2 Samuel 16

2 Samuel 16

Meyer - Our Daily Homily - 2 Samuel 16:14 The king and all the people came weary, and refreshed themselves there. A Great weariness falls often on our souls. We are wearied because of the greatness of our way, and inclined to say there is no hope. Memory tires us, perpetually casting up the record of past unfaithfulness and transgression. The bitter way of the natural consequences of sin is toilsome and difficult to the feet. We faint before the averted eye of former friends and the pitiless criticism of foes. Longings for a vanished past, for life and love, for purity and peace, grind heavily in the soul. Our King has known something of human weariness, though not from all the sources that cause it in His subjects. But amid the presence of our weariness the voice of God may be heard saying, “This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing.” There is rest for weary souls beneath the shadow of the cross, in the sight of which the burden rolls away. There is rest and refreshment as we sit in the banqueting house of Christ’s manifested and realized affection. There is refreshment as we eat of His flesh and drink of His blood; as we yield our will to His; as we sit with Him in heavenly places. We assuredly find Him to be “a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land” (Isaiah 32:2). There is no hill Difficulty without its arbor; no desert without its oasis; no sultry heat without its shadow of a great rock; no weariness without its pillow; no intolerable sorrow without its solace; no weariness without its refreshment; no failure of man without a very present help in God. 2 Samuel 16:15 Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. Absalom: 2Sa 15:37 2 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SCENE SWITCHES TO SON ENTERING JERUSALEM Then - Marks progressive, in this case David out and Absalom in to the City of David. Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel (NLT = "all the army of Israel"), entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him - David's rebellious son and treacherous counselor take control of the city of David. 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 16:16 Now it came about when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" Long live the king: Heb. let the king live, 1Sa 10:24 1Ki 1:25,34 2Ki 11:12 Da 2:4 5:10 6:6,21 Mt 21:9 2 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Samuel 15:33-37+ - (HUSHAI DAVID'S SPY) David said to him, “If you pass over with me, then you will be a burden to me. 34 “But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant,’ then you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35 “Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So it shall be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 “Behold their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything that you hear.” 37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem. DAVID'S SPY SNEAKS IN Now it came about when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom - Hushai was David's man on the inside and as the story unfolds would be asked by Absalom for his counsel, which was deliberately misleading and not as good as Ahithophel's counsel. Hushai then warned David of Absalom's impending attack (2Sa 17:15-21, 22+) . It is also notable that in his counsel to Absalom, he told him that he should lead out in battle (2Sa 17:11+), whereas David's men gave him the exact opposite advice, to stay put! This put Absalom in harm's way while David remained safe in Mahanaim east of the Jordan. "Long live the king! Long live the king!" This was an affirmation of a long and successful reign and was like a pledge of loyalty! Unfortunately the new king would not live long. Exactly how long we cannot state with certainty from the text. Absalom should have asked Hushai, to which king are you referring, to me or to David? Hushai would have had to lie! QUESTION - Who was Hushai in the Bible? ANSWER - Hushai first appears in the Bible in 2 Samuel 15:32 as part of the story of Absalom’s coup and David’s departure from Jerusalem. Absalom, David’s son, had started a rebellion against his father and “stole the hearts of the people of Israel” (2Sa 15:6). David and his officials in Jerusalem fled the city for fear of their lives (2Sa 15:14). They climbed the Mount of Olives, “weeping as they went” (2Sa 15:30). Then, “when David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head” (2Sa 15:32). The tearing of one’s robe was an ancient way of showing mourning, grief, and loss. The dust on Hushai’s head added to the expression of grief. It was a day of tragedy, and Hushai mourned on behalf of his king and his nation. Hushai is described as “the king’s friend” in 1Ch 27:33ESV). When Hushai met David on Mt. Olivet, the king had an idea. David told Hushai to return to Jerusalem and to work against Absalom on David’s behalf. David gave Hushai the words to say to Absalom: “Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant” (2 Samuel 15:34). If Hushai could ingratiate himself, then he could sabotage Absalom’s plans. The ploy to use Hushai as a secret agent was necessary because Ahithophel, one of David’s respected counselors, had defected and joined forces with Absalom (2 Samuel 15:31). Ahithophel had double-crossed his king and was giving David’s son advice on how to defeat David. When David heard this news, he prayed that God would “turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness” (2Sa 15:31). Hushai was the instrument of God through which that prayer would be answered. Hushai obeyed David’s order and returned to Jerusalem, arriving there just as Absalom was entering the city (2 Samuel 15:37). Unbeknownst to Absalom, other men loyal to David were also in the city: the priests Zadok and Abiathar were there to act as spies, and the priests’ sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan, would relay the intel the priests gathered to David (2Sa 15:35–36). When Hushai met Absalom in the capital city, Hushai greeted him with “Long live the king! Long live the king!” (2 Samuel 16:16). Absalom was suspicious at first: “This is the love you show your friend [David]? