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Texts -- 2 Samuel 17:1-29 (NET)

Context
The Death of Ahithophel
17:1 Ahithophel said to Absalom , “Let me pick out twelve thousand men . Then I will go and pursue David this very night . 17:2 When I catch up with him he will be exhausted and worn out . I will rout him, and the entire army that is with him will flee . I will kill only the king 17:3 and will bring the entire army back to you. In exchange for the life of the man you are seeking , you will get back everyone . The entire army will return unharmed .” 17:4 This seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all the leaders of Israel . 17:5 But Absalom said , “Call for Hushai the Arkite , and let’s hear what he has to say .” 17:6 So Hushai came to Absalom . Absalom said to him, “Here is what Ahithophel has advised . Should we follow his advice ? If not , what would you recommend ?” 17:7 Hushai replied to Absalom , “Ahithophel’s advice is not sound this time .” 17:8 Hushai went on to say , “You know your father and his men – they are soldiers and are as dangerous as a bear out in the wild that has been robbed of her cubs . Your father is an experienced soldier ; he will not stay overnight with the army . 17:9 At this very moment he is hiding out in one of the caves or in some other similar place . If it should turn out that he attacks our troops first , whoever hears about it will say , ‘Absalom’s army has been slaughtered !’ 17:10 If that happens even the bravest soldier – soldier – one who is lion-hearted – will virtually melt away . For all Israel knows that your father is a warrior and that those who are with him are brave . 17:11 My advice therefore is this: Let all Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba – in number like the sand by the sea !– be mustered to you, and you lead them personally into battle . 17:12 We will come against him wherever he happens to be found . We will descend on him like the dew falls on the ground . Neither he nor any of the men who are with him will be spared alive – not one of them! 17:13 If he regroups in a city , all Israel will take up ropes to that city and drag it down to the valley , so that not a single pebble will be left there !” 17:14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said , “The advice of Hushai the Arkite sounds better than the advice of Ahithophel .” Now the Lord had decided to frustrate the sound advice of Ahithophel , so that the Lord could bring disaster on Absalom . 17:15 Then Hushai reported to Zadok and Abiathar the priests , “Here is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the leaders of Israel to do, and here is what I have advised . 17:16 Now send word quickly to David and warn him, “Don’t spend the night at the fords of the desert tonight . Instead , be sure you cross over , or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed .” 17:17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying in En Rogel . A female servant would go and inform them, and they would then go and inform King David . It was not advisable for them to be seen going into the city . 17:18 But a young man saw them on one occasion and informed Absalom . So the two of them quickly departed and went to the house of a man in Bahurim . There was a well in his courtyard , and they got down in it . 17:19 His wife then took the covering and spread it over the top of the well and scattered some grain over it. No one was aware of what she had done . 17:20 When the servants of Absalom approached the woman at her home , they asked , “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan ?” The woman replied to them, “They crossed over the stream .” Absalom’s men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem . 17:21 After the men had left , Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well . Then they left and informed King David . They advised David , “Get up and cross the stream quickly , for Ahithophel has devised a plan to catch you.” 17:22 So David and all the people who were with him got up and crossed the Jordan River . By dawn there was not one person left who had not crossed the Jordan . 17:23 When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed , he saddled his donkey and returned to his house in his hometown . After setting his household in order , he hanged himself. So he died and was buried in the grave of his father . 17:24 Meanwhile David had gone to Mahanaim , while Absalom and all the men of Israel had crossed the Jordan River . 17:25 Absalom had made Amasa general in command of the army in place of Joab . (Now Amasa was the son of an Israelite man named Jether , who had married Abigail the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah , Joab’s mother .) 17:26 The army of Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead . 17:27 When David came to Mahanaim , Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites , Makir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar , and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim 17:28 brought bedding , basins , and pottery utensils . They also brought food for David and all who were with him, including wheat , barley , flour , roasted grain , beans , lentils , 17:29 honey , curds , flocks , and cheese . For they said , “The people are no doubt hungry , tired , and thirsty there in the desert .”

