Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice
Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. Isa 59:7-8Pro 4:16Psa 109:2-4Psa 3:3-5Psa 4:8Pro 1:16 I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king 1Ki 22:312Sa 16:14Jhn 11:50Mat 26:31Zec 13:7Deu 25:18Mat 21:38Jhn 18:4-8 and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; 1 then all the people will be at peace.” 1Th 5:32Sa 3:21Isa 48:22Isa 57:21
This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel. 1Sa 18:20-211Sa 23:212Ch 30:4Est 1:21Est 5:14Rom 1:32
Then Absalom said, “Summon Hushai the Archite as well, and let us hear what he too has to say.” 2Sa 15:32-372Sa 16:16-19
So Hushai came to Absalom, who told him, “Ahithophel has spoken this proposal. Should we carry it out? If not, what do you say?”
Hushai replied, “This time the advice of Ahithophel is not sound.” Pro 31:8
He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops. Hos 13:81Sa 16:18Dan 7:5Heb 11:32-34Pro 17:121Ch 11:25-471Sa 17:34-361Sa 17:50 Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location. If some of your troops fall first, 2 whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 1Sa 14:14-151Sa 22:11Sa 24:3Jdg 20:32-33Jos 7:5Jos 8:6 Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him. Jos 2:9-111Sa 18:172Sa 1:232Sa 23:20Deu 1:28Exo 15:15Gen 49:9Heb 11:34
Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle. Gen 22:17Jdg 20:1Jos 11:4Psa 9:161Ki 20:101Ki 4:202Sa 12:282Sa 24:2 Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain. 1Ki 20:101Sa 23:232Ki 18:232Ki 19:24Isa 10:13-14Oba 1:3
If he retreats to a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be found.” Mat 24:2Mic 1:6
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom. 2Sa 15:341Co 1:19-20Isa 8:10Pro 19:211Co 3:192Sa 15:31Job 5:12-14Pro 21:30
Hushai’s Warning Saves David
(Psalms 55:1–23)
So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have advised. 2Sa 15:35-36 Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’” 2Sa 15:281Co 15:542Co 5:41Sa 20:382Sa 15:142Sa 17:21-222Sa 20:19-20Mat 24:16-18
Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city. 2Sa 15:362Sa 15:27Jos 15:7Jos 18:161Ki 1:9Jos 2:4-24 But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 2Sa 3:162Sa 16:52Sa 19:16 Then the man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well, scattering grain over it so nobody would know a thing. Exo 1:19Jos 2:4-24
When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” Exo 1:191Sa 19:12-171Sa 21:21Sa 27:11-122Sa 15:34Jos 2:22-23Jos 2:3-5
“They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.
After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.” 2Sa 17:15-16
So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan. Jhn 18:9Mat 10:16Pro 27:122Sa 17:24Num 31:49
When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb. Mat 27:52Ki 20:12Sa 15:121Ki 16:18Psa 5:102Sa 15:311Sa 31:4-5Job 31:3
Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 2Sa 2:8Gen 32:2Jos 13:26 Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, 3 the Ishmaelite 4who had married Abigail, 5 the daughter of Nahash 6and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. 1Ch 2:132Sa 19:132Sa 20:9-121Ch 2:16-171Ki 2:321Ki 2:52Sa 20:4 So the Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. Deu 3:15Jos 17:1Num 32:1-42
When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim. 1Ki 2:72Sa 10:1-22Sa 9:41Sa 11:1Ezr 2:612Sa 12:262Sa 12:29-302Sa 19:31-39 They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, 7 1Sa 25:182Sa 16:1-2Isa 32:8Oba 1:3 honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.” 2Sa 16:22Sa 16:14Isa 21:141Sa 17:182Sa 17:2Ecc 11:1-2Isa 58:7Jdg 8:4-6