New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
2 Samuel 17
1
One day Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Here's what I suggest. Choose 12,000 men. Start out tonight and go after David.
Reference
2
Attack him while he's tired and weak. Fill him with terror. Then all of the people who are with him will run away. Don't strike down anyone except the king.
Reference
Kingdom
1 Kings 22:31
2 Samuel 16:14
Parallel theme
Zechariah 13:7
Matthew 26:31
John 11:50
Matthew 21:38
Deuteronomy 25:18
3
Bring all of the other people back. After the man you want to kill is dead, everyone else will return to you. And none of the people will be harmed."
Reference
Peace
1 Thessalonians 5:3
4
Ahithophel's plan seemed good to Absalom. It also seemed good to all of the elders of Israel.
5
But Absalom said, "Send for Hushai, the Arkite. Then we can find out what he suggests."
6
Hushai came to him. Absalom said, "Ahithophel has given us his advice. Should we do what he says? If we shouldn't, tell us what you would do."
7
Hushai replied to Absalom, "The advice Ahithophel has given you isn't good this time.
8
You know your father and his men. They are fighters. They are as strong as a wild bear whose cubs have been stolen from her. Besides, your father really knows how to fight. He won't spend the night with his troops.
Reference
9
In fact, he's probably hiding in a cave or some other place right now. "Suppose he attacks your troops first. When people hear about it, they'll say, 'Many of the troops who followed Absalom have been killed.'
10
Then the hearts of your soldiers will melt away in fear. Even those who are as brave as a lion will be terrified. That's because everyone in Israel knows that your father is a fighter. They know that those who are with him are brave.
11
"So here's what I suggest. Bring together all of the men of Israel from the town of Dan all the way to Beersheba. They are as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. You yourself should lead them into battle.
Reference
12
"Then we'll attack David no matter where we find him. As dew completely covers the ground, we'll completely overpower his entire army. We won't leave him or any of his men alive.
13
He might try to get away by going into a city. If he does, all of us will bring ropes to that city. We'll drag the whole city down into the valley. No one will be able to find even a piece of that city."
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 24:2
14
Absalom and all of the men of Israel agreed. They said, "The advice of Hushai, the Arkite, is better than the advice of Ahithophel." The Lord had decided that Ahithophel's good advice would fail. The Lord wanted to bring horrible trouble on Absalom.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 15:34
Isaiah 8:10
1 Corinthians 3:19
2 Samuel 16:23
References Israel
Genesis 32:28
References Lord
Proverbs 21:30
Proverbs 19:21
2 Samuel 15:31
Luke 16:8
Lamentations 3:37
15
Hushai spoke to the priests Zadok and Abiathar. He said, "Ahithophel has given advice to Absalom and the elders of Israel. He suggested that they should do one thing. But I suggested something else.
16
"Send a message right away. Tell David, 'Don't spend the night at the place in the desert where people can go across the Jordan River. Make sure you go on across. If you don't, you and all of the people who are with you will be swallowed up.' "
Reference
17
Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel just outside Jerusalem. They knew they would be in danger if anyone saw them entering the city. A female servant was supposed to go and tell them what had happened. Then they were supposed to go and tell King David.
Reference
18
But a young man saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and told Absalom about it. So the two men left quickly. They went to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard. They climbed down into it.
Reference
19
The man's wife got a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well. Then she scattered grain on the covering. So no one knew that the men were hiding in the well.
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 1:19
20
Absalom's men came to the house. They asked the woman, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" She answered, "They went across the brook." When the men looked around, they didn't find anyone. So they returned to Jerusalem.
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 1:19
21
After the men had gone, Jonathan and Ahimaaz climbed out of the well. They went to tell King David what they had found out. They said to him, "Go across the river right away. Ahithophel has told Absalom how to come after you and strike you down."
22
So David and all of the people who were with him started out. They went across the Jordan River. By sunrise, everyone had crossed over.
Reference
23
Ahithophel saw that his advice wasn't being followed. So he put a saddle on his donkey. He started out for his house in his hometown. When he got there, he put everything in order. He made out his will. Then he killed himself. So he died, and his body was buried in his father's tomb.
Reference
24
David went to Mahanaim. Absalom went across the Jordan River with all of the men of Israel.
Reference
25
Absalom had made Amasa commander of the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Jether. Jether belonged to the family line of Ishmael. He had gotten married to Abigail. She was the daughter of Nahash and the sister of Zeruiah. Zeruiah was the mother of Joab.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 2:13
2 Samuel 19:13
2 Samuel 20:4
References Israel
1 Kings 2:5
1 Kings 2:32
26
Absalom and the people of Israel camped in the land of Gilead.
27
David came to Mahanaim. Shobi, the son of Nahash, met him there. Shobi was from Rabbah in the land of Ammon. Makir, the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, met him there too. So did Barzillai from Rogelim in the land of Gilead.
Reference
📍 Rogelim
People
28
They brought beds, bowls and clay pots. They brought wheat, barley, flour, and grain that had been cooked. They brought beans and lentils.
Summary of 2 Samuel 17
This chapter describes the battle between human strategy and God's sovereign purpose during Absalom's rebellion against David.
After taking Jerusalem, Absalom seeks advice from Ahithophel, David's former counselor. Ahithophel recommends an immediate attack against David while he is weak and exhausted. His plan is strategically excellent and could have ended the rebellion quickly. However, God had already answered David's prayer that Ahithophel's counsel would be frustrated.
Hushai, David's loyal friend who remained in Jerusalem, offers a different plan. He convinces Absalom to delay the attack and gather a much larger army. His advice appeals to Absalom's pride and desire for glory. Absalom accepts Hushai's plan, unknowingly giving David valuable time to escape.
Hushai sends a warning through the priests, and David crosses the Jordan River before Absalom can reach him. Ahithophel realizes that the rebellion will fail and ends his own life. David then receives support from faithful friends who provide food and supplies at Mahanaim.
The chapter reveals that God's purposes cannot be defeated by human plans. Absalom appears powerful, controlling Jerusalem and commanding many supporters, but God quietly directs events behind the scenes.
The passage teaches that wisdom, power, and popularity are temporary, but God's sovereignty remains constant. It also reminds believers that God often provides help through faithful people during difficult seasons.
After taking Jerusalem, Absalom seeks advice from Ahithophel, David's former counselor. Ahithophel recommends an immediate attack against David while he is weak and exhausted. His plan is strategically excellent and could have ended the rebellion quickly. However, God had already answered David's prayer that Ahithophel's counsel would be frustrated.
Hushai, David's loyal friend who remained in Jerusalem, offers a different plan. He convinces Absalom to delay the attack and gather a much larger army. His advice appeals to Absalom's pride and desire for glory. Absalom accepts Hushai's plan, unknowingly giving David valuable time to escape.
Hushai sends a warning through the priests, and David crosses the Jordan River before Absalom can reach him. Ahithophel realizes that the rebellion will fail and ends his own life. David then receives support from faithful friends who provide food and supplies at Mahanaim.
The chapter reveals that God's purposes cannot be defeated by human plans. Absalom appears powerful, controlling Jerusalem and commanding many supporters, but God quietly directs events behind the scenes.
The passage teaches that wisdom, power, and popularity are temporary, but God's sovereignty remains constant. It also reminds believers that God often provides help through faithful people during difficult seasons.