SCRIPTURE: 2 SAMUEL 17
This was the advice of Ahithophel: Choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. Attack him while he is weary and weak. Strike the king only and bring all the people back to you” (vs. 1-3). Then Absalom summoned Hushai for his advice. This was Hushai’s advice. “Your father and his men are fighters and as fierce as a wild bear. He is now hidden in the troop. If he should attack your troop first, even the bravest of your soldier will melt with fear. So I advice you to gather all Israel from Dan to Beersheba and lead them yourself into the battle. Then attack him and if he falls, all his men will be dead. If he withdraws, we will drag them down to the valley”. (vs. 11-13). Absalom and all the men considered the advice of Hushai better than that of Ahithophel. For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar the priest to send this message immediately to David : “Do not spend the night at the fords in the desert; cross over without fall, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up” (v. 16). Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at En Rogel while a servant girl was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell king David. But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left quickly and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it. When Absalom’s men came to the woman’s house and asked where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan, the woman said that they had crossed over the brook. The men could not found them so they returned to Jerusalem. After the men had gone, the two men climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan with no one left.
When Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he went home and hanged himself. He died and was buried in his father’s tomb. David went to Mahanaim while Absalom crossed the Jordan with all his men. Absalom appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. They camped in the land of Gilead. Upon reaching Mahanaim, Shobi, Makir and Barzillai brought them bedding, articles of pottery, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat.
THOUGHTS:
God used Hushai’s skillful way with words to defeat Absalom. He compared David to a wild bear with a heart of lion to described him an experienced fighter. Then he appealed to Absalom’s pride by telling him to lead a large army (like the sand) and defeat David himself (as the dew falls). He pictured Absalom as the conquering general and predicted great victory if he personally lead the army. The flattery appealed to Absalom so he took Hushai’s advice instead of Ahithophel’s.
Ahithophel was a traitor. He was the counselor of David before but he changed his allegiance and sided with Absalom. When he saw that Absalom would lose the battle, he committed suicide. Be sure to remain faithful to your friend and counsel yourself before counselling others.