2 Samuel 17

Achitophels counsel to invade David with all speed, is by Gods disposal rejected, and Husai’s counsel followed v.1. &c. Husai certifieth David thereof, and adviseth him forthwith to march on, 15. So David passeth over Jordan, 22. Achitophel taketh this so to heart, that he hangeth himself, 23. David cometh to Mahanaim, and Absalom passeth over Jordan , making Amasa his commander in chief, 24. David’s good friends furnish him at Mahanaim with all kinds of necessities, 27.

1. Moreover Achitophel said unto Absalom: let me now chuse out twelve thousand men, that I may get me up, and pursue after David this night.

2. So I will come upon him, where he is weary and feeble of hands [See above chap.4.on v.1.] and will make him afraid, and all the people that are with him shall flee: then will I smite the King only.

3. And I will cause all the people to return unto thee, the man whom thou sleekest, is as the returning of all; so all the people shall be in peace. [Heb. shall be peace. Compare 1 Sam.25.6. below chap.29. Job 21:9, &c. As if he should say, thou only aimest at David; thou wouldst sain draw the people to thee. Now when I shall have made David away, there will be an end of the business, then i’le easily bring the people to thee: yea his death is in every degree the returning of all the people, which will be quiet, and embrace thee for their King, when David is dispatch. Oth. when they all return, (he is yet) the man whom thou sleekest (so) all the people shall be quiet.]

4. Now this word [Or, this thing, this advice] was right in Absloms eyes, [i.e. pleased Absalom well, seemed to him to be right and good] and in the eyes of all the Eldest of Israel.

5. But Absalom said; call now Husai the Archite also: and let us hear what he likewise saith. [Heb. what he likewise (hath) in his mouth.]

6. And when Husai came in to Absalom, then spake Absalom to him, saying; thus [Heb. according to this very word: that is, thus in this very manner] hath Achitophel spoken: [hath he counselled, advised] shall we do his word? If not, speak thou. [give thou also thine advice.]

7. Then said Husai unto Absalom: the counsel that Achitophel hath counselled at this time, is not good. [As if he had said: he is otherwise a wise counsellours, but herein he hath failed.]

8. Further Husai said; thou knowest thy Father and his men, that they be champions, that they be bitter of mind, [Heb. soul, as Judg.18.25. i.e. bitterly incensed] as a bear that robbed of (her) whelpes in the field: Besides thy Father is a man of war, and will not overnight with the people. [but sequester himself from them, and hide and secure himself somewhere in some secret and unknown place, as he often did in his banishment in Sauls time.]

9. Behold, he hath now hid now hid himself in one of the holes, or in one of the places: [Which have been known to him since the days of Saul] And it shall come to pass when there shall fall some among them [i.e. among those that pursue David. Oth. by them, i.e. might be slain by David’s souldiers] at the first, that every that shall hear it, will then say, [Heb. the hearing shall hear, and say] there is a slaughter made among the people which follow Absalom.[Heb. are after Absalom.]

10. Then should he that is also a valiant man [Heb. a son, or, hild of valour, courage. See above chap.3.on v.34.] so in the following words] whose heart is as the heart of a lion, quite melt: [Heb. melting, melt, i.e. be quite discourage and disheartened. See Duet.1.on v.28.] for all Israel knoweth, that thy father is a champion, and that they are valiant men that are with him.

11. But I counsel, that all Israel be in all haste gathered [Heb. being gathered be gathered] unto thee, from Dan to Berseba, [the two uttermost borders in the North and South] as the sand that is by the sea in multitude: and that thy person [Heb. face] go along withy them into the battle.

12. Then we will come to him in one of the places, where he is found, and easily fall upon him, [Or, besiege him, or, be against him] as the dew falleth on the ground: and pf him and of all the men that are with him, there shall not also be left one.

13. And if he shall get into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will pull it down into the brook, [i.e. into the ditch] until (there) be not also one small stone [viz. lying upon another] found there. [as if he should say, we will easily and wholly destroy the city.]

14. Then said Absalom, and all (or, every) man of Israel; The counsel of Husai, the Archite, is better then the counsel of Architophel: But the LORD had commanded [i.e. So willed, ordained, appointed, and by his divine providence so ordered and disposed for the good of David: compare above chap.16.10, 11, 12. and see Levit. 25.on ver.21. Amos 6:11. & 9.3. Nahum.1.14. Item, Psal.33.9. & 111.9. & 148.5.] it, to defeat the good counsel of Architophel, [as more useful or serviceable for Absalom, to surprise David, and to give him no breathing time at all: although this counsel in it self was most unjust] that the LORD might bring evil (i.e. the deserved punishment, whereof mention is made in the following chapter] upon Absalom.

