2 Samuel 17:7-13

2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 Samuel 17:7 my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you... and that you go to battle in person (v. 2 Samuel 17:11). Hushai appeals to Absalom’s pride and suggests that Absalom, not Ahithophel, should gather even more support and then personally lead the forces against David (v. 2 Samuel 17:11). His proposal will let David choose his own time and place of battle with his experienced, trained force. Cities were often attacked by pulling down the walls with ropes attached to grappling hooks. Since cities were usually built on high places, they were hard to rebuild once the stones of their walls had been dragged into the valley.