Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 17

Introduction

Overview

2 Samuel 17:1, Ahithophel’s counsel is overthrown by Hushai’s, according to God’s appointment; 2 Samuel 17:15, Secret intelligence is sent unto David; 2 Samuel 17:23, Ahithophel hangs himself; 2 Samuel 17:25, Amasa is made captain; 2 Samuel 17:27, David at Mahanaim is furnished with provisions.

Verse 1

I will arise: Proverbs 1:16, Proverbs 4:16, Isaiah 59:7, Isaiah 59:8

this night: Psalms 3:3-5, Psalms 4:8, Psalms 109:2-4

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:3 - Absalom 2 Samuel 13:5 - Lay thee 2 Samuel 15:28 - General 2 Samuel 16:11 - seeketh 2 Samuel 17:21 - thus hath Ahithophel 2 Samuel 18:5 - Deal gently Esther 5:14 - the thing Psalms 31:13 - while Psalms 38:12 - lay snares Psalms 43:1 - the deceitful Psalms 55:9 - divide Psalms 55:10 - Day Psalms 71:4 - out of the Psalms 71:10 - take Psalms 86:14 - assemblies Psalms 109:16 - he remembered Psalms 118:13 - General Psalms 119:95 - wicked Psalms 144:11 - and deliver me Proverbs 12:6 - words Matthew 10:21 - the children 2 Corinthians 12:15 - though 1 Timothy 1:9 - murderers James 3:6 - a world

Verse 2

weary: 2 Samuel 16:14, Deuteronomy 25:18

I will smite: 1 Kings 22:31, Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 21:38, Matthew 26:31, John 11:50, John 18:4-8

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 4:1 - his hands 2 Samuel 17:29 - to eat 2 Samuel 18:3 - if we flee 2 Samuel 20:21 - his head Nehemiah 4:11 - They shall not Psalms 25:19 - Consider Psalms 35:8 - into Psalms 55:10 - Day Psalms 64:2 - secret Psalms 71:4 - out of the Psalms 109:16 - he remembered Psalms 124:7 - Our soul James 3:6 - a world

Verse 3

I will bring: 2 Samuel 3:21

shall be: Isaiah 48:22, Isaiah 57:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:3

Reciprocal: Judges 4:22 - and I will 2 Samuel 20:21 - his head

Verse 4

the saying: 1 Samuel 18:20, 1 Samuel 18:21, 1 Samuel 23:21, Esther 5:14, Romans 1:32

pleased Absalom well: Heb. was right in the eyes of Absalom, 2 Chronicles 30:4, Esther 1:21

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 20:7 - It is well Esther 2:4 - the thing Isaiah 8:10 - counsel

Verse 5

Hushai: 2 Samuel 15:32-37, 2 Samuel 16:16-19

he saith: Heb. is in his mouth

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 15:34 - then mayest 1 Kings 12:6 - consulted 1 Kings 12:9 - General 2 Chronicles 10:6 - What counsel 2 Chronicles 10:9 - What advice

Verse 6

saying: Heb. word, 2 Samuel 17:6

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 12:9 - General 2 Chronicles 10:6 - What counsel 2 Chronicles 10:9 - What advice

Verse 7

given: Heb. counselled

not good: Proverbs 31:8

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 12:10 - Thus shalt thou 2 Chronicles 10:10 - Thus shalt Proverbs 27:14 - He that

Verse 8

mighty men: 2 Samuel 15:18, 2 Samuel 21:18-22, 2 Samuel 23:8, 2 Samuel 23:9, 2 Samuel 23:16, 2 Samuel 23:18, 2 Samuel 23:20-22, 1 Samuel 16:18, 1 Samuel 17:34-36, 1 Samuel 17:50, 1 Chronicles 11:25-47, Hebrews 11:32-34

chafed in their minds: Heb. bitter of soul, Judges 18:25

as a bear: 2 Kings 2:24, Proverbs 17:12, Proverbs 28:15, Daniel 7:5, Hosea 13:8

thy father is: 1 Samuel 23:23

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 1:10 - in bitterness of soul 1 Samuel 18:25 - thought 1 Samuel 22:2 - discontented 1 Samuel 30:6 - grieved Job 21:25 - in the bitterness

