Day 146 – 2 Samuel 17:1-14

Scripture Review

2 Samuel 17:1-14

"Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:"

(2 Samuel 17:1)

Ahithophel wants to choose twelve thousand men and pursue David that very night. He knows David is tired, scattered, and still trying to get away. He wants to strike before David can rest or organize.

"And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:"

(2 Samuel 17:2)

Ahithophel aims straight at David. He does not want a long war. He wants David dead, and then the rest will fall apart.

"And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace."

(2 Samuel 17:3)

Ahithophel tries to make murder sound like peace. He tells Absalom that if David is killed, all the people will return, and everything will be settled. Wicked counsel often makes evil sound necessary. It makes bloodshed sound like order. It makes sin sound like the shortcut to peace.

"And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel."

(2 Samuel 17:4)

Ahithophel's counsel worked. It pleased all the elders of Israel and Absalom. But just because counsel pleases the crowd does not mean it pleases God. These men are measuring the plan by success, not righteousness.

"Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith."

(2 Samuel 17:5)

Absalom asks for Hushai counsel also. This is the break David needed. David had sent Hushai back to Jerusalem to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. Now Absalom himself calls for him. The door opens at the right time.

"And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou."

(2 Samuel 17:6)

Absalom tells Hushai what Ahithophel has advised and asks whether they should do it. Now Hushai has to answer carefully. He is standing in a dangerous place, surrounded by men who have already turned against David.

"And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time."

(2 Samuel 17:7)

Hushai does not say Ahithophel is foolish. He says the counsel is not good "at this time." That is a wise way to speak. He questions the timing and the danger of the plan.

"For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people."

(2 Samuel 17:8)

Hushai reminds Absalom who David is. David is not an easy man to catch. He and his men are mighty men, stirred up in their minds like a bear robbed of her cubs. Hushai also reminds him that David is a man of war. David has fought giants, Philistines, Saul's pursuit, and many battles. He will not be sleeping carelessly among the people.

"Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom."

(2 Samuel 17:9)

Here Hushai make Ahithophel's plan sound risky. He says If you lose even a few men at the start, the report will spread that Absalom's followers are being slaughtered. Hushai is working on fear. Ahithophel wanted to make David afraid, but Hushai now makes Absalom think about his own men becoming afraid.

"And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men."

(2 Samuel 17:10)

Hushai keeps lifting up David's reputation as a warrior. All Israel knows David is mighty. All Israel knows the men with him are valiant. A heart after God may look low for a season, but a faithful testimony still speaks even in the day of trouble.

"Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person."

(2 Samuel 17:11)

Now Hushai gives his own counsel. He tells Absalom to gather all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and he himself should go to battle. This plan sounds bigger, grander, and more impressive. It also delays the attack, which gives David time. Hushai's counsel appeals to Absalom's pride by putting him at the center of a great national army.

"So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one."

(2 Samuel 17:12)

Here he Hushai paints a strong picture. He says they will come upon David like dew falling on the ground, covering everything. He promises complete victory, with none left. It provides Absalom the imagine of overwhelming strength and total success.

"if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there."

(2 Samuel 17:13)

Hushai puffs up Absalom even further by saying if David hides in a city, all Israel will bring ropes and pull that city into the river until not one small stone remains. This counsel makes Absalom's victory feel certain. But it is also feeds his pride and imagination.

"And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom."

(2 Samuel 17:14)

Absalom and the men of Israel think Hushai's plan is better. He is the real reason Hushai's counsel won there hearts. "the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel." Ahithophel's counsel was good in the sense that it was tactically strong, but it was wicked in purpose. The LORD overruled it so judgment would come upon Absalom. This answers David's prayer from the Mount of Olives. David prayed, and now God is working inside the counsel chamber of the enemy.