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Ahithophel

    [ebd] brother of insipidity or impiety, a man greatly renowned for his sagacity among the Jews. At the time of Absalom's revolt he deserted David (Ps. 41:9; 55:12-14) and espoused the cause of Absalom (2 Sam. 15:12). David sent hi...
    [smith] (brother of foolishness), a native of Giloh, was a privy councillor of David, whose wisdom was highly esteemed, though his name had an exactly opposite signification. (2 Samuel 16:23) (B.C. 1055-1023.) He was the grandfath...
    [nave] AHITHOPHEL One of David's counselors, 2 Sam. 15:12; 1 Chr. 27:33. Joins Absalom, 2 Sam. 15:31, 34; 16:15, 20-23; 17:1-23. Probably referred to by David in Psa. 55:12-14. Suicide of, 2 Sam. 17:1-14, 23.

  • Hushai

    [isbe] HUSHAI - hut'-shi, hus'-sha-i (chushay, Chousei; Josephus, Chousi): An Archite, native of Archi or Erech(?), West of Bethel on the northern border of Benjamin and southern border of Joseph (Josh 16:2). Hushai was one of Davi...
    [nave] HUSHAI, David's friend, 2 Sam. 15:32-37; 16:16-19; 17; 1 Chr. 27:33.

  • Joab

    [isbe] JOAB - jo'-ab (yo'-abh, "Yahweh is father"; Ioab): (1) Son of Zeruiah, David's sister. He was "captain of the host" (compare 2 Sam 19:13) under David. 1. Joab and Abner: (a) Joab is first introduced in the narrative of the w...
    [nave] JOAB 1. Son of David's sister, 1 Chr. 2:16. Commander of David's army, 2 Sam. 8:16; 20:23; 1 Chr. 11:6; 18:15; 27:34. Dedicated spoils of his battles, 1 Chr. 26:28. Defeated the Jebusites, 1 Chr. 11:6. Defeats and slays ...

  • Rebellion

    [nave] REBELLION, treasonable, Prov. 17:11. Instances of Absalom, 2 Sam. 15-18. Sheba, 2 Sam. 20. Revolt of the ten tribes, 1 Kin. 12:16-20; 2 Chr. 10; 13:5-12. See: Insurrection; Mutiny; Revolt; Sin; Usurpation.

  • Absalom

    [nave] ABSALOM, called also Abishalom. Son of David by Maacah, 2 Sam. 3:3; 1 Chr. 3:2. Beauty of, 2 Sam. 14:25. Slays Amnon, 2 Sam. 13:22-29. Flees to Geshur, 2 Sam. 13:37, 38. Is permitted by David to return to Jerusalem, 2 Sa...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Chronicles, Books of

    [ebd] The two books were originally one. They bore the title in the Massoretic Hebrew Dibre hayyamim, i.e., "Acts of the Days." This title was rendered by Jerome in his Latin version "Chronicon," and hence "Chronicles." In the Sep...

  • Friendship

    [nave] FRIENDSHIP. Deut. 13:6-9; Job 6:14, 15; Job 16:2, 20; Job 19:13-22; Psa. 35:13, 14; Psa. 41:9; Psa. 55:12-14; Psa. 88:8, 18; Prov. 11:13; Prov. 17:9, 17; Prov. 18:24; Prov. 22:24-27; Prov. 25:17, 19; Prov. 27:6, 9, 10, 14, ...

  • Ahimaaz

    [ebd] brother of anger = irascible. (1.) The father Ahinoam, the wife of Saul (1 Sam. 14:50). (2.) The son and successor of Zadok in the office of high priest (1 Chr. 6:8, 53). On the occasion of the revolt of Absalom he remained ...
    [isbe] AHIMAAZ - a-hi-ma'-az, a-him'-a-az ('achima`ats, perhaps "my brother is rage," or "brother of rage"): (1) Father of Ahinoam the wife of King Saul (1 Sam 14:50). (2) The son of Zadok the high priest (1 Ch 6:8,9,53). With his ...
    [smith] (brother of anger). Son of Zadok the high priest in David?s reign, and celebrated for his swiftness of foot. During Absalom?s rebellion he carried to David the important intelligence that Ahithophel had counselled an immedia...
    [nave] AHIMAAZ 1. Father in law of king Saul, 1 Sam. 14:50. 2. Son of Zadok, the high priest. Loyal to David, 2 Sam. 15:36; 17:17-20; 18:19-33; 1 Chr. 6:8, 9, 53. 3. Solomon's son in law, 1 Kin. 4:15.

