1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.
4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.
6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.
7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.
8 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.
9 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.
10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.
11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.
12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.
14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
15 Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled.
16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.
17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.
18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.
19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.
20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21 And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counseled against you.
22 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.
23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.
26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
27 And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
28 Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentils, and parched pulse,
29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
Chapter 17 of the book of 2 Samuel in the King James Version (KJV) Holy Bible is a continuation of the events that took place in the previous chapters. This chapter focuses on the aftermath of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David, and the different strategies and decisions made by various characters in response to the rebellion. The main themes of this chapter include loyalty, betrayal, wisdom, and the consequences of sin. Through the events and characters in this chapter, we can learn important lessons about the consequences of our actions and the importance of seeking wisdom and guidance from God.
The chapter begins with Ahithophel, one of King David's advisors, offering his counsel to Absalom on how to defeat his father in battle. Ahithophel was known for his wisdom and his advice was highly valued by David. However, after Absalom's rebellion, Ahithophel chose to betray David and join forces with Absalom. This was a significant blow to David as Ahithophel's counsel was considered to be like that of an oracle from God.
Meanwhile, David and his loyal followers were fleeing from Jerusalem, leaving behind their homes and possessions. David's trusted friend, Hushai, offered to stay behind and act as a spy for David, to counter the counsel of Ahithophel and delay Absalom's plans. This was a risky move for Hushai as he could have been discovered and killed by Absalom's men.
As David was fleeing, he encountered Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan. Ziba had brought provisions for David and his men, claiming that Mephibosheth had betrayed David and joined forces with Absalom. This was a significant betrayal as Mephibosheth was the only surviving heir of King Saul's family, and David had shown him kindness and brought him into his house. However, David did not immediately believe Ziba's story and instead chose to investigate the matter further. This shows the importance of loyalty and the consequences of betrayal. David's initial reaction was to trust Ziba, but he later discovered that Ziba had lied and had ulterior motives for his actions.
As Absalom and his army approached David's camp, Hushai was able to delay their attack by offering alternative counsel to Absalom. Hushai knew that Ahithophel's plan would have been successful, and he needed to find a way to buy time for David. So, he suggested a different strategy, knowing that Absalom would likely choose to follow his own counsel rather than that of Ahithophel. This delay gave David and his men time to regroup and prepare for battle. This shows the importance of seeking wisdom from God and how it can change the course of events. Hushai's counsel was not based on his own wisdom, but on his trust in God to guide him.
As the battle between David and Absalom's armies began, Absalom's forces were defeated, and Absalom himself was killed. This was a tragic end for Absalom, who had rebelled against his father and sought to take the throne for himself. It also serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of repentance. Absalom's rebellion and his subsequent death were a result of his own actions and the consequences of his sin.
Upon hearing of Absalom's death, David was inconsolable. Despite Absalom's betrayal and rebellion, David still loved his son and was deeply grieved by his death. This shows the unconditional love of a father for his child, and it also reveals the pain that comes with the consequences of sin. David had to face the reality of his son's death and the role he played in it as a result of his own sin and failures as a father.
After Absalom's death, David's reign was restored, and he returned to Jerusalem as king. This serves as a reminder that God is faithful and can restore what has been lost. Despite the chaos and turmoil caused by Absalom's rebellion, God was still in control and had a plan for David's kingdom. This also shows the importance of trusting in God and His timing, even in the midst of difficult and uncertain situations.
Through the events and characters in this chapter, we can learn several important lessons. The first is the importance of loyalty and the consequences of betrayal. We see this through the actions of Ahithophel, Ziba, and Absalom. The second lesson is the importance of seeking wisdom from God. Hushai's counsel to Absalom was not based on his own wisdom but on his trust in God to guide him. The third lesson is the consequences of sin. Absalom's rebellion and death were a result of his own actions and the consequences of his sin. The final lesson is the restoration and faithfulness of God. Despite the chaos and turmoil caused by Absalom's rebellion, God was still in control and restored David's kingdom.
Chapter 17 of 2 Samuel serves as a reminder of the consequences of our actions and the importance of seeking wisdom and guidance from God. It also highlights the importance of loyalty and the consequences of betrayal. Through the events and characters in this chapter, we are reminded of the faithfulness and sovereignty of God, even in the midst of difficult and uncertain situations. The chapter also serves as a warning against the dangers of sin and rebellion, and the importance of repentance and seeking forgiveness from God.
In conclusion, Chapter 17 of 2 Samuel is a significant chapter in the story of King David and his kingdom. It shows the aftermath of Absalom's rebellion and the different strategies and decisions made by various characters in response to the rebellion. This chapter also teaches us important lessons about loyalty, betrayal, wisdom, and the consequences of sin. Through the events and characters in this chapter, we are reminded of the faithfulness of God and the importance of seeking His guidance and forgiveness in our lives.
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