Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 17

Verse 1

choose out. Septuagint and Vulgate read "choose for myself".

men . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

I will . Ahithophel manifests personal vengeance. See note on 2 Samuel 16:21 with 2 Samuel 17:11 .

this night. Compare Psalms 4:8 . Psalms 4:0 is concerning inheritances. David's was in jeopardy (2 Samuel 17:2 ), but his trust was in Jehovah's favour (2 Samuel 15:26 ; 2 Samuel 22:20 . Psalms 18:19 ).

Verse 4

pleased = was good in the eyes of,

and = and [in the eyes of] all.

Verse 5

Call now . Hebrew "Call thou "(compare "thou", 2 Samuel 17:6 ); but Septuagint and Vulgate read "Call ye".

Verse 7

counsel . . . given . Hebrew counsel . . . counselled. Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ) = the good counsel (but "not good "now).

Verse 8

men . Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

mighty men . Hebrew. gibborim. App-14 .

chafed = bitter.

minds = souls. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 9

Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 10

valiant men = sons of valour.

Verse 11

as . Figure of speech Parcemia. App-6 .

thou = thou thyself. Hebrew "thy face". Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , put to emphasise the whole person. to battle. Hebrew. karat), never used of battle (which is milhamah). Bikkrab, rendered "to battle", is an abbreviation for bekirbah = "in the midst of them", which is the reading of the Septuagint and Vulgate.

in thine own person . By all this emphasis Hushai represents Ahithophel's personal malice (which need not disturb Absalom) as being personal pride aimed against Absalom. See verses: 2 Samuel 17:1-3 , "I will arise"; "I will come"; "I will smite"; "I will bring back", &c.

Verse 12

as = according as.

Verse 14

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

evil = the evil. Heb, ra`a '. App-44 .

Verse 17

En-rogel . Now the Virgin's Fount, on east side of Ophel, or Jebus, from which the Zinnor runs up to the citadel. See note on 2 Samuel 5:8 . Compare Joshua 15:7 ; Joshua 18:16 , and App-68 , on "Zion".

a wench = a maidservant. Compare Matthew 26:69 . Mark 14:66 . Luke 22:56 . John 18:17 .

Verse 18

went down . Wells mostly dry in summer.

Verse 20

said . Probably misdirecting them.

Verse 22

Jordan . Compare Psalms 42:6 and Psa 42:43 ; both Pss. referring to this period.

Verse 23

put his household in order = gave charge unto his household.

hanged himself . Not so much because his counsel was not, taken, but because his revenge was not taken on David (see note on 2 Samuel 11:3 ; 2 Samuel 16:21 , and 2 Samuel 17:1 ), and that the conspiracy must fail. Same word in Matthew 27:5 as in Septuagint here (apegxato), as though to invite the comparison of Judas with Ahithophel.

Verse 24

all. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus). App-6 . The whole put for the greater part

Verse 25

made = set, or appointed.

captain of = captain over.

Ithra an Israelite = Jether an Ishmeelite. See 1 Chronicles 2:17 .

went in to . Probably meaning seduced. If so, it would be during David's stay in Moab (1 Samuel 22:3 , 1 Samuel 22:4 Abigail. David was probably half-brother to Abigail, and Zeruiah, having the same mother; he having Jess for his father, they having Nahash.

sister to Zeruiah. Implying that she was not sister to David.

Verse 27

Nahash . Compare 2 Samuel 10:2 .

Machir . He had brought up Mephibosheth. Compare 2 Samuel 9:1

Verse 28

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), 2 Samuel 17:28 and 2 Samuel 17:29 , emphasising the items.

Verse 29

butter . Scarce in Lo-debar. Compare 2 Samuel 9:4 . The word means place of "no pasture".