2 Samuel 17

Deadly Plans & Divine Protection

1 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me take 12,000 soldiers tonight and chase David down while he has tired and weak.”

2 “I will catch him off guard, scare the people with him, and take out just him.”

3 “Then I will bring the rest back, no need to kill everybody. Once the king is gone, the rest will follow.”

4 Absalom and all the elders liked the plan, it sounded solid.

But God Had Other Plans

5 But Absalom said, “Hold up, let us ask Hushai too”, not knowing he was David’s inside man.

6 Hushai came through, and Absalom said, “Ahithophel just laid out a plan. Should we go with it or not?”

7 Hushai said, “This time, Ahithophel’s advice is not hitting. Let me tell you why…”

8 “You know your father and his men, they seasoned, wild, and war-ready. They are not sitting scared; they stay strapped.”

9 “He is probably already hiding in a cave or somewhere else. If the first wave gets dropped, word will spread quick: ‘Absalom’s army is getting’ crushed!’”

10 “Even the boldest soldiers will panic. Your father is a beast, he does not sleep, he strikes.”

11 “My advice, Gather all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, like sand on the seashore. Then you lead the charge yourself.”

12 “We will find him wherever he is hiding, we will rain on him like a storm. Him and his whole crew will get washed.”

13 “And if he runs into a city, we will surround it and tear it down brick by brick till there is nothing left.”

14 Absalom and all the people said, “Hushai’s advice sounds better.” But that was God working, blocking Ahithophel’s plan to protect David.

The Message Gets Out

15 Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar (the priests), “Ahithophel gave one plan, I gave another. You all better send word to David quick.”

16 “Tell him to cross the river tonight, or he and his people will not make it.”

17 Jonathan and Ahimaaz were posted near En-rogel. A servant girl brought them the message, they could not be seen going into the city.

18 But a young man spotted them and snitched to Absalom. They dipped and hid in a well at a man’s house in Bahurim.

19 The man’s wife covered the well with a cloth and spread grain over it so nobody would know.

20 When Absalom’s crew came and asked, “Where they at?” she said, “They crossed the river.” So they searched and came up empty, then they went back to Jerusalem.

21 After they left, the two men came out the well and ran to David with the message: “Get up, cross the river now!”

22 So David and all his crew crossed the Jordan before sunrise, no one got left behind.

Ahithophel’s End

23 When Ahithophel saw his advice was ignored, he went home, set his affairs in order, and hung himself. He was buried with his people.

David in Mahanaim

24 David got to Mahanaim. Absalom crossed the Jordan with all Israel behind him.

25 Absalom made Amasa commander of the army, replacing Joab. Amasa was Joab’s cousin.

26 Absalom’s army camped in Gilead.

Supplies Show Up

27 When David got to Mahanaim, three men pulled up to help: Shobi (from Ammon), Machir (from Lo-debar), and Barzillai (an old rich man from Rogelim).

28 They brought beds, bowls, pots, and food, wheat, barley, flour, beans, lentils,

29 Honey, butter, cheese, and sheep. They said, “You all been out here in the wilderness, tired, hungry, and thirsty. We got you.”