  • Spies

    [nave] SPIES, Gen. 42:9. Sent to investigate Canaan, Num. 13; Jaazer, Num. 21:32; Jericho, Josh. 2:1. Used by David, 1 Sam. 26:4; at the court of Absalom, 2 Sam. 15:10; 17:1-17. Pharisees acted as, Luke 20:20. In the church of...

  • Lies and Deceits

    [nave] LIES AND DECEITS Ex. 23:1; Lev. 6:2-7; Lev. 19:11, 12, 16 Ex. 20:16. Job 13:4; Job 21:34; Job 27:4; Job 31:5, 6, 33; Job 36:4; Psa. 5:6, 9; Psa. 10:7; Psa. 12:2, 3; Psa. 28:3; Psa. 31:18; Psa. 34:13 1 Pet. 3:10. Psa. 36:3; P...

  • Council

    [nave] COUNCIL, Apostolic, Acts 15:1-29. Of War, 2 Sam. 16:20; 17:1-4; 2 Sam. 17:5-15.

  • SAMUEL, BOOKS OF

    [isbe] SAMUEL, BOOKS OF - || I. PLACE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL IN THE HEBREW CANON II. CONTENTS OF THE BOOKS AND PERIOD OF TIME COVERED BY THE HISTORY III. SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS 1. Life of Samuel (1 Samuel 1 through 15) 2. Reign and D...

  • War

    [nave] WAR Divine approval of, 2 Sam. 22:35. Civil, Judg. 12:1-6; 20; 2 Sam. 2:12-31; 3:1; 20; 1 Kin. 14:30; 16:21; Isa. 19:2; forbidden, 2 Chr. 11:4; averted, Josh. 22:11-34. Enemy harangued by general of opposing side, 2 Kin. 1...

  • Diplomacy

    [nave] DIPLOMACY. 1 Cor. 9:20-23 See: Tact. Instances of Of Abimelech, Gen. 21:22, 23; 26:26-31. The Gibeonites, in securing a league with the Israelites through deception, Josh. 9:3-16. Of Jephthah, with the king of Moab, uns...

  • Jonathan

    [smith] that is, "the gift of Jehovah, " the eldest son of King Saul. (B.C. about 1095-1056.) He was a man of great strength and activity. (2 Samuel 1:23) He was also famous as a warrior, (1 Chronicles 12:2) as is shown by the ...
    [nave] JONATHAN 1. A Levite of Bethlehem, who becomes a priest for Micah; accepts idolatry; joins the Danites, Judg. 17:7-13; 18:1-30. 2. Son of Saul, 1 Sam. 14:49. Victory of, over the Philistine garrison of Geba, 1 Sam. 13:3, 4...

  • Zadok

    [isbe] ZADOK - za'-dok (tsadowq, once tsadhoq (1 Ki 1:26), similar to tsaddiq, and tsadduq, post-Biblical, meaning justus, "righteous"; Septuagint Sadok): Cheyne in Encyclopedia Biblica suggests that Zadok was a modification of a G...
    [nave] ZADOK 1. High priest in time of David's reign, 2 Sam. 19:11; 20:25; 1 Chr. 15:11; 16:39. Removes the ark from Jerusalem at the time of Absalom's usurpation; returns with it at David's command, 2 Sam. 15:24-36; 17:15, 17-21....

