2 Samuel 17:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Hushai said, "You know that your father and his men are mighty men, and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the night with the people.

NIV: You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops.

NASB: Then Hushai said, 'You yourself know your father and his men, that they are warriors and they are fierce, like a bear deprived of her cubs in the field. And your father is an expert in warfare, and he will not spend the night with the people.

CSB: Hushai continued, "You know your father and his men. They are warriors and are desperate like a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Your father is an experienced soldier who won’t spend the night with the people.

NLT: You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors. Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war. He won’t be spending the night among the troops.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people.

Ahithophel has an excellent plan to destroy David and cement Absalom as king. As Absalom and his followers marched to Jerusalem, David and his servants fled (2 Samuel 15:13–14). Absalom is now in the throne room; David is at the near side of the Jordan River, trying to determine if he should lead his people across (2 Samuel 16:14–15). Ahithophel wants to take a force of men to race to the river. They'll kill David, confuse his men, and lead everyone back to Jerusalem. Absalom's rival will be dead, and David's servants will switch their allegiance (2 Samuel 17:1–3).

Fortunately, Absalom doesn't rush in. He asks Hushai, his father's old friend who recently swore fealty to him (2 Samuel 16:15–19; 17:5–6). Absalom doesn't know that Hushai is working for David (2 Samuel 15:32–37).

Hushai tells the men something they may never have heard (2 Samuel 16:23): that Ahithophel's advice isn't good (2 Samuel 17:7). The second use of "Hushai said" probably indicates that Hushai pauses to let his statement sink in. "You know" invites Absalom to accept Hushai's evidence; "your father" reminds him that he knows his father well. Once Hushai has prepared Absalom to listen, he makes his case.

First, Hushai says they underestimate David and his men; they are skilled in combat and filled with rage that will fuel their resistance. Second, they forget David's history. He spent years running from Saul, hiding in caves, and keeping his and his men's families safe (1 Samuel 22:1). Hushai says David will hide in a cave or a pit, away from his people, to keep them away from the harm that chases him (2 Samuel 17:9). Finally, Hushai says it's not David's men who will melt in fear; it's Ahithophel's (2 Samuel 17:10).

Hushai provides a counterproposal. Absalom should build a much larger army made of men from all the tribes of Israel. He can lead the fight against his father and take the crown in battle like a real king. In inexperience, insecurity, and vanity, Absalom accepts Hushai's proposal (2 Samuel 17:11–13). He doesn't know that God has ordained Absalom's downfall (2 Samuel 17:14). Hushai's plan is poisonous, and Absalom swallows it.

Second Samuel 17:5–10 proves David right about his plan to use Hushai. As David fled Absalom, he commissioned Hushai to counter Ahithophel's advice to Absalom (2 Samuel 15:32–37). Ahithophel wants a relatively small force to hunt David down before he and his people can recover from their flight from Jerusalem (2 Samuel 17:1–4). Hushai reminds Absalom of David's skill in war and his men's inevitable rage at being exiled from their city. Hushai will continue to suggest they wait, gather more men, and overwhelm David and his army. Absalom will agree. Hushai warns David, and Ahithophel, realizing God is not on his side, will hang himself (2 Samuel 17:11–23).

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.