Ahithophel Advises Absalom
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Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice
We are at the part in our story when David and his group of loyal followers just left Jerusalem and Absalom and his followers are now arriving at Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 16:15-17:11a NLT
Ahithophel Advises Absalom
15 Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel. 16 When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite arrived, he went immediately to see Absalom. “Long live the king!” he exclaimed. “Long live the king!”
17 “Is this the way you treat your friend David?” Absalom asked him. “Why aren’t you with him?”
18 “I’m here because I belong to the man who is chosen by the Lord and by all the men of Israel,” Hushai replied. 19 “And anyway, why shouldn’t I serve you? Just as I was your father’s adviser, now I will be your adviser!”
20 Then Absalom turned to Ahithophel and asked him, “What should I do next?”
21 Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.” 22 So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines.
23 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.
17:1 Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight. 2 I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king, 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.” 4 This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice
5 But then Absalom said, “Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let’s see what he thinks about this.” 6 When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said. Then he asked, “What is your opinion? Should we follow Ahithophel’s advice? If not, what do you suggest?”
7 “Well,” Hushai replied to Absalom, “this time Ahithophel has made a mistake. 8 You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors. Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war. He won’t be spending the night among the troops. 9 He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom’s men are being slaughtered. 10 Then even the bravest soldiers, though they have the heart of a lion, will be paralyzed with fear. For all Israel knows what a mighty warrior your father is and how courageous his men are.
11 “I recommend that …
Examine the Scriptures
2 Samuel 16:15-17:11a NLT
Ahithophel Advises Absalom
15 Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel.
We are now at the part in our story when David and his group of loyal followers just left Jerusalem and Absalom and his followers are now arriving at Jerusalem.
- Absalom, having gained significant support, enters Jerusalem triumphantly.
Ahithophel’s presence is significant—he was one of David’s wisest counselors, and his defection to Absalom represents both betrayal and the gravity of the rebellion.
David just lost the support of someone who would have been a part of his inner circle of advisors.
The support of people is shifting to Absalom.
16 When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite arrived, he went immediately to see Absalom. “Long live the king!” he exclaimed. “Long live the king!”
17 “Is this the way you treat your friend David?” Absalom asked him. “Why aren’t you with him?”
This is a good, insightful question. You better listen carefully to the answer. Make sure that you are not just hearing what you want to hear.
18 “I’m here because I belong to the man who is chosen by the Lord and by all the men of Israel,” Hushai replied. 19 “And anyway, why shouldn’t I serve you?
- Read “between the lines” and notice the illusiveness of Hushai’s response.
Hushai’s words were deliberately ambiguous.
He was in fact an agent of the true king, King David. David was the man chosen by the Lord. Hushai avoided using the king’s name, leading Absalom to believe that Hushai was loyal to him rather than to David.
Note: Hushai does not say that he will serve Absalom.
Just as I was your father’s adviser, now I will be your adviser!”
- Hushai’s ability to gain Absalom’s trust is crucial to David’s survival.
Review:
2 Samuel 15:32 NLT
32 When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him.
Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. 33 But David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden. 34 Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice.
David sends Hushai back to Jerusalem to act as a spy within Absalom’s court. He is tasked with countering the counsel of Ahithophel, Absalom’s chief advisor, whose advice was highly regarded.
- In reality David had sent Hushai back to Jerusalem to act as a spy within Absalom’s court. His role was to counter the advice Ahithophel was giving Absalom.
20 Then Absalom turned to Ahithophel and asked him, “What should I do next?”
21 Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace.
- In the Near East, taking possession of a previous king’s harem was a direct claim to his throne.
- Absalom slept with David’s concubines to assert or strengthen his claim to the throne.
Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.”
This was a definitive and irreversible declaration of the break between father and son, making reconciliation virtually impossible.
22 So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines.
This is a fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy.
Review:
Nathan rebukes David
2 Samuel 12:11 NLT
11 “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view.
- Absalom was making it clear that he was claiming the throne.
Absalom’s shameful act echoed David’s adultery with Bathsheba, which also began on that roof.
- The consequences of David’s past sin now unfold in his own household.
The fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy reminds us that sin has consequences, even for great leaders like David.
23 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.
- Ahithophel’s advice was highly valued, first by David and now by Absalom.
“For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God.”
Hushai’s assignment was going to be challenging.
Though it seems Absalom is succeeding, God is at work through Hushai to overturn Ahithophel’s counsel and bring David back to the throne.
Remember: God is an all-powerful sovereign God.
2 Samuel 7:8-9 NLT
8 “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!
Jeremiah 32:26-27 NLT
26 Then this message came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?
Matthew 19:26 NLT
26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
17:1 Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight.
Ahithophel suggests that he himself lead the force against David.
2 I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king, 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.”
- Ahithophel proposes an immediate attack on David while he is weary and unprepared.
His plan is strategic: a swift strike would create panic, isolate David, and allow him to be killed without a prolonged war.
This would be a victory for Absalom that would not weaken the nation.
4 This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
Ahithophel offers the good advice to attack and kill David immediately.
With no one else to turn to, he says, the whole country would embrace Absalom.
If this advice had been followed, it is likely that David would have been defeated.
- Ahithophel’s plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
- Absalom’s rebellion appears to have gained backing from “all the elders (leaders) of Israel”.
Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice
5 But then Absalom said, “Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let’s see what he thinks about this.”
- Although Ahithophel’s counsel is wise, Absalom still seeks a second opinion.
Proverbs 11:14 & Proverbs 15:22 encourage the counsel of many.
6 When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said. Then he asked, “What is your opinion? Should we follow Ahithophel’s advice? If not, what do you suggest?”
7 “Well,” Hushai replied to Absalom, “this time Ahithophel has made a mistake. 8 You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors. Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war. He won’t be spending the night among the troops. 9 He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom’s men are being slaughtered. 10 Then even the bravest soldiers, though they have the heart of a lion, will be paralyzed with fear. For all Israel knows what a mighty warrior your father is and how courageous his men are.
Hushai, David’s secret ally, crafts his response to subtly undermine Ahithophel’s advice.
- David’s double agent Hushai gave a convincing argument pointing out the weaknesses in Ahithophel’s plan.
Hushai reminds Absalom that David is a seasoned warrior, unlike Ahithophel’s portrayal of him as weak and exhausted.
He warns that David and his mighty men are “enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs”.
He suggests that if an initial attack fails, Absalom’s troops will lose heart.
11 “I recommend that …
