2 Samuel 17:8

_AND THE SAYING PLEASED ABSALOM WELL, AND ALL THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

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....

Verse 2 Samuel 17:8. _AS A BEAR ROBBED OF HER WHELPS_] All wild beasts are very furious when robbed of their young; but we have some remarkable instances of the maternal affection of the bear in such circumstances; see one at the end of the chapter. 2 Samuel 17:28....

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

FOR (SAID HUSHAI) THOU KNOWEST THY FATHER AND HIS MEN, THAT THEY [BE] MIGHTY MEN,.... Men of courage and valour, and not such weak-handed and weak-hearted men, and so easily intimidated, as Ahithophel suggests: AND THEY [BE] CHAFED IN THEIR MINDS; or "bitter in soul" f; not merely filled with trouble and anguish, and depressed in their spirits, on account of that, as the phrase sometimes signifies; but enraged and full of wrath at the rebellion raised against their prince, which obliged them with him to leave their habitations; and now being desperate, their all lying at stake, their wives and children, their families and estates, they would fight furiously in the defence of the king and themselves, and not so soon flee as Ahithophel had represented: AS A BEAR ROBBED OF HER WHELPS IN THE FIELD; a bear is a very furious creature, especially a she bear, and the more when it has whelps, a...

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....

MEN. Hebrew. _'enosh._ App-14. MIGHTY MEN. Hebrew. _gibborim._ App-14. CHAFED. bitter. MINDS. souls. Hebrew. _nephesh._ App-13....

_For, said Hushai_ AND HUSHAI SAID. _chafed in their minds_ Lit. _bitter of soul_: embittered and exasperated. Cp. Judges 18:25; 1 Samuel 22:2. _as a bear robbed of her whelps_ Proverbial for its ferocity. Cp. Proverbs 17:12; Hosea 13:8. The Syrian bear is said to be particularly ferocious. See 1 Samuel 17:34. The Sept. adds, "and like a savage sow in the plain," which is rather a Greek than a Hebrew simile. Cp. Hom. _Il._xiii. 471 ff....

THEY BE CHASED IN THEIR MINDS, AS A BEAR ROBBED OF HER WHELPS— The curious have, in general, long since remarked the coarseness of the images used in the Eastern writings. I have met with instances of this kind, which may serve to illustrate some passages of Scripture more perfectly than I have yet seen. In particular, Hushai's comparing David and his men, in this place, to a _bear robbed of her whelps,_ appears to us very odd; and it shocks our delicacy much more when we find it applied to the Majesty of heaven, Lamentations 3:10. This, however, is entirely owing to the difference of the taste of the Europeans, from that of the people of the Levant. We in England, when we compare a person to a _bear,_ have something of a disagreeable fierceness, and awkward roughness in view; and therefore these paintings give us pain. But though _we_ do, the Eastern nations do not,