15. And Husai said unto Zadok, and to Abjathar, the Priests; Thus and thus hath Achitophel counselled Absalom, and the Eldest of Israel: but thus and thus have I counselled.

16. Now then, send away quickly, and tell David, saying; Overnight (or lodge) not this night in the plain fields of the wilderness, and also speedly pass over: [viz. Over the Jordan, as is shewed in the following verses, Heb. passing over pass over] left the King be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

17. Now Jonathan and Achimaaz stood by the fountain Rogel; [i.e. They hid themselves there, and waited for tidings, to carry over unto David. See of this place; Jos.15.7, & 18.16.] and a maid servant [that without the least suspicion might be sent to a fountain, to wash something, or to fetch water] went her ways, and told them, and they went their ways, and told King David: [see above ch.15.27, 28.] for they might not be seen to come into the city. [i.e. they durst not come into the city, and then go out again to David, for fear of giving any suspition.]

18. Nevertheless, a Lad saw them, and told Absalom: But they went both (of them away) quickly, and came into a mans house t Bahurim, which had a well in his court, [meaning an open place by his house] and they went down into it.

19. And the woman took and spread a covering over the open (place, or mouth) [Heb. face] of the well, and strewed ground corn thereon: Thus the thing was not known.

20. Now when Absaloms servants came to the woman into the house, they said; Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them; They be gone over that water-brook: [Or, water-ferry] and when they had sought and not found them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21. And it came to pass, after they [viz. Absaloms servants] were departed: then they came up out of the well, and went their ways, and told it King David: and they said unto David; Get you up, and pass quickly over the water, [viz. the Jordan, as followeth] for thus [as is mentioned above] hath Achitophel counselled against you.

22. Then David gat him up, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over the Jordan: By the morning light there lacked not one, that was not gone over the Jordan. [They all passed over by night, so that by morning there was not one left on the other side.]

23. Now when Achitophel saw, that his counsel was not done, he sadled the ass, and gat him up, and went to his house into his city [Caled Gilo, above chap 15.12.] and gave command to his house, [or, gave order, put in order, took order, settled his house in order, disposed of it; i.e. his household, goods, or estate: which is as much to say, as he made and declared his last Will and Testament: compare 2 King.20.1. Isa.38.1.] and hanged himself: Thus he died, and was buried in his fathers Sepulchre.

24. Now David came to Mahanaim: [See above chap.2.on v.8.] and Absalom marched over the Jordan, he, and all the men of Israel with him.

25. And Absalom had put Amasa over the host in Joabs stead: now Amasa was a mans son, whose name was Jethra, the Israelite, [Heb. Jithra the Israelite, otherwise called Jether, 1 Chron.2.17. where he is called an Ismaelite: From whence is gathered by some, that he was an Ismaelite by descent: but being converted, was embodied with the people of God, and in that regard called an Israelite. Others think that was an Israelite by descent, but that he had dwelt and conversed among the Ismaelites, and from thence likewise was so called] that was gone to Abiga, [i.e. that had lain with her: see Gen.6.on v.4. Abigail. 1 Chron.2.16, 17. she is called Abigail. This woman was David’s sister, as also Zeruja was] the daughter of Nahas, [as some conceive, the wise of Isai, David’s father. Others are of opinion, that Isai himself was otherwise called Nahas. Heb. Nachasch] sister of Zeruja, Joabs mother.

26. Now Israel and Absalom camped themselves in the Land of Gilead. [Where also Mahanaim lay, to compass David about on all sides, according to Husai’s counsel.]

27. And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Sebi, [Heb. Schobi. Some conceive that this was a brother of Hanun, whereof mention is made, chap.10.1, &c. and that David having deposed Hanun, or it may be also put him to death, when he took Rabba, (above chap.12.30, 31.) made this brother of his King in his stead, who shewed his thankfulness there unto David for it] the son of Nahas, of Rabba, of the children of Ammon, and Machir, [see above chap.9 4, 5.] the son of Ammiel of Lo-Debar, and Barzillai, [see below chap.19. 31, 32 &c. 1 King.2.7.] the Gileadite of Rogelim.

28. Brought beds, and cups; and earthen vessels, [Heb. Vessels of the maker; i.e. of the Potter] wheat, and barley, and meal, and parched (corn); and beans, and lentils, also parched, [viz. beans and lentils]

29. And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kin unto David, and unto people, that were with him, to eat: for they said, [viz. within themselves, that is thought] this people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty in the wilderness. [or, from the wilderness. Hearing of David’s slight from Jerusalem, and speedy passage thorough the wilderness, that without doubt they must needs have wanted all things there: therefore they brought this provision to them, to refresh them.]