Verse 9

he is hid: Judges 20:33, 1 Samuel 22:1, 1 Samuel 24:3

some: Joshua 7:5, Joshua 8:6, Judges 20:32, 1 Samuel 14:14, 1 Samuel 14:15

over thrown: Heb. fallen

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 41:9 - because of Gedaliah

Verse 10

heart: 2 Samuel 1:23, 2 Samuel 23:20, Genesis 49:9, Numbers 24:8, Numbers 24:9, Proverbs 28:1

utterly melt: Exodus 15:15, Deuteronomy 1:28, Joshua 2:9-11, Isaiah 13:7, Isaiah 19:1

thy father: 1 Samuel 18:17, Hebrews 11:34

and they which: Song of Solomon 3:7

Reciprocal: Judges 4:22 - and I will 1 Samuel 16:18 - a mighty 1 Chronicles 12:8 - whose faces Psalms 58:7 - General Psalms 107:26 - their soul Jeremiah 49:23 - fainthearted Ezekiel 21:7 - and every

Verse 11

all Israel: 2 Samuel 24:2, Judges 20:1

as the sand: Genesis 13:16, Genesis 22:17, Joshua 11:4, 1 Kings 4:20, 1 Kings 20:10

thou go: Heb. they face, or presence

go: etc

in thine: 2 Samuel 12:28, Psalms 7:15, Psalms 7:16, Psalms 9:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:31 - Beersheba Judges 18:29 - Dan 1 Samuel 3:20 - Dan 1 Samuel 23:23 - I will search 2 Samuel 3:10 - from Dan 2 Samuel 18:2 - I will surely 1 Kings 4:25 - from Dan 1 Chronicles 21:2 - Beersheba Psalms 3:1 - how Hebrews 11:12 - as the sand

Verse 12

in some place: 1 Samuel 23:23

we will light: This is a very beautiful and expressive figure. The dew in Palestine, and other warm climates, falls fast, sudden, and heavy; and it falls upon every spot of earth, so that not a blade of grass escapes it. It is therefore no inapt emblem of a numerous and active army; and it was, perhaps, for this reason that the Romans called their light armed forces rorarii. 1 Kings 20:10, 2 Kings 18:23, 2 Kings 19:24, Isaiah 10:13, Isaiah 10:14, Obadiah 1:3

Reciprocal: Psalms 71:4 - out of the

Verse 13

bring ropes: In the same manner the king of Maturan, in Java, proposed pulling down a tower which the Dutch had built, by making his people and elephants pull at a number of chains, and ropes of cocoa-nut bark, thrown around it.

one small: Matthew 24:2

Reciprocal: Joshua 10:19 - suffer them 1 Kings 20:10 - if the dust 2 Kings 19:24 - with the sole

Verse 14

the Lord: 2 Samuel 15:31, Genesis 32:28, Exodus 9:16, Deuteronomy 2:30, 2 Chronicles 25:16, 2 Chronicles 25:20

appointed: Heb. commanded, Psalms 33:9, Psalms 33:10, Lamentations 3:37, Amos 9:3

to defeat: 2 Samuel 15:34, 2 Samuel 16:23, Job 5:12-14, Proverbs 19:21, Proverbs 21:30, Isaiah 8:10, 1 Corinthians 1:19, 1 Corinthians 1:20, 1 Corinthians 3:19

good counsel: Luke 16:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 45:5 - God 2 Samuel 2:12 - Mahanaim 2 Samuel 15:12 - Ahithophel 2 Samuel 18:5 - Deal gently 1 Kings 12:15 - that he might 2 Chronicles 10:8 - he forsook Nehemiah 4:15 - God Job 12:17 - General Job 17:4 - General Job 18:7 - his own Psalms 5:10 - let Psalms 7:6 - to the Psalms 86:14 - assemblies Ecclesiastes 9:11 - that the race Isaiah 19:3 - and I Isaiah 30:28 - causing Jeremiah 18:18 - counsel Jeremiah 50:36 - dote Matthew 2:8 - go