  • David

    [ebd] beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother's name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25. As to his personal ...
    [isbe] DAVID - da'-vid (dawidh, or dawidh, "beloved"; Daueid, also in New Testament, Dauid, Dabid; see Thayer's Lexicon): I. NAME AND GENEALOGY II. EARLY YEARS 1. Shepherd 2. Slinger 3. Harpist 4. Poet 5. Psalmist 6. Tribesman III....
    [nave] DAVID 1. King of Israel. Genealogy of, Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Sam. 16:11; 17:12; 1 Chr. 2:3-15; Matt. 1:1-6; Luke 3:31-38. A shepherd, 1 Sam. 16:11. Kills a lion and a bear, 1 Sam. 17:34-36. Anointed king, while a youth, by the ...

  • Abiathar

    [smith] (father of abundance , i.e. liberal), High priest and fourth in descent from Eli. (B.C. 1060-1012.) Abiathar was the only one of the all the sons of Ahimelech the high priest who escaped the slaughter inflicted upon his fathe...
    [nave] ABIATHAR 1. High priest. Called Ahimelech in 2 Sam. 8:17; 1 Chr. 24:3, 6, 31, and Abimelech, 1 Chr. 18:16. Son of Ahimelech, 1 Sam. 22:20. Escapes to David from the vengeance of Saul, who killed the priests in the city of ...

  • Prayer

    [ebd] is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching t...
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Arts

Questions

  • Her name is not given in Scripture. The reference to Abigail, one of the members of Jesse's family, in II Sam. 17:25, is frequently misunderstood. The Nahash there mentioned is either another name for Jesse or it refers to Na...

