2 Samuel 17:12

_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._ We will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground. No image could have symbolized the sudden onset of an enemy so graphically to an Oriental mind as the silent, irresistible, and rapid descent of this natural moisture on every field and blade of grass....

1-21 Here was a wonderful effect of Divine Providence blinding Absalom's mind and influencing his heart, that he could not rest in Ahithophel's counsel, and that he should desire Hushai's advice. But there is no contending with that God who can arm a man against himself, and destroy him by his own mistakes and passions. Ahithophel's former counsel was followed, for God intended to correct David; but his latter counsel was not followed, for God meant not to destroy him. He can overrule all counsels. Whatever wisdom or help any man employs or affords, the success is from God alone, who will not let his people perish....

AS THE DEW - Like the drops of dew, in the vast number of our host, and in our irresistible and unavoidable descent upon our enemies....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 17:1 LET ME NOW CHOOSE OUT TWELVE THOUSAND MEN. The advice of Ahithophel was such as would have made success almost certain. The rebellion had taken David by surprise, and he was quite unprepared to resist the large forces which Absalom had gathered round him. But the better part of the nation disapproved of the enterprise, especially when they perceived that David's life was in danger; and consequently his followers, in course of time, would increase. Moreover, the day had been one of extreme moral and mental trial to David. Upon the sudden news of Absalom's approach, he had to arrange for the flight of his wives and children; to provide supplies for their wants, and for those of their attendants on the march; to give orders to his officers, and take means to prevent their flight degenerating into a panic. Then, wi

SO SHALL WE COME UPON HIM IN SOME PLACE WHERE HE SHALL BE FOUND,.... For such a numerous army, which would be spread abroad, could not well fail of finding him out, let him be in what lurking place he would; whereas he might lie concealed, and escape so small a number as twelve thousand men: AND WE WILL LIGHT UPON HIM AS THE DEW FALLETH UPON THE GROUND; whose drops are innumerable, and cover all the ground where they fall; and the phrase not only expresses their numbers, but the irresistible force they should come with, and the manner, secretly, unawares, opportunely; the Romans had a sort of soldiers, called from the dew "rorarii", who carried light armour, and fought first in the battle, from whence they had their name, because dew falls before it rains n: AND OF HIM, AND OF ALL THE MEN THAT [ARE] WITH HIM, THERE SHALL NOT BE LEFT SO MUCH AS ONE; so that for the future Absalom would...

7. ABSALOM, AHITOPHEL, AND HUSHAI CHAPTER 17 _ 1. The counsel of Ahitophel and Hushai (2 Samuel 17:1)_ 2. The counsel made known to David (2 Samuel 17:15) 3. Ahitophel commits suicide (2 Samuel 17:23) 4. Absalom pitched in Gilead (2 Samuel 17:24) 5. The kindness of Shobi, Machir and Barzillai (2 Samuel 17:27) Ahitophel's counsel was aimed at the person of David only. He wanted to have him killed and thus by the death of the one man bring all Israel back. But Ahitophel had not

Ahithophel advises the instant pursuit and capture of David. I, he says, will bring back all the people unto thee, as a bride returns to her husband; thou seekest the life of only one man, there shall be peace for all the people; read 2 Samuel 17:3 thus with LXX. Hushai advised delay, till an overwhelming force could be gathered which would overcome any possible resistance. Yahweh makes Absalom follow Hushai's counsel, to his own ruin....

AS. according as....

_as the dew_ As the innumerable drops of dew settle on the ground unseen and unheard, so will our vast army completely overwhelm him without perceptible effort....

WE WILL LIGHT UPON HIM, AS THE DEW FALLETH ON THE GROUND— This is very beautiful and expressive. The _dew_ in Palestine, as in several other climates, falls fast and sudden, and is therefore no unapt emblem of an active expeditious soldiery. It was, perhaps, for this reason, that the Romans called their light-armed forces _rorarii._ The dew falls upon every spot of the earth; not a blade of grass escapes it. A numerous army resembles it in this respect; it is able to search every where....