ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 2 Samuel 17

2 Sam 17:1–23 This chapter presents the crucial contest between Ahithophel (Absalom’s ally) and Hushai (David’s ally) before Absalom and the elders of Israel (vv. 4, 14). 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. But Absalom decides to also hear advice from Hushai. Hushai gives a time-consuming speech that flatters Absalom, giving David enough time to regroup and prepare for battle. Hushai knows that if Ahithophel’s advice is accepted, there will be no time to lose. So even before he hears the council’s response he sends word to David that he should at least cross the Jordan River (vv. 15–16). The council rejects Ahithophel’s good advice in favor of Hushai’s misleading advice. The poor decision leads to Absalom’s defeat. When Absalom finally gathers his army and goes after David (v. 24), David is already in Mahanaim in Gilead, with the forest of Ephraim (18:6) between him and Absalom.

2 Sam 17:1 Ahithophel suggests that he himself lead the force against David.

2 Sam 17:7–13 my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you . . . and that you go to battle in person (v. 11). Hushai appeals to Absalom’s pride and suggests that Absalom, not Ahithophel, should gather even more support and then personally lead the forces against David (v. 11). His proposal will let David choose his own time and place of battle with his experienced, trained force. Cities were often attacked by pulling down the walls with ropes attached to grappling hooks. Since cities were usually built on high places, they were hard to rebuild once the stones of their walls had been dragged into the valley.

2 Sam 17:17–18 Jonathan and Ahimaaz were known to be allied with David, so rather than be seen in Jerusalem they waited at En-rogel, a spring near the city, for a female servant to deliver word from Hushai for David. The servant’s normal duties probably included trips to the spring.

2 Sam 17:23 Realizing that the rejection of his advice meant Absalom’s defeat and his own ruin, Ahithophel set his house in order and hanged himself.

2 Sam 17:24–29 From the place where he crossed the Jordan River (see 16:14), David had traveled another 37 miles (59 km) north.

2 Sam 17:25 Amasa is David’s nephew (1 Chron. 2:16–17).

2 Sam 17:27–29 Mahanaim, a city in the deep canyon of the Jabbok River, is where Saul’s son Ish-bosheth had set up his capital before David became king (2:8). Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites apparently was the brother of Hanun, the king of Ammon (10:2). David had probably set him on the throne in place of his brother (12:30). Machir had sheltered Mephibosheth in his childhood (9:4). Barzillai later accompanies David on his trip back to Jerusalem (19:31–39). The fact that these people came from a distance to help him suggests that David had real support in the area of Gilead.