2 Samuel 17:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits or in some other place. And as soon as some of the people fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

NIV: Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’

NASB: Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the ravines, or in another place; and it will be that when he falls on them at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’

CSB: He’s probably already hiding in one of the caves or some other place. If some of our troops fall first, someone is sure to hear and say, ‘There’s been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

NLT: He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom’s men are being slaughtered.

KJV: Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

NKJV: Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

Wise Ahithophel has betrayed David. The famed counselor joined David's son Absalom's quest to take the crown and the nation (2 Samuel 15:1–12). He's had Absalom sleep with David's concubines to proclaim dominance and encourage his followers (2 Samuel 16:20–22). Now Ahithophel wants to take an army and attack David's exiles while they're tired and afraid. He'll kill David and bring back his servants to bow before Absalom (2 Samuel 17:1–3).

Ahithophel's plan is a good one. Currently, David and his people are at the Jordan River, exhausted and afraid. They don't know if they should cross or if Absalom will give them time to rest (2 Samuel 17:14). An attack now would find them disorganized, unprepared, and exhausted.

Absalom pauses, though, and asks his new counselor: his father's old friend Hushai (2 Samuel 16:16–19). Hushai offers three reasons why Ahithophel's plan will fail: David and his men are mighty, they're furious, and their wily (2 Samuel 17:5–8). Hushai reminds Absalom and the elders that David spent many years in hiding and protecting powerless civilians when Saul was chasing him (1 Samuel 22:1–2). Ahithophel's men will melt the first time they see blood (2 Samuel 17:10).

Hushai proposes an alternative plan. They should call fighting men from all the tribes to go into battle under Absalom's command. That way, they can destroy David's army, and even if he hides in a city, they can tear that city down (2 Samuel 17:11–13). Absalom and the elders agree with Hushai. It's not clear if they ever realize he's still working for David (2 Samuel 15:32–37).

This new plan is a massive tactical error. But the elders and Absalom will prefer it. It seems that only Ahithophel understands that God is actively working against Absalom's forces (2 Samuel 17:14, 23).

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.