (being ſo much beloved of his Father) he reſolved (if he could) to get into preſent poſſeſſion of the Throne during his Fathers life. And to accompliſh this ambitious deſign he puts divers policies in practice: Firſt, he gets a Princely retinue, and provides himſelf Chariots and Horſes (which yet the Law did not allow) and a guard of fifty men to go before him, that taking upon him the port and ſtate of a Prince, the people might look upon him as next heir to the Crown, and give him anſwerable reſpect. For the people are very apt to be taken with outward pomp and bravery, and to judge thoſe that uſe it to be men of brave and noble ſpirits. David being much blinded with affection towards him, takes no notice of this his ambition and popularity. 2ly, He cunningly inſinuates himſelf into the hearts of the people; for riſing early and ſtanding at the Kings Gate, when any Suitors came to the King for juſtice, and to do them right he would in a friendly and obliging manner inquire of their matters and where they lived. When he heard their cauſe he would tell them their cauſe was good and juſt, but the miſery of it was there was none deputed by the King to hear the cauſes of thoſe that repaired thither for juſtice that would hear them impartially, and do them right. Which was a baſe ſlander of a graceleſs Son againſt his Father, of whom it is ſaid, Ch. 8.15. That he executed judgment and juſtice to all the people. Then he would ſay, O that I were made judg in the land, that every one that hath any cauſe or ſuit might come unto me, I would be ſure to do them right. 3ly, When any man came nigh him and did him obeiſance, and paid him reſpect, he would lovingly take him by the hand and kiſs him. And thus continually courting the people, he ſtole away their hearts, and drew their affections from the King to himſelf. David all this while through the juſt judgment of God was ſo blinded that he minded it not. 4ly, Having by theſe popular ways and arts brought his buſineſs (as he thought) to ſome ripeneſs and maturity, he now tells the King that he had made a vow when he was in Geſhur, that if the Lord would pleaſe to bring him back again to Jeruſalem he would offer to him certain Peace-offerings, and Gratulatory Sacrifices, and he deſired leave of him that he might go to Hebron (the place where he was born, and which was one of the chief high places in the Tribe of Judah, about ſixteen miles from Jeruſalem, whither in thoſe times they reſorted to offer Sacrifice) there to perform that vow. This was forty years (a)Being then about 22 or 23 years of age, and about 7 years before he began his reign in Hebron, and ſo about the 33 of his reign, and about 7 years before his death.after David was firſt anointed by Samuel in Bethlem, and about ſeven years before his death. David bids him go in peace. Abſalom accordingly went thither, and it being the cuſtom when they offered theſe Peace-offerings to make great feaſts therewith, Abſalom under that colour invited many of his friends and followers, and many of the people whom he hoped to win to join with the reſt in his intended Conſpiracy, and to perſwade them to make him King. Then he ſent ſpies thorough all the Tribes of Iſrael, who at the ſet time agreed on, when the Trumpets ſhould ſound in every Tribe, and the people wonder what the matter was, theſe ſpies ſhould inform them that Abſalom was anointed King in Hebron with all Regal Ceremonies and Solemnities, and was ſo accepted and proclaimed by the people. There were two hundred that were invited by Abſalom to his feaſt of Peace-offerings at Hebron, that went in the ſimplicity of their hearts (meerly as invited gueſts) knowing nothing of his intended Conſpiracy. He hoped (it ſeems) that theſe when they came thither, and ſaw what the reſt did, would join with them. However by inviting ſuch known faithful men, he thought his intended Plot would be the better concealed. He ſent alſo for Achitophel who had been formerly one of his Fathers prime Counſellors, and much eſteemed by him for wiſdom, but for ſome reaſons (as it ſeems) was now laid aſide and dwelt privately at his own City Giloh in the Tribe of Judah. And thus the Conſpiracy grew ſtrong, for many daily flocked in to Abſalom.
2 Sam. Ch. 15. from 1, to 13.