2 Samuel 15:34 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father 's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

NIV: But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice.

NASB: But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; even as I was your father’s servant in time past, so now I will also be your servant,’ then you can foil the advice of Ahithophel for me.

CSB: but if you return to the city and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, Your Majesty! Previously, I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can counteract Ahithophel’s counsel for me.

NLT: Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice.

KJV: But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

NKJV: But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.

Absalom and his supporters are approaching Jerusalem. David and his people are fleeing east. David is barefoot, his head covered, mourning deeply as he climbs the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:30). A messenger brings more bad news.

David had many advisors, even before he was king, starting with Samuel. Abiathar joined him after Saul killed Abiathar's father and the other priests (1 Samuel 22:14–23). Nathan the prophet was brave enough to confront David with his sin (2 Samuel 12:1–15). Zadok is a seer (2 Samuel 15:27). We don't know much about Ahithophel except his advice is tremendously valued (2 Samuel 16:23), and he may have been Bathsheba's grandfather (2 Samuel 11:3; 23:34).

So, when David learns that Ahithophel has joined Absalom's rebellion, he is devastated (2 Samuel 15:31). It's bad that his son has spent four years planning a coup (2 Samuel 15:1–12). It's worse that David has lost one of his most trusted advisors. But there's nothing David can do to prevent Absalom from benefiting from Ahithophel's wisdom. That is, until David looks up through his tears and sees a familiar figure. It's Hushai, a friend from the tribe of Benjamin. He has torn his robes and covered his head in dirt, and he wants to join David in exile. David's thoughts go immediately to logistics and strategy. Hushai is a good friend, but he's an old man and would slow down the caravan. But he's also a wise man and greatly respected. If anyone could mitigate the danger of Ahithophel's counsel, it would be Hushai (2 Samuel 15:32–33).

The old man turns around and heads in the direction he does not want to go. He will manage to convince Absalom of his sincerity (2 Samuel 16:15–20). Ahithophel tells Absalom to send soldiers quickly to overtake David before he can raise more support. Absalom asks Hushai, who convinces Absalom into ignoring Ahithophel's excellent strategy (2 Samuel 17:1–13).

Absalom follows Hushai's advice. Hushai tells the priests Zadok and Abiathar. They send a messenger to their sons. Their sons race to David. And David has time to get his people safely over the Jordan River (2 Samuel 17:14–22).

Second Samuel 15:30–37 details David losing one advisor and gaining another. David's best counselor, Ahithophel, has fallen to Absalom's charms. He follows as Absalom marches towards Jerusalem to take the throne. As David flees, he meets an old friend, Hushai. Hushai wants to come with David, but David sends him to the city to counter Ahithophel's plans. Hushai can't stop Absalom from sleeping with David's concubines (2 Samuel 16:20–23), but he does keep Ahithophel from attacking David's people while they're fleeing (2 Samuel 17).

God's curses against David continue (2 Samuel 12:10–12). David's son Absalom stages a coup. His followers declare him king and escort him to Jerusalem. David and those faithful to him flee the city for the wilderness. He leaves behind two priests, their sons, and an advisor to thwart Absalom's plans. As he travels, David willingly endures every humiliation, not knowing which are from God. Joab kills Absalom, and the kingdom is restored (2 Samuel 16—18). Absalom's betrayal is not recorded in 1 Chronicles.

Second Samuel 15 continues the fulfillment of God's curse on David. As he betrayed his friend Uriah, so someone from David's house will betray him (2 Samuel 12:11). David's son Absalom steals the people's hearts and declares himself king. David and his household flee the city, leaving behind ten concubines and five spies. The spies protect David until Joab can kill Absalom in battle. David is humbled and forgives his enemies (2 Samuel 16—19).