Summary: Ahithophel offers to hunt David down and kill him with 12,000 men (vv.1-3), and Absalom (his son!) approves (v.4). Hushai tells him that this isn’t a good idea, because David is such a gifted and seasoned fighter (v.8). Instead, he calls for gathering the entire army of Israel to fight him (v.11). Absalom sides with Hushai (v.14). Ahithophel couldn’t handle the fact that his advice had not been followed, so he hanged himself (v.23). People brought copious supplies for David (vv.27-29).
(17:1) Ahithophel knew that it would take this many men to successfully kill David.
(17:2-4) How much does David’s life foreshadow Jesus? Ahithophel wants to kill David (God’s anointed) in order to save the entire nation of Israel. Moreover, “all the elders of Israel” agreed with this. This is reminiscent of Caiaphas’ thinking regarding killing Jesus (Jn. 11:49-50).
Ahithophel wants to “hit David hard” while he’s weak.[]
(17:5-10) Remember, Hushai is working for David (2 Sam. 15:32ff), so he contradicts Ahithophel’s advice. Hushai points out that David is a mighty man of war, who is surrounded by mighty men of war (v.8). If David starts to lead guerrilla warfare, this could seriously panic Absalom’s men. Since David is prone to hiding in caves (v.9), it will take an enormous amount of man power to find him.
(17:11-13) Hushai suggests that Absalom lead the troops to Dan and Beersheba. When David surfaces, then the army will be able to capture him.
(17:14) David’s prayer was answered (2 Sam. 15:31).
(17:15-16) Meanwhile, Hushai sends word to David to get away from the mounting army.
(17:17-20) Jonathan and Ahimaaz were the sons of Zadok and Abiathar (2 Sam. 15:27, 36). They were spotted by a boy in En-Rogel, which is a mile south-south-east of Jerusalem.[] The boy rats out the messengers to Absalom.
The messengers flee to Bahurim, which is about two miles northeast of Jerusalem.[] An ally to David in Bahurim hid the two men in his well. The man’s wife covered the well, and she lied to Absalom’s men about it (v.20).
(17:21-22) David receives the message successfully, and he avoids capture and death.
(17:23) Why would Ahithophel take such drastic measures? Was his pride hurt this badly? Was he worried that David would regain the throne and have him killed? Could he see that the political maneuvering would come back against him?
It could be that Ahithophel couldn’t stand being rejected like this. After all, earlier, Ahithophel’s advice was considered “as if one inquired of the word of God; so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom” (2 Sam. 16:23). Now, however, Ahithophel has been rejected.
It could be that Ahitophel knew that David would not be captured and killed by Absalom. Therefore, he realizes that David will soon return to seek revenge on Ahithophel.[]
(17:24-26) Mahanaim was the headquarters of Ish-Bosheth (2 Sam. 2:8). It must have felt strange for David to take up shelter here.
Absalom replaced Joab with his cousin Amasa. Joab probably fled with David (2 Sam. 18:5).[]
(17:27-29) Shobi (son of Nahash)[] provides David and his men with food and supplies.
David is on the run for most of his adult life. If God had told him that he would be king, we doubt that he would have believed that this would involve such turmoil. As believers, we are sons of the King, but we are tormented too.
David didn’t have to face this torment alone. Notice how many people side with him, and how many people help him along the way (e.g. Hushai, Zadok, Abiathar, the messengers, Nahash, etc.).
Ronald F. Youngblood, “1, 2 Samuel,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 1008.
Ronald F. Youngblood, “1, 2 Samuel,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 1013.
Ronald F. Youngblood, “1, 2 Samuel,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 1013.
Ronald F. Youngblood, “1, 2 Samuel,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 1013.
Ronald F. Youngblood, “1, 2 Samuel,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 1014.
This may or may not be the same Nahash mentioned in 2 Samuel 10:2.
James is an elder at Dwell Community Church, where he teaches classes in theology, apologetics, and weekly Bible studies.
