2 Samuel 17:2

_MOREOVER AHITHOPHEL SAID UNTO ABSALOM, LET ME NOW CHOOSE OUT TWELVE THOUSAND MEN, AND I WILL ARISE AND PURSUE AFTER DAVID THIS NIGHT:_ Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom. The success of the measure was certain, and the many evils of a civil war entirely avoided. LET ME NOW CHOOSE OUT TWELVE THOUSAND MEN ... His proposal was to take, out of the vast multitude who had joined the standard of the insurgents, 12,000 picked men; and if the command of this select cerium were entrusted to him, he would undertake to pursue the royalist party, to attack that small handful, aiming only at the life of the king, and thus, by his fall, complete a sudden revolution, through which Absalom would succeed to the vacant throne. The recommendation to take prompt and decisive measures before the royalist forces could be collected and arranged evinced the deep political sagacity of this councillor....

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....

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

AND I WILL COME UPON HIM WHILE HE [IS] WEARY,.... With travelling, and with grief, and when endeavouring to get some rest by sleep, and so surprise him unawares, when not on his guard, and in no posture of defence: AND WEAK HANDED; while the number of men with him is small, and before the people from different parts can come to his assistance: AND WILL MAKE HIM AFRAID; strike terror into him and his then, by surprising them suddenly in the night with such a number of men: AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT [ARE] WITH HIM SHALL FLEE; one one way, and another another, for their own security, and leave David alone: AND I WILL SMITE THE KING ONLY; dispatch him, and let the people flee without pursuing them....

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....

_will make him afraid_ The word describes the _panic_caused by a sudden night attack, in the confusion of which David might easily be seized....

3. The Rebellion Defeated, 2 Samuel 17:1 to 2 Samuel 18:33. _Hushai's Counsel._ 2 Samuel 17:1-14 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 weakhanded, 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, an

THE FALL OF AHITHOPHEL Absalom follows the advice of Hushai rather than that of Ahithophel, who thereupon hangs himself. David retreats to Mahanaim....

DAVID, THE GREAT KING OF ISRAEL 2 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 17 AHITHOPHEL AND HUSHAI ADVISE ABSALOM V1 Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, ‘Let me choose 12 000 men. I will go and chase David tonight. V2 I will attack him when he is tired and weak. I will frighten him. All the people who are with him will run away. I will kill only the king. V3 Then I will bring all his people back to you. When David is dead, everyone will return to you. Everyone will be safe.’ V4 Absalom and all the leaders in *Israel thought that this was good advice. V5 Then Absalom said, ‘Bring Hushai the *Arkite to me. I want to know what he thinks about this.’ V6 When Hushai arrived, Absalom