2 Samuel · chapter 17 of 24
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2 Samuel 17 tells how Ahithophel advises pursuing David at once with twelve thousand men, but Hushai persuades Absalom to gather all Israel first. The Lord had ordained to frustrate Ahithophel's good counsel. Jonathan and Ahimaaz warn David, who crosses the Jordan, and Ahithophel, seeing his advice not followed, hangs himself.
2 Samuel 17 is the decisive moment in the war of nerves between David and Absalom: two opposed counsels, one brilliant and one delaying. Without any visible miracle, God's providence turns a political debate and saves David. The chapter shows that God works through loyal, brave and resourceful people.
Ahithophel proposes that Absalom pursue David that very night with twelve thousand men, attack him when he is weary and discouraged, strike down only the king and bring all the people back, like a bride to her husband. The proposal seems good to Absalom and the elders of Israel. But Absalom decides to call Hushai the Archite as well, and asks his opinion.
Hushai says that this time Ahithophel's counsel is not good. He describes David and his men as mighty and enraged warriors, like a bear robbed of her cubs, and David as a man of war who will not spend the night with the people. If some of Absalom's men fall in a first attack, panic will spread. He proposes gathering all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, as many as the sand of the sea, with Absalom himself going into battle. Then they will fall on David as the dew falls on the ground, and not a man will be left alive. Absalom and all the men of Israel prefer Hushai's counsel, for the Lord had ordained to frustrate the good counsel of Ahithophel so that he might bring harm on Absalom.
Hushai informs the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and sends a message by a servant girl to Jonathan and Ahimaaz, who wait at En-rogel. A boy sees them and tells Absalom; they flee to Bahurim and hide in a well in a man's courtyard. The woman of the house covers the well with a cloth and spreads grain over it. When Absalom's servants ask, she says they crossed the brook. The messengers come out, warn David, and he and his people cross the Jordan before dawn.
Ahithophel, seeing that his counsel was not followed, saddles his donkey, goes home to his city, puts his house in order and hangs himself. David comes to Mahanaim, and Absalom crosses the Jordan with Amasa as commander of the army. Shobi, Machir and Barzillai bring David beds, bowls, wheat, barley, honey and other food for him and his people.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Hushai begins by telling Absalom that this time Ahithophel's counsel is not good. With this skillful phrase he does not attack Ahithophel in general, only this plan, and so gains credibility for his own proposal.
Hushai proposes gathering all Israel from Dan to Beersheba, with Absalom himself going into battle. It flatters his vanity and at the same time buys time for David.
The narrator reveals that the Lord had ordained to frustrate Ahithophel's good counsel in order to bring harm on Absalom. Behind human decisions stands God's providence, which fulfills his purpose without forcing anyone.
Ahithophel, seeing his counsel was not heeded, hangs himself. The man whose advice was held as the word of God ends his life in despair and wounded pride.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: To pursue David that night with twelve thousand men and strike down only the king. — 2 Samuel 17:1-3
Answer: Mighty warriors, as enraged as a bear robbed of her cubs. — 2 Samuel 17:8
Answer: Because the Lord had ordained to frustrate Ahithophel's good counsel so that he might bring harm on Absalom. — 2 Samuel 17:14
Answer: At En-rogel, so as not to be seen entering the city. — 2 Samuel 17:17
Answer: They hid in a well that a woman covered with a cloth and grain. — 2 Samuel 17:18-20
Answer: He went home, put his affairs in order and hanged himself. — 2 Samuel 17:23
The chapter shows how God can use seemingly unimportant people to change the course of events. The woman of Bahurim, who barely appears in the story, risks her life to protect David's messengers. A class can discuss how our quiet actions may be part of God's plans.
Ahithophel's end invites us to reflect on what happens when our sense of worth depends on being heard. A brilliant counselor takes his own life when his advice is rejected. We need to guard humility, accept calmly that our opinion will not always be followed and seek help when wounded pride turns into despair.
2 Samuel 17 leaves David at Mahanaim with provisions and allies, while Absalom gathers all Israel. In 2 Samuel 18, the two armies meet in the forest of Ephraim, and David gives an order that shows his father's heart.
It proposed attacking a weary and discouraged David at once, striking down only the king and avoiding a long war. Had it been followed, it would probably have ended David. That is why the text stresses that it was the Lord who frustrated it.
Hushai feigned loyalty to Absalom at David's request, and his arguments were a strategic deception. The text presents it as part of God's answer to David's prayer in 2 Samuel 15:31, without discussing the ethics of such deceit in war.
He was a wealthy man of Gilead who, with Shobi and Machir, provided beds and food to David and his people at Mahanaim. He reappears in 2 Samuel 19, where David wants to reward him.