2 Samuel 15:7-12

Absalom's conspiracy

7. after forty years There is no obvious date from which forty years could be reckoned in this way without specifying what point of time was intended. In place of fortywe must read four with Josephus and some of the ancient versions. The four years are to be reckoned in all probability from the time of Absalom's reconciliation to David. They were spent in preparing for the conspiracy by ingratiating himself with the people in the way described in the preceding verses.

in Hebron The fact that Hebron was his birth-place would make the wish to pay his vow there instead of at Jerusalem seem sufficiently natural.