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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:15 - 17:29
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David In The Country East of Jordan
v. 15. Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar, the priests, giving them a report of his efforts in David's behalf, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled.
v. 16. Now, therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, offering him advice which he could not afford to ignore, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, near the fords on the west side of the river, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him. There was always danger that an expedition might be sent against him before he had completed his plans and gotten ready to defend himself. He would be safer at any rate on the east side, where he might also find additional followers.
v. 17. Now, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, the sons of the high priests and their messengers to David, stayed by En-rogel, they were standing at this spring, near the southeast corner of Jerusalem; for they might not