Few translations of this verse are literal, but compare Fox, who says “And the word was right in Avshalom’s eyes and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel.”

The advice pleased Absalom: making a word like advice the subject of a sentence that contains the verb pleased may not be possible in some languages. It is more likely that Absalom should be the subject of an expression like “Absalom saw that the plan he [Ahithophel] suggested was good” or “Absalom agreed that Ahithophel’s words were wise.” Or it may be possible to change the verb and say something like “the counsel was good in the eyes of Absalom.”

The elders of Israel: on this expression see 3.17; 5.3; 1 Sam 4.3; 8.4. Absalom undoubtedly double-checked the soundness of advice given to him, even when it was given by one who was well known for his wise counsel. In this case the other leaders confirmed the wisdom of what Ahithophel had said.

As was noted in previous chapters, some interpreters understand the term Israel here to be limited to the northern tribes. For this reason Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “and all the leaders of the northern tribes.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .