2 Samuel 17

2 Samuel 17

Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission 2 Samuel Chart from Charles Swindoll TIMELINE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL, KINGS & CHRONICLES 1107 1011 971 931 853 722 586 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 1 Kings 2 Kings 31 1-4 5-10 11-20 21-24 1-11 12-22 1-17 18-25 1Chr 10 1 Chr 11-19 1 Chr 20-29 2 Chronicles 1-9 2 Chronicles 10-20 2 Chronicles 21-36 Legend: B.C. dates at top of timeline are approximate. Note that 931 BC marks the division of the Kingdom into Southern Tribes (Judah and Benjamin) and Ten Northern Tribes. To avoid confusion be aware that after the division of the Kingdom in 931 BC, the Southern Kingdom is most often designated in Scripture as "Judah" and the Northern Kingdom as "Israel." Finally, note that 1 Chronicles 1-9 is not identified on the timeline because these chapters are records of genealogy. Map of David's Kingdom-ESV Global Map of Cities in 2 Samuel HIGHS AND LOWS OF DAVID'S LIFE Source: Life Application Study Bible (borrow) 2 Samuel 17:1 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight. arise: Pr 1:16 Pr 4:16 Isa 59:7,8 tonight: Ps 3:3-5 Ps 4:8 Ps 109:2-4 2 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Samuel 11:3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”... 23:34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, THE TRAITOROUS COUNSELOR WANTS TO LEAD CALVARY CHARGE Furthermore - This means in addition. So in addition to what? This forces us to check the context (remember chapter breaks are man made, not inspired and can be misleading) and in the immediately preceding verses we have seen the betrayer (once David's counselor) Ahithophel's counsel which Absalom readily received, because his advice was "as if one inquired of the word of God" (2Sa 16:23+). So now he asks Absalom this question. King David has fled Mahanaim east of the Jordan. Mattoon adds this note on Ahithophel's counsel - He has counseled Absalom to take David’s concubines and have sex with them inside the royal tents on top of the palace rooftop where all could see what he was up to. Taking the harem of a former king was an act symbolizing the taking of the throne. This would also be an act which would prevent reconciliation between David and Absalom. Such reconciliation would mean the end of Ahithophel. Absalom heeds this counsel. (Rod Mattoon - Treasures from 2 Samuel) Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight - Why would Ahithophel who is normally a counselor and not a military man want to pursue David (and even do it tonight implying great desire on his part)? Good question! Do you remember the name of Bathsheba's father? It was Eliam who (2Sa 23:34) says was the son of Ahithophel. That would make Ahithophel Bathsheba's grandfather. Could he have had a little grudge against David for his adultery with his granddaughter and his murder of her husband? The text does not state with certainty, but given that he is a political adviser and not a military man, this smacks somewhat of a desire to seek revenge on David! Note that Ahithophel advises moving without delay attacking while David is down and disorganized, while Hushai will advise a plan that calls for delay and gives David a time to escape and organize. QUESTION - Who was Ahithophel in the Bible? ANSWER - Ahithophel was originally the counselor of King David, but he later betrayed David, aiding Absalom in his rebellion to overthrow David’s kingship. Ahithophel was well-known for his advice, so much so that “Absalom followed Ahithophel’s advice, just as David had done. For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God” (2 Samuel 16:23, NLT). Ahithophel had the gift of wisdom. After Absalom captured Jerusalem, Ahithophel’s first piece of advice to him was that he sleep with all his father’s concubines—in a public manner—so as to become a “stench in your father’s nostrils,” and to strengthen his following (2 Samuel 16:21–22). In those days, taking possession of a king’s concubines was a declaration of one’s right to the throne. This fulfilled God’s word to David after his adultery with Bathsheba: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel’” (2 Samuel 12:11–12). Absalom followed the advice of Ahithophel and performed this wicked act on the top of the palace roof for all Israel to see (2 Samuel 16:22). When Absalom began his rebellion, King David knew that Ahithophel’s advice would be dangerous in the hands of his son. During his escape up the Mount of Olives, David prayed to the Lord that Ahithophel’s counsel would be turned into foolishness (2 Samuel 15:31). In answer to David’s prayer, when David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives, he met Hushai the Arkite. David sent Hushai back to Absalom in Jerusalem as a secret agent to frustrate the advice of Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:32–37). In Jerusalem Hushai pledged his loyalty to Absalom but began to give advice to work to David’s benefit (2 Samuel 17:14). Absalom asked his counsellors what next step he should take. Ahithophel said to pursue David immediately with an army of twelve thousand men and “attack him while he is weary and weak” (2 Samuel 17:1). Hushai, however, counselled Absalom to delay the attack, form a larger force, and totally annihilate David and his men (2Sa 17:7–13). Absalom chose to follow the advice of Hushai and reject Ahithophel’s counsel. This was of God, since “the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom” (2Sa 17:14). When Absalom rejected his advice, Ahithophel’s pride was injured, and “he put his house in order and then hanged himself” (2 Samuel 17:23). In following Hushai’s advice, Absalom was defeated and received the punishment due his rebellion (2 Samuel 18:6–15). Because of Ahithophel’s betrayal of David, many scholars see him as a type of Judas Iscariot. Just as David’s counselor betrayed him, so also did Jesus’ disciple Judas betray Him. Similarities between Ahithophel and Judas include the following: • they both were trusted friends who betrayed their friend (2 Samuel 15:31; Matthew 26:14–16). • they both sided with the enemy to plot their king’s death (2 Samuel 17:1–4; Luke 22:2–6). • they both hanged themselves once the betrayal was complete (2 Samuel 17:23; Matthew 27:5). In Psalm 41:9 David laments, “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.” This is, most immediately, a reference to the treachery of Ahithophel. But it is also a prophetic reference to Judas, as Jesus points out in John 13:18, where He quotes Psalm 41:9. Like Judas, Ahithophel will forever be remembered as a traitor. GotQuestions.org 2 Samuel 17:2 "I will