The Advice of Ahithopel And Hushai
June 4, 2020
Commentary
Ahithophel told Absalom that he will choose twelve thousand men and attack David at night while he is tired and discouraged (vv. 1-2). He will panic and everyone will run away so I can kill him (v. 3). Then I will bring everyone back to you and this way there won’t be a civil war. Absalom and all the leaders of Israel agreed that Ahithophel had a good plan (v. 4).
Soon Absalom invited Hushai in to see what he thought about Ahithophel’s plan (vv. 5-6). Hushai said he didn’t think Ahithophel’s advice was very good because David’s men are strong and they are as angry as a mama bear that is robbed of its cubs (vv. 7-8). Also, he is an expert fighter who won’t stay all night with the army troops. When people hear that some of your soldiers have been killed they will think your whole army has been destroyed and even brave men will be frightened (vv. 9-10). Hushai recommends that Absalom gather all the fighting men from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south and that he leads them personally into the battle, finding David wherever he is hiding, and kill him and all of his men (vv. 11-12). If he escapes don’t leave any stone unturned until you find him (v. 13). Absalom and everyone liked Hushai’s plan better than Ahithophel’s plan because the Lord in His sovereignty had planned eventual disaster for Absalom (v. 14).
Application
I need to be thankful for whatever God brings into my life because His plan is always best.
2 Samuel 17:1– 14 (NET)
1 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me pick out 12,000 men. Then I will go and pursue David this very night. 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 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.”
4 This seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all the leaders of Israel. 5 But Absalom said, “Call for Hushai the Arkite, and let’s hear what he has to say.” 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?”
7 Hushai replied to Absalom, “Ahithophel’s advice is not sound this time.” 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. 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!’ 10 If that happens even the bravest 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. 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. 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! 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!”
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.