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2Samuel
CHAPTER 17

1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: 2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: 3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. 4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

Ahithopel, perhaps seething in anger against David for his treatment of Uriah and Bathsheba, can't wait to get Absalom to kill David.
His statement in verse 3 probably could be paraphrased like this: "The whole nation turning to you depends upon you killing David."
Ahithopel may have been in sin and not allowing forgiveness to rule his life, but he was right about one thing. The country of Israel would certainly not give their allegiance to Absalom as long as David was alive. Their sentiment would be toward the rightful king. David's fame had been spread in songs and campfire stories for many years.

5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. 6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.

Absalom probably knew of Ahithopel's hatred, and felt like this was a little premature. So he called for Hushai and asked him to render advice on the same subject.

7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time. 8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. 9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. 10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

Hushai responded with affirmation of David's prowess as a warrior. He felt that David would be like a wounded lion, constantly on the alert. He also intimated that a "few" valiant warriors would do no good against such a formidable enemy (verse 9).
And if David's men defeated Absalom's, then even the stoutest hearts of Israel would "faint" at chasing after David any more (verse 10).
Hushai was right. When a righteous man has been wrongly hurt, it will certainly do no good to accost him further! And it might prove to be costly!

11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person. 12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.

Hushai said that Absalom should wait until he has more than an ample army to defeat David (verse 11). Then David would not have a chace (verse 12). Even if he were in a walled city, David could not defeat a tremendous army with the few men he had (verse 13).
Hushai effectively reflected upon all the stories and songs about David's triumphs. He alluded to the tremendous fighting ability of this famed warrior, and this was good advice. David had thwarted Saul for many years with only a handful of men.
Never go to war unless you know your enemy and his abilities.

14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

Here is a tremendous statement. Ahithopel's advice was defeated not by Hushai, but by him causing them to remember WHO David was!
Anytime the world or Satan tells a Christian he can or can't do something, we can defeat the "counsel" just by being reminded of WHO Jesus IS!
This verse tells us without doubt that GOD HIMSELF was in charge of all the shenanigans on both sides!! HE is the One who "appointed" that Hushai's argument would be better than that of Ahithopel.
It is God Who tells us that "..greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. (1John 4:4)

15 Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled. 16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

Hushai quickly told the priest David had sent back to Jerusalem so that they could send word to David.
David had told Abiathar and Zadok to take the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem and send him messages by their sons (Jonathan and Ahimaaz).

...((At this point, I must interject a little history. It is meaningful to the story. Abiathar was a descendent of Aaron through Ithamar, Aaron's 4th son. Zadok was a descendent of Aaron through Eleazar, Aaron's 3rd son. Abiatha came from Eli's line of descendency and eventually was exiled when he supported Adonijah in revolt against David. But Zadok was a faithful high priest and friend to David. His line is traced all the way into the intertetamental period.))...

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David. 18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down. 19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known. 20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

Jonathan and Ahimaaz started out to tell David to run even farther for safety. But someone told Absalom, and he sent a search party out to find them.
God provided protection for them - as He does for ALL His servants whom He commissions. They hid in a well, and a woman put a "cover" over it, and spread ground corn on the cover as if she had been working there. The search party never saw that there was a well.
So Jonathan and Ahimaaz escaped and went to tell David.

22 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan. 23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

David and all his men and families escaped by crossing the Jordan River. When Ahithopel realized the value of his "advice" was nothing, he committed sucide.
When a man values his own word over God's Word, he has nothing to live for.
When a man values God's Word above his own word, he has everything to live for!

24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead. 27 And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo'debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, 29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

Joab and Amasa were David's nephews. Amasa was the son of Abigail, David's sister and Joab was the son of Zeruiah, another of David's sisters. Joab had been instrumental in reconciling David with Absalom after Absalom had murdered Amnon. But Joab followed David in fleeing from Absalom - he was LOYAL to David. And here, Absalom names Amasa to replace Joab as head of all the armies.
There are some interesting facts that go with this part of the story. Joab killed Abner who had been head of Saul's army. Later, Joab kills Absalom directly against David's orders. Then he killed Amas. Joab was loyal to David until Solomon was named king. Then he placed his allegiance with Adonijah. When Solomon became king, he followed the wishes of his father (David) and had Joab killed.
Joab was a very gifted warrior and leader. He was fiercely loyal, but he was also ruthless and wanted no competition.
As Absalom and Amasa led the Israelite army to confront David (verse 34), some friends of David brought him beds, clothes and food.
Absalom had deceived the people. he took over the majority of the army and even the capitol of the kingdom He routed David and caused him to run.
But David is GOD'S ANOINTED KING!! And God is providing all his needs at this most crucial time.
Christians are God's "chosen generation" (1Peter 2:9). And though Satan and all his demons, and even all the world come against Christians, God is protecting and providing all our needs!

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