come upon him while he is weary and exhausted and terrify him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then I will strike down the king alone, weary: 2Sa 16:14 Dt 25:18 I will strike: 1Ki 22:31 Zec 13:7 Mt 21:38 26:31 Joh 11:50 18:4-8 2 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AHITHOPHEL IS CALLING FOR A "SURGICAL STRIKE" I will come upon him while he is weary and exhausted and terrify him - Watch Ahithophel's repetitive use of "I" ("I may" - v1, "I will...I will v2, "I will" v3). Is this not an expression of his pride? (Rhetorical) Pr 11:2 says "When pride comes, then comes dishonor," and he would soon be dishonored! Pr 16:18 says "Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling," which proved true for him! He describes a surgical strike (attack intended to damage only legitimate military target with minimal collateral damage), a sneak attack, an ambush, knowing he is tired from fleeing because he is probably 60+ now and not young like he was fleeing from Saul. Sohe will be tired and weak and easily frightened. Mattoon - Ahithophel made all these plans of what he was going to do, but he forgot about one key thing. He forgot about the God factor. He forgot about all the ways God protected David in the past. The lion and the bear The giant Goliath From the pursuits of Saul. Ahithophel’s counsel was deadly. It was good military strategy. He believed David would be weary and weak. He believed David would be weary and weak describing his emotional and physical condition. The word “weary” means “exhaustion which goes along with hard labor or physical strain.” He also believed David would be “weak handed” which means “to sink down, let drop, be disheartened.” It is an image of a man whose hands drop to his side because of weariness. It has the idea of letting down your guard. David would probably be close to this condition, that is why the counsel was deadly. Ahithophel advises an attack. (Treasures from 2 Samuel) So that (purpose clause - purpose of the surprise attack) all the people who are with him will flee - Ahithophel is being a bit grandiose thinking all of David's mighty men will flee in fear! Then (marks progression) I will strike down the king alone - Notice his "slip of the tongue" calling David the king! He knew who the real king was! The Septuagint supports this premise for it has the definite article (ton = "the") in front of king (basilea) which means "the specific king." David a mighty warrior who has slain giants and who God has promised to help in battle will be killed by a counselor? I don't think so! But note the repetition of I will, the final being that he himself would take David's life. This surely seems to smack of a desire for personal vengeance for his sin against his grand-daugther Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 17:3 and I will bring back all the people to you. The return of everyone depends on the man you seek; then all the people will be at peace." BGT 2 Samuel 17:3 καὶ ἐπιστρέψω πάντα τὸν λαὸν πρὸς σέ ὃν τρόπον ἐπιστρέφει ἡ νύμφη πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς πλὴν ψυχὴν ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς σὺ ζητεῖς καὶ παντὶ τῷ λαῷ ἔσται εἰρήνη LXE 2 Samuel 17:3 And I will bring back all the people to thee, as a bride returns to her husband: only thou seekest the life of one man, and all the people shall have peace. KJV 2 Samuel 17:3 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. NET 2 Samuel 17:3 and will bring the entire army back to you. In exchange for the life of the man you are seeking, you will get back everyone. The entire army will return unharmed." CSB 2 Samuel 17:3 and bring all the people back to you. When everyone returns except the man you're seeking, all the people will be at peace." ESV 2 Samuel 17:3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace." NIV 2 Samuel 17:3 and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed." NLT 2 Samuel 17:3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man's life that you seek. Then you will be at peace with all the people." NRS 2 Samuel 17:3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace." NJB 2 Samuel 17:3 and I shall then bring all the people back to you, like a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of one individual only; the people as a whole will have peace.' NAB 2 Samuel 17:3 Then I can bring back the rest of the people to you, as a bride returns to her husband. It is the death of only one man you are seeking; then all the people will be at peace." YLT 2 Samuel 17:3 and I bring back all the people unto thee -- as the turning back of the whole is the man whom thou art seeking -- all the people are peace. GWN 2 Samuel 17:3 I'll return all the people to you as a bride is returned to her husband. Since you will be seeking the life of only one man, all the people will have peace." BBE 2 Samuel 17:3 And I will make all the people come back to you as a bride comes back to her husband: it is the life of only one man you are going after; so all the people will be at peace. RSV 2 Samuel 17:3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace." I will bring: 2Sa 3:21 shall be: Isa 48:22 57:21 1Th 5:3 2 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AHITHOPHEL PLAN AVOIDS A CIVIL WAR and I will bring back all the people to you - This is the third "I will," which speaks of his excessive confidence and egocentricity. Not those with him to help him kill David, but "I" myself! The return of everyone depends on the man you seek - His point is the return of the whole nation depends on seeking out and destroying David, then they will seek only Absalom. NET NOTE - Heb “like the returning of all, the man whom you are seeking.” The LXX reads differently: “And I will return all the people to you the way a bride returns to her husband, except for the life of the one man whom you are seeking.” The other early versions also struggled with this verse. Modern translations are divided as well: the NAB, NRSV, REB, and NLT follow the LXX, while the NASB and NIV follow the Hebrew text. (SEE TRANSLATIONS ABOVE) Then all the people will be at peace (shalom; Lxx - eirene) - In other words everyone else will return safely and will be unharmed and peaceful. Walton points out that "By eliminating David, Ahithophel believed that any opposition to Absalom’s rule would collapse. A quick attack on the disorganized, exhausted “army” of David might well be successful in killing the king and routing his already demoralized forces in a place of their choosing. This was not to be a pitched battle but a surgical strike with a fixed purpose." (See page 346 IVP Bible Background Commentary)