Sermon Illustrations

Seven Suicides in the Bible

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Before Abimelech's sole surviving brother went into hiding he uttered a protest against Abimelech that predicted the effect of his rule. Jotham (lit. Yahweh is perfect, honest) stood on the same mountain where six of Israel's...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • These verses summarize Samuel's continuing ministry as a prophet in Israel. Samuel qualified for this privilege by his faithful obedience to God's will as he knew it. God sovereignly chose Samuel for this ministry, but his di...
  • The basic theme in Samuel, that blessing, and in particular fertility of all kinds, follows from faithful commitment to God's revealed will, continues in this section. However another major motif now becomes more prominent. W...
  • (Continued from notes on 1 Samuel)V. David's triumphs chs. 1-8A. The beginning of David's kingdom 1:1-3:51. David's discovery of Saul and Jonathan's deaths ch. 12. David's move to Hebron 2:1-4a3. David's overtures to Jabesh-g...
  • The first 20 chapters of 2 Samuel are divisible into four units each of which ends with a list of names that is four verses long (1:1-3:5; 3:6-5:16; 5:17-8:18; 9:1-20:26).2The first two units conclude with lists of David's so...
  • "Saul the king is dead, Jonathan the heir apparent is dead, Abinadab and Malki-Shua (two of Jonathan's brothers) are dead (1 Sam 31:2), Abner the commander of the army is dead--and no other viable claimants or pretenders cont...
  • "As the story of David's accession to kingship over Judah (1:1-3:5) parallels that of his accession to the throne of Israel (3:6-5:16), each concluding with a list of his sons (3:2-5; 5:13-16), so the account of his powerful ...
  • Chapters 9-20 contrast with chapters 2-8 in that this later section is negative whereas the earlier one was positive. It records failure; the former records success. Compare the similar narrative of Saul's triumphs (1 Sam. 7-...
  • This is the longest literary section in the Court History of David (chs. 9-20). It records Absalom's antagonism to David that resulted in the king having to flee Jerusalem, but it ends with David's defeat of his enemy and his...
  • The people of Israel had formerly given the kingdom to David as a gift (5:1-3), but now they took that gift from him (v. 13).237David knew that Absalom was popular with the people. Evidently he fled Jerusalem to save his own ...
  • This second descendant of Saul demonstrated a reaction to David that was the opposite of Ziba's. Ziba had been ingratiating and submissive, but Shimei, a "reptile of the royal house of Saul,"245was insulting and defiant (cf. ...
  • This is the central unit of chapters 5-20, and its central focus is the judgment that Hushai's advice was better than Ahithophel's (17:14). This advice is the pivot on which the fortunes of David swung in his dealings with Ab...
  • "In the overall structure of 15:1-20:22, the story of Absalom's death (18:1-18) provides a counterpoise to that of Shimei's curse (16:5-14 . . .). Just as in the earlier narrative an adversary of David (Shimei) curses him (vv...
  • "In the overall structure of chapters 15-20 (more precisely 15:1-20:22), the literary unit describing the return of King David' (v. 11) to Jerusalem (vv. 9-43) parallels that depicting his flight (15:13-37) caused by Absalom'...
  • "The account of Sheba's rebellion against David serves as a counterpoise to the story of Absalom's conspiracy (15:1-12) in chapters 15-20, which constitute the major part of the narrative that comprises chapters 13-20 (more p...
  • "With Joab's return to the king in Jerusalem, the grand symphony known as the Court History of David reaches its conclusion for all practical purposes (at least as far as the books of Samuel are concerned . . .). The last fou...
  • Achtemeier, Paul J., and Elizabeth Achtemeier. The Old Testament Roots of Our Faith. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1979.Ackerman, James S. "Knowing Good and Evil: A Literary Ananysis of the Court History in 2 Samuel 9-20 and ...
  • The first segment of the writer's story (1:1-2:12) continues the history of Israel's monarchy where 2 Samuel ended. It records the final events in David's reign that led to Solomon's succession to the throne. It answers the q...
  • David had warned Solomon to keep Shimei under close observation and to put him to death (vv. 8-9). Evidently David realized because of Shimei's past actions that it would only be a matter of time before he would do something ...
  • The title of this psalm identifies the writer as David. All but four of the psalms in Book 1 of the Psalter (Pss. 1-41) identify David as their writer, all except Psalms 1, 2, 10, and 33. The occasion of his writing this one ...
  • 3:3 David believed God had not abandoned him but viewed Him as his real source of protection, his "shield."This figure is common in the psalms (cf. 7:10; 18:2, 30; 28:7; 33:20; 59:11; 84:11; 115:9-11; 119:114; 144:2). "My glo...
  • David continued to address the congregation of Israel, but presented the alternative to caring for the helpless with its consequences. He did this by relating a personal experience.41:4 David had been in need of help at some ...
  • 38:1 The phrase "In those days"identifies the reign of Hezekiah, the Judean king mentioned in the preceding chapters. Since the Lord added 15 years to Hezekiah's life (v. 5), and since Hezekiah died about 686 B.C.,373the time...
  • 24:15-16 The Lord told Ezekiel that He was about to take the life of his beloved wife. The English word "blow"(v. 16) implies a sudden, unexpected death. The Hebrew word, magephoh, does not demand a sudden death, but it somet...
  • 13:4 Yahweh had been Israel's God since the Israelites had lived in Egypt.83He had commanded the Israelites not to acknowledge any gods beside Himself because He was the only God who could save them (cf. Deut. 11:28; 32:17; J...
  • 6:8 The prophet announced further that the sovereign Yahweh of hosts, even He, had sworn by Himself (cf. 4:2; 8:7). He loathed the pride of Jacob. "Jacob"refers to the Northern Kingdom (cf. 3:13), and "the pride of Jacob"is p...
  • 27:3 Judas evidently felt remorse because he realized that he had condemned an innocent man to death. His remorse (Gr. metamelomai) resulted in a kind of repentance (Gr. metanoeo), but it was not complete enough. The first of...
  • 13:12 Jesus now returned to His role as the disciples' teacher, which His change of clothing and physical position indicated. He began to explain the significance of what He had done, though full comprehension would come to t...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • And these may be patterns for us. Ziba does not seem to be very communicative, and appears a rather unwilling witness, who needs to have the truth extracted bit by bit. He evidently had nothing to do with Mephibosheth, and wa...
  • 2 Samuel 19:34-37People often fancy that religion is only good to die by, and many exhortations are addressed to the young, founded on the possibility that an early death may be their lot. That, no doubt, is a very solemn con...
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