This chapter relates the advice Ahithophel gave to march out speedily with a number of men in pursuit of David, which at first seemed agreeable, 2 Sam.

Moreover, Ahithophel said unto Absalom Either at the same time, or quickly after he had given the foregoing advice: let me now choose out twelve thousand men: out of those that were with Absalom, which shows their number to be large; and twelve thousand are pitched upon with respect to the twelve…

And I will come upon him while he is weary With travelling, and with grief, and when endeavouring to get some rest by sleep, and so surprise him unawares, when not on his guard, and in no posture of defence: and weak handed; while the number of men with him is small, and before the people from…

And I will bring back all the people unto thee Meaning not the people only that were with David, that he would make them prisoners, and bring them with him; for he before proposed to let them make their escape; but to reduce all Israel to the obedience of Absalom at once, by executing this scheme…

And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all elders of Israel. ] That were of the privy council; for it was a well contrived scheme to surprise David his men by night, in the condition they were in; nothing like seizing an opportunity, and making quick dispatch in executing a villainous design;…

Then said Absalom, call now Hushai the Archite also For it seems he was not at the council board at this time; whether he was as yet admitted to it is not certain: there is something very remarkable in the providence of God, to incline Absalom to have the opinion of Hushai upon this point, when the…

And when Hushai was come to Absalom Into the council chamber, very probably: Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner; and then related the counsel he had given as before: shall we do after his saying? is it right to proceed on this scheme, and carry it into…

And Hushai said to Absalom Having leave to give his opinion freely: the counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time; he owns that Ahithophel was a good counsellor, and that the counsel he gave was for the most part, if not always, good, but what he gave at this time was not so; the…

For (said Hushai) thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men Men of courage and valour, and not such weak-handed and weak-hearted men, and so easily intimidated, as Ahithophel suggests: and they be chafed in their minds; or “bitter in soul” [[5]]; not merely filled with trouble…

Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place, &c.] Some lurking place, as he was acquainted with many when he fled from Saul, and where he preserved himself from him; so that he could never take him, as he would now from Absalom, as he insinuates: but this is not all; not only by this…

And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt That is, whoever should hear of Absalom’s forces, or a part of them, being routed, would be intimidated, though ever so courageous, or of such a lion-like temper and disposition; and even Ahithophel himself,…

Therefore I counsel My advice is as follows: that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude: not all the inhabitants of the land, but such as are fit to bear arms, or that were soldiers, employed in military affairs, in…

So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found For such a numerous army, which would be spread abroad, could not well fail of finding him out, let him be in what lurking place he would; whereas he might lie concealed, and escape so small a number as twelve thousand men: and we will…

Moreover, if he be gotten into a city A strong fortified place, thinking to secure himself there, where he might hold out against those that were risen against him; the former part of the account supposes him in the field, where he would soon be detected, if hidden in a pit or any other place, or…

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said That is, the elders, who before approved of the counsel of Ahithophel, ; the counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel; it appeared to them most plausible, and most likely to be attended with success: for the Lord had appointed…

Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests After he was returned from the council board, he immediately went to these priests, who he knew were in the interest of David, and to whom he was to communicate, and by them transmit, what passed at Jerusalem, (2 Sam. 15:35, 2 Sam.

Now therefore send quickly and tell David What has been advised to on both sides: saying, lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness; which reached to Jericho; this advice he gave, because he knew not whether his counsel would be abode by, though preferred; Absalom and the elders of…

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel Who were the sons of the priests; these did not go into the city of Jerusalem with their parents, when they were sent back by David, ; but stayed by their direction at this place, which was near Jerusalem, and is called in the Targum the fuller’s fountain,…

Nevertheless, a lad saw them, and told Absalom Saw them conversing with the girl, and departing for David’s army; according to Josephus [[13]], they were some horsemen that saw them about two furlongs or a quarter mile from Jerusalem, and acquainted Absalom with it: but they went both of them away…

And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth This woman, very probably, was the man’s wife of the house, as Abarbinel notes; who took a cloth, and spread it over the well’s mouth, that it could not be seen or known that there was a well there: and spread ground corn thereon: just…

And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, &c.] Who were sent after then, had intelligence which way they took, and into what house they turned: they said, where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? calling them by their names, being persons well known, and as to them, so to the woman of the…

And it came to pass after they were departed The servants of Absalom: that they came up out of the well; the sons of the priests, being informed by the woman that they were gone; Josephus [[17]] says they were drawn up by the woman with a rope: and went and told King David; who was now in the plain…

Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and passed over Jordan Taking the advice of Hushai: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan; they travelled all night, and before it was morning they had all passed the river in boats, or through the…

And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, &c.] But that of Hushai: he saddled his ass; or ordered it to be saddled: and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city; which was Giloh in the tribe of Judah, ; and put his household in order; made his will, and disposed of his…

Then David came to Mahanaim A city on the other side Jordan in the tribe of Gad, (Josh. 13:26, Josh. 13:30) , famous for its being the place where the angels of God met Jacob, (Gen. 32:1, Gen.

And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab, &c.] Who was along with David: which Amasa was a man’s son whose name was Ithra, an Israelite; he is called Jether the Ishmaelite, ; either because he was an Ishmaelite by birth, and being proselyted to the Jewish religion, was called an…

So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead. ] Which belonged to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; here the Israelites that were with Absalom encamped, in order to give battle to David and his men.

And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim When he first came thither, ; that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon: who was either the son, or rather the brother of Hanun king of the Ammonites, that used David’s ambassadors in so shameful a manner, whom David…

Brought beds For David and his men, who, fleeing from Jerusalem in haste, could bring none with them, and therefore were ill provided while in the plains of the wilderness; the Septuagint version says there were ten of them, and that they were of tapestry, wrought on both sides, and such the…

And honey and butter Honey was much in use with the ancients; Homer [[1]] speaks of it as a part of the provisions at a feast, and as food with which persons were nourished and brought up; and the ancient Scythians lived on milk and honey [[2]]; and this and butter were pretty much the food of the…