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?” he asked (2Sa 16:17). Hushai responded by pouring on the praise, calling Absalom “the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel” (2Sa 16:18). Then he told Absalom what David had instructed him to say: “Just as I served your father, so I will serve you” (2Sa 16:19). Absalom was satisfied that Hushai meant what he said. Later, as Absalom was considering the best strategy to defeat his father, he asked the advice of both Ahithophel and Hushai. Ahithophel said, “Choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king and bring all the people back to you” (2Sa 17:1–3). This was actually a sound strategy, but then Hushai was given a chance to thwart the plan. Hushai presented a different strategy meant to frustrate the wisdom of Ahithophel (see 2Sa 15:34). Hushai said that Absalom needed a bigger force to deal with David and his desperate men. Also, Absalom should not focus on killing David but on wiping out David’s entire army: “Let all Israel . . . be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. Then we will attack him wherever he may be found. . . . Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive” (2 Samuel 17:11–12). Hushai also reminded Absalom that David was well acquainted with the lay of the land and that he was an expert in avoiding capture. If Absalom were to come at him, per Ahithophel’s counsel, David would escape. That would place David in a position to strike first, causing Absalom’s men to lose heart (2 Samuel 17:7–10). After hearing both plans, Absalom and his advisors believed that Hushai’s counsel was better than Ahithophel’s (2 Samuel 17:14). Hushai’s advice certainly was better—better for David! Hushai’s advice was meant to cause Absalom to delay deploying his army. That delay would provide David the opportunity to strategize and prepare. God was in all of this. Absalom chose the advice of Hushai because “the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom” (2Sa 17:14). Ahithophel did not take rejection well. “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 house in order and then hanged himself” (2 Samuel 17:23). Meanwhile, Hushai sent word of the battle plan to David through the priestly spies. Hushai’s advice to David was, “Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness; cross over without fail” (2 Samuel 17:16). The battle between the forces of David and Absalom took place “in the forest of Ephraim” (2 Samuel 18:6). The forces of Absalom were routed, and the battle “spread out over the whole countryside” (2Sa 18:8). Absalom himself was killed by Joab, one of David’s commanders (2 Samuel 18:14). The coup was ended. Through Hushai, God answered David’s prayer and preserved David’s throne. Absalom made his choices, but God was sovereign all the while. “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9NLT). GotQuestions.org 2 Samuel 16:17 Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?" Is this: Dt 32:6 Why did you not go: 2Sa 15:32-37 19:25 Pr 17:17 18:24 2 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ABSALOM GENTLY INTERROGATES HUSHAI Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? - Absalom begins to fall for Hushai's hustle asking him why he was not loyal to his friend David/ Why did you not go with your friend - His second question is why he did not leave Jerusalem with David? In fact he did leave Jerusalem with David and had Absalom done some investigative work, he likely would have discovered this fact. 2 Samuel 16:18 Then Hushai said to Absalom, "No! For whom the LORD, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 2Sa 5:1-3 1Sa 16:13 2 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HUSHAI REASONABLE REPLY TO WHY STAY Then Hushai said to Absalom, "No! For whom the LORD, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain - Hushai cleverly phrases his answer implying that he was staying because Absalom was clearly God's choice and the people's choice to be the next king of Israel which the grounds for his decision to remain in Jerusalem. NLT paraphrases it "I'm here because I work for the man who is chosen by the LORD and by Israel." 2 Samuel 16:19 "Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so I will be in your presence." should I not serve: 2Sa 15:34 1Sa 28:2 29:8 Ps 55:21 Ga 2:13 2 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HUSHAI REELS ABSALOM IN WITH LOGICAL QUESTIONS Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so I will be in your presence - Hushai continues his logical, reasonable answer to Absalom. Hushai reminds me of a fisherman who has a great lure/bait which he throws out, immediately sees the cork beginning to bob up and down and begins to reel in his catch into the boat! As we see in the next verse, the "big fish" is in Hushai's boat! 2 Samuel 16:20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your advice. What shall we do?" Give your advice Ex 1:10 Ps 2:2 37:12,13 Pr 21:30 Isa 8:10 29:15 Mt 27:1 Ac 4:23-28 2 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HUSHAI'S STORY SUCCESSFUL! Then - Marks progression in the narrative. Possibly Ahithophel was present when Absalom interviewed Hushai, but in any event he bypasses Hushai for now to hear from his other counselor. Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your advice. What shall we do? - Absalom has the throne now, so he wants to know what his next strategic move should be. Ahithophel once the close counselor of David will now show how evil he has become in his betrayal.