Verse 15

Zadok: 2 Samuel 15:35

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 17:21 - Arise 1 Chronicles 6:8 - Zadok 1 Chronicles 6:53 - Zadok

Verse 16

Lodge: 2 Samuel 15:28

but speedily: 2 Samuel 17:21, 2 Samuel 17:22, 2 Samuel 15:14, 2 Samuel 15:28, 1 Samuel 20:38, Psalms 55:8, Proverbs 6:4, Proverbs 6:5, Matthew 24:16-18

be swallowed: 2 Samuel 20:19, 2 Samuel 20:20, Psalms 35:25, Psalms 56:2, Psalms 57:3, 1 Corinthians 15:54, 2 Corinthians 5:4

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 15:35 - thou shalt tell 2 Samuel 18:20 - bear tidings Psalms 119:87 - almost Psalms 119:150 - draw nigh

Verse 17

Jonathan: 2 Samuel 15:27, 2 Samuel 15:36

stayed: Joshua 2:4-24

Enrogel: Joshua 15:7, Joshua 18:16, 1 Kings 1:9

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 18:19 - Ahimaaz 1 Kings 1:42 - Jonathan 1 Chronicles 6:8 - Ahimaaz Acts 23:16 - he went

Verse 18

Bahurim: 2 Samuel 3:16, 2 Samuel 16:5, 2 Samuel 19:16

Verse 19

spread a covering: Joshua 2:4-6, 5-24

the thing: Exodus 1:19

Reciprocal: Joshua 2:6 - hid them

Verse 20

They be gone: 2 Samuel 15:34, Exodus 1:19, Joshua 2:4, Joshua 2:5, 1 Samuel 19:14-17, 1 Samuel 21:2, 1 Samuel 27:11, 1 Samuel 27:12

when they had sought: Joshua 2:22, Joshua 2:23

Reciprocal: Judges 4:20 - Is there 1 Samuel 19:17 - And Michal 1 Samuel 27:10 - And David 1 Chronicles 6:8 - Ahimaaz

Verse 21

Arise: 2 Samuel 17:15, 2 Samuel 17:16

thus hath Ahithophel: 2 Samuel 17:1-3

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 23:26 - David made haste Psalms 55:7 - General Psalms 71:4 - out of the Psalms 124:7 - Our soul

Verse 22

and they passed: 2 Samuel 17:24, Proverbs 27:12, Matthew 10:16

there lacked: Numbers 31:49, John 18:9

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 23:26 - David made haste 2 Samuel 17:16 - but speedily Psalms 42:6 - from the Psalms 55:7 - General Psalms 124:7 - Our soul

Verse 23

saw: Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 19:3

followed: Heb. done

his city: 2 Samuel 15:12

put his household in order: Heb. gave charge concerning his house, 2 Kings 20:1

and hanged: 2 Samuel 15:31, 1 Samuel 31:4, 1 Samuel 31:5, 1 Kings 16:18, Job 31:3, Psalms 5:10, Psalms 55:23, Matthew 27:5

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 16:23 - all the counsel 2 Samuel 18:9 - his head 2 Samuel 21:6 - hang 2 Samuel 23:34 - Eliam 2 Kings 19:20 - which thou hast 1 Chronicles 10:4 - Saul took 1 Chronicles 27:33 - Ahithophel Esther 6:12 - hasted to his house Job 5:13 - taketh Job 7:15 - chooseth Job 12:17 - General Psalms 9:5 - destroyed Psalms 33:10 - The Lord Psalms 35:8 - into Psalms 37:15 - sword Psalms 55:15 - Let death Psalms 109:20 - Let this Psalms 119:96 - I have seen Psalms 146:9 - the way Proverbs 11:5 - direct Ecclesiastes 9:11 - that the race Ecclesiastes 10:8 - that Isaiah 8:10 - counsel Isaiah 19:3 - and I Isaiah 37:21 - Whereas Isaiah 38:1 - Set thine house in order Isaiah 44:25 - turneth Acts 16:27 - he drew 1 Corinthians 1:20 - hath 1 Corinthians 3:19 - He 2 Corinthians 7:10 - the sorrow Galatians 3:13 - for

