Psalms 3:1 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

How... many. — “And Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 16:15). Ahithophel counsels Absalom to take 12,000 men, and go in instant pursuit of the fugitive. Hushar’s advice shows, of course, the exaggeration of flattery: “Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Bcersheba, as the sand which is by the sea for multitude.”