2 Samuel 17:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.

NIV: Ahithophel said to Absalom, "I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.

NASB: Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, 'Please let me choose twelve thousand men and let me set out and pursue David tonight.

CSB: Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out in pursuit of David tonight.

NLT: Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, 'Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight.

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

NKJV: Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.

Absalom has taken Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:15). David and his people are on the run (2 Samuel 15:13–14). Ahithophel, David's traitorous counselor, knows how to make sure Absalom can keep the throne.

Both David and Absalom valued Ahithophel's counsel "as if one consulted the word of God" (2 Samuel 16:23). His first advice to Absalom was to have sex with the concubines David left behind. Doing so asserted that Absalom had completely broken with his father. It declared to everyone that Absalom was fully claiming his father's rights, privileges, and authority as king (2 Samuel 16:20–22).

The grand gesture was a sign for Absalom's followers that their chosen king was strong and resolved. But it won't defeat David. Ahithophel asks for a relatively small task force to attack while David and his people are exhausted and scared. He promises to only kill David (2 Samuel 17:2), then bring back the people "as a bride comes home to her husband" (2 Samuel 17:3). Ahithophel assumes that if David is dead, his people will readily accept Absalom as king.

David and his people are at the near side of the Jordan River, debating on whether to cross (2 Samuel 16:14). The text doesn't say how many men David has with him. He at least has the three Philistine units, the largest at 600 men, and his thirty renowned fighting men (2 Samuel 15:18; 16:6).

Ahithophel isn't the only wise man in Absalom's court. David has planted Hushai to counter Ahithophel's counsel and send messages to David (2 Samuel 15:32–37). Thanks to Hushai's quick thinking, David will have time to get his people to safety (2 Samuel 17:5–22).

Second Samuel 17:1–4 records Ahithophel's last good advice. He's been Absalom's advisor through the rebellion against David and the invasion of Jerusalem. With David and his people on the run, Ahithophel wants to move quickly with a small force, kill David, and bring back David's servants. David's spy, Hushai, will counter that David and his men are experienced and angry, and Absalom should gather and lead a much bigger army. While Hushai uses the time to warn David to get his people to safety, Ahithophel puts his affairs in order and kills himself (2 Samuel 17:5–23).

David's cunning plan to thwart Absalom works. David enlisted Hushai's help to counter Ahithophel's advice (2 Samuel 15:31–37). Ahithophel wants to take a small force and move immediately to kill only David while he is still fleeing. Hushai suggests they wait, gather a larger army, and destroy David's men. Absalom agrees with Hushai. Hushai sends warnings through the priests and their sons, and David and his people safely cross the Jordan River. As Absalom reaches the Jordan, local leaders care for the exiles. David's army has time to get organized and prepare for battle (2 Samuel 18:1–15).

God's prior instruments of judgment see justice done to themselves. Absalom and Ahithophel rebelled against David, but now God's curses against David are complete (2 Samuel 12:9–13; 16:13, 20–23). The advisor Ahithophel watches helplessly as David's spy Hushai undermines his authority. Seeing the end, Ahithophel kills himself. Hushai helps David and his people to flee to safety. David has time to organize his fighting forces and send them into battle. In one day, they defeat Absalom's army. Against David's will, they also kill Absalom (2 Samuel 18:1–15). Now, David must do the hard work of reconciling the nation.

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.