Verse 24

Mahanaim: 2 Samuel 2:8, Genesis 32:2, Joshua 13:26

Reciprocal: Joshua 21:38 - Mahanaim 2 Samuel 17:22 - and they passed 2 Samuel 19:3 - into the city 1 Kings 4:14 - Mahanaim 1 Chronicles 6:80 - Mahanaim

Verse 25

Amasa: 2 Samuel 19:13, 2 Samuel 20:4, 2 Samuel 20:9-12

Ithra: 1 Chronicles 2:16, 1 Chronicles 2:17, Jether the Ishmaelite

Abigail: Heb. Abigal

Nahash: or, Jesse. 1 Chronicles 2:13, 1 Chronicles 2:16

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 20:12 - General 1 Kings 2:5 - Jether 1 Kings 2:32 - Jether 1 Chronicles 12:18 - came upon Amasai

Verse 26

land of the Gilead, Numbers 32:1-42, Deuteronomy 3:15, Joshua 17:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 32:2 - the name 2 Samuel 2:8 - Mahanaim

Verse 27

the son of Nahash: 2 Samuel 10:1, 2 Samuel 10:2, 2 Samuel 12:29, 2 Samuel 12:30, 1 Samuel 11:1

Machir: 2 Samuel 9:4

Barzillai: 2 Samuel 19:31, 2 Samuel 19:32, 1 Kings 2:7, Ezra 2:61

Reciprocal: Genesis 32:2 - the name Joshua 13:26 - Mahanaim 2 Samuel 2:8 - Mahanaim 2 Samuel 16:1 - with a couple 1 Kings 4:14 - Mahanaim 1 Chronicles 6:80 - Mahanaim 1 Chronicles 12:40 - brought 1 Chronicles 20:1 - Rabbah Nehemiah 7:63 - Barzillai Psalms 42:6 - from the Proverbs 18:24 - that hath

Verse 28

beds: These no doubt consisted of skins of beasts, mats, carpets, and such like. 2 Samuel 16:1, 2 Samuel 16:2, 1 Samuel 25:18, Isaiah 32:8

basins: or, cups, Sappoth, probably wooden bowls, such as the Arabs still eat out of, and knead their bread in.

earthen vessels: Keley yotzair, literally, "vessels of the potter." So when Dr. Perry visited the temple of Luxor in Egypt, he says, "We were entertained by the Caliph here with great civility and favour; he sent us, in return of our presents, several sheep, a good quantity of eggs, bardacks," etc. The bardacks, he informs us, were earthen vessels, used "to cool and refresh their water in, by means of which it drinks very cool and pleasant in the hottest seasons of the year." See Harmer, chapter vi. Obadiah 1:3

wheat: Mr. Jones says, "Travellers use zumeet, tumeet, and limereece. Zumeet is flour mixed with honey, butter, and spice; tumeet is flour done up with organ oil, and limereece is flour mixed with water, for drink. This quenches thirst much better than water alone, satisfies a hungry appetite; cools and refreshes tired and weary spirits," etc.

Reciprocal: Judges 8:5 - loaves Ruth 2:14 - parched 1 Samuel 17:17 - parched corn

Verse 29

cheese of kine: 1 Samuel 17:18

for David: Luke 8:3, Philippians 4:15-19

to eat: 2 Samuel 17:2, Psalms 34:8-10, Psalms 84:11

The people: Judges 8:4-6, Ecclesiastes 11:1, Ecclesiastes 11:2, Isaiah 21:14, Isaiah 58:7

in the wilderness: 2 Samuel 16:2, 2 Samuel 16:14

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 32:14 - Butter Judges 8:5 - loaves 1 Samuel 25:18 - took two Job 20:17 - of honey Isaiah 7:22 - butter and honey