2 Samuel 17

1-4 5-14 15-23 24-29

1-4

Either right after Ahithophel gave the advice for Absalom to have relations with David’s concubines, or shortly after Absalom follows that advice, Ahithophel gives further counsel to quickly go out and pursue and kill David.

Ahithophel wants to pick 12,000 men from Israel, 1,000 from each tribe. He is suggesting a large number because he knows the strength of David and his men.

Absalom and all of the elders liked Ahithophel’s plan of chasing down and only killing David. These were the elders that Absalom had swayed with his scheming back in chapter 15, these also would have been the same men that accepted David’s kingship in chapter 5.

5-14

Even though the elders and Absalom like and agree with Ahithophel’s plan, by the providence of God Absalom calls for Hushai to give his opinion on Ahithophel’s counsel.

Hushai disagrees with Ahithophel’s plan, saying that is not good, he reminds them of how mighty David and his men are and how angry they likely are at the situation, like a bear that has had its cubs taken from it.

He goes on to remind them of much an expert David is at war and that he would not be so easily taken and killed like Ahithophel suggested he could without killing the men with David.

He gives reason after reason that 12,000 men would no where be enough to accomplish the task. Hushai says that they will need all of Israel to gather to and go out against David. This gathering will take some time, also give time for David to prepare. All of the advice that Hushai gives was inspired by God to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel and the plans of Absalom.

All of the elders and Absalom agree and think the advise of Hushai is better than what Ahithophel has suggested. Ahithophel does not take this well as we will see later in the chapter.

15-23

Hushai enacts the plan that David comes up with to get information on what Absalom is doing back to him. While Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En-rogel, a spring on the boundary of Judah and Benjamin, ready to leave for David’s camp after they were informed of all of what had transpired they were spotted by a young man aligned with Absalom and he informs Absalom.

The men successfully hide from Absalom’s servants that were sent out to stop them and go out to inform David on all that Ahithophel and Hushai had said and who Absalom and the elders agreed with.

Jonathan and Ahimaaz tell David and all his men to go quickly and cross over the Jordan river as to protect them and by the dawn of the next day all had crossed over.

When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed and everyone agreed with Hushai he probably knew that God was not with him them and Absalom would be defeated. He knew David would hold him accountable for his disloyalty so he went home, set his affairs in order, then killed himself and was buried.

24-29

Across the Jordan river David went to Mahanaim, a city in Gilead where Ish-bosheth was king of Isreal, except Judah, for two years. Mahanaim is also the city where Jacob saw the angels in Gen 32:2 “And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.”

Joab went with David so Absalom appointed Amasa over the army that had been gathered from all of Israel. Amasa was the son of Abigail, who is either David’s sister or half-sister, making him David’s nephew. Abigail is also the sister of Zeruiah, the mother of Joab. So Amasa was a cousin of Absalom and also of Joab.

While both camps were in the land of Gilead preparing for war Shobi the son of Nahash, brother of Hanun who was the king of the Ammonites that mistreated David’s ambassadors and started the war between Ammon, Syria, and Israel. It was this war that David should have been leading when he saw Bathsheba. Shobi is now the ruler of Ammon installed by David.

Machir was the man who raised and cared for Mephibosheth before David sent and brought him back to Jerusalem.

Barzillai was an aged and wealthy benefactor of David.

All of these men brought food and provisions for David and his men, a sign that God was still with David and was providing for him even while he was being punished and in exile.