2 Samuel 17
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Samuel 17
NJB (MT versing) Hushai's Counsel Hushai Frustrates the Plan of Ahithophel Hushai Misleads Absalom Hushai Thwarts Ahithophel's Plans 17:1-4 17:1-4 17:1-4 17:1-4 17:1-4 The Counsel of Hushai 17:5-14 17:5-14 17:5-14 17:5-6 17:5-14 17:7-13 17:14 Hushai's Warning Saves David Hushai Warns David to Escape David Is Warned and Escapes 17:15-20 17:15-22 17:15-20 17:15-16 17:15-16 David Is Warned and Crosses the Jordan 17:17-20a 17:17-19 17:20b 17:20 17:20c-22 17:21-22 17:21-23 17:21-22 17:23 17:23 17:23 17:23 David in TransJordan Absalom Crosses the Jordan 17:24-26 17:24-26 17:24-26 17:24-26 17:24-26 David At Mahanaim 17:27-29 17:27-29 17:27-29 17:27-29 17:27-29 Etc.
2 Samuel 17:1-4
17:1 There are three cohortatives in this first verse. choose ‒ BDB 103, KB 119, Qal arise ‒ BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal pursue ‒ BDB 922, KB 1191, Qal These are Ahithophel's first suggestions to Absalom. Ahithophel would lead 12,000 select troops to immediately defeat David. Surprisingly, Joesphus, Antiq. 7.9.6, has "10,000 chosen men." Numbers are often confused in the way they are written in Hebrew. 17:2-3 Here is what he hopes will happen. come upon him while he is weary and exhausted he will be terrified and his supporters will flee Ahithophel will personally kill David all David's supporters will return to Absalom all Israelites will then seek peace (i.e., no civil war) 17:3 This verse is difficult to translate because the Hebrew is uncertain (JPSOA footnote). It seems to imply that Absalom should kill only David and then his followers would return to Absalom as king of Israel. See UBS Text Project, pp. 246-247 for details. It suggests that the MT is corrupt but also the LXX is not original. The LXX has: "and I will turn all the people back to you, as a bride turning back to her husband. You seek only the life of one man, and there will be peace for all the people." This LXX form is followed by NRSV, NJB, and REB. Josephus, Antiq. 7.9.6, implies the promise is only to Absalom's fighting men. 17:4 "the elders" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ELDERS.
2 Samuel 17:5-14
17:7-14 This records Hushai's advice, as vv. 1-4 record Ahithophel's. The heart of Hushai's advice is "delay" because David is a fierce military man and his warriors are valiant men. Wait until you can gather all Israelite conscripts and attack in force. You personally must lead the force (v. 11). This advice was from YHWH (v. 14). 17:7 "This time" Ahithophel was known for his wisdom (cf. 2 Sam. 16:23). So Hushai seems to acknowledge this but suggests in this particular situation, perhaps there is a better idea. 17:8-9 Notice how Hushai characterizes David and his men. they are mighty men, vv. 8,10 they are fierce, like a bear robbed of her cubs (lit. "bitter of soul" for being run out of their homes in Jerusalem) David is an expert in warfare (lit. "man of war") they are valiant men, v. 10 17:9-10 If only some of Absalom's troops are killed it would be discouraging to all the other troops (i.e., lose heart). Because of David's experience in battle and the fighting ability of his men, causalities among Absalom's troops would be likely. 17:10 "will completely lose heart" This is an intensified grammatical form (i.e., the INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB from the same root). 17:11 "be surely gathered" This is the same emphatic construction as v. 10. ▣ "from Dan even to Beersheba" These two cities, one in the far north of Canaan and one in southern Judah, became an idiom for all of the Promised Land (cf. Jdgs. 20:1; 1 Sam. 3:20; 2 Sam. 3:10; 24:2,15). ▣ "as sand that is by the sea" This imagery is often used of military forces (cf. Josh. 11:4; Jdgs. 7:12; 1 Sam. 13:5). 17:14 "For the Lord had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel" Human's plans are one thing but "the" thing is YHWH's will! He uses people to accomplish His plans (i.e., Exod. 3:7-10).
2 Samuel 17:15-20
17:15-21 This describes the efforts of Zadok and Abiathar and their sons (v. 17) to inform David of Absalom's plans. 17:16 "but by all means cross over" This is an emphatic grammatical form (i.e., the INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and the IMPERFECT VERB from the same root). ▣ NASB, Peshitta "destroyed" NKJV, NRSV, LXX "swallowed up" "killed" NJB, JPSOA "annihilated" The MT has the VERB (BDB 118, KB 134, Pual IMPERFECT) which literally means "to swallow," "to engulf," which is an idiom for destruction. It views death as an animal with a large mouth (i.e., Jer. 51:34) the ground opening and the earth swallowing (i.e., descent into Sheol, cf. Exod. 15:12; Num. 16:30,32; Deut. 11:6; Isa. 28:4) 17:18 "a lad did see them and told Absalom" Again the actions of men cannot thwart the will of YHWH. But notice He uses a man and a woman in Bahurim to accomplish His will. Josephus, Antiq. 7.9.7, says "But certain horsemen saw them." 17:20 NASB, NKJV, NRSV "the brook of water" "the river" "towards the water" "past the pool" "a bit beyond the water" Targum "the Jordan" "a little way from the water" "they wanted water" "the stream" The NOUN (BDB 568, KB 576) occurs only here. BDB ‒ "brook," "stream" KB ‒ "collection," "container" In context it seems to refer to the Jordan River (Targums).
2 Samuel 17:23
17:23 Ahithophel realized that Absalom's actions would result in defeat. So he went home and took his own life. Suicide in the OT, mostly connected with warfare, was not condemned (i.e., Jdgs. 9:54; 1 Sam. 31:5; 1 Kgs. 16:18). SPECIAL TOPIC: SUICIDE ▣ "buried in the grave of his father" This would refer to a family burial place (i.e., a cave, a special field). SPECIAL TOPIC: SHEOL
2 Samuel 17:24-26
17:25 NASB, NKJV, JPSOA, Peshitta "the Israelite" NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB "the Ishmaelite" The MT has "Israelite." Some LXX MSS have "Israelite"; others "the Ishmaelite." The confusion comes from 1 Chr. 2:17, where this man is called "Jether the Ishmaelite." The UBS Text Project, p. 248, gives the MT a "B" rating (some doubt). ▣ "Nahash" Again, there is some question about the name because of a reference in 1 Chr. 2:13-17, where he is called "Jesse." The UBS Text Project, p. 248, gives the MT a "D" rating (highly doubtful).
2 Samuel 17:27-29
17:27 As Ziba had brought supplies for David and his men, family, and servants, so too, these others brought abundant supplies to David at Mahanaim. Shobi (possibly the king of the Ammonites who replaced Hanum by David's command) Machir (helped Mephibosheth, cf. 2 Sam. 9:45) Barzillai (a friend of David's, cf. 2 Samuel 19) In these days the armies were supplied by local residents. 17:29 NASB, NKJV, NRSV "curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd" "cheese, cream and some sheep" "curds, and cow's cheese and sheep's cheese" "curds, sheep and fat cattle" JPSOA footnote "curds from the flock" "butter and sheep and saphphoth (cheese) from cows" "butter and sheep and cheese from cows" The question is, does this series of items refer to milk products and meat diary products only I think #2 fits the list best. Sheep would not be listed between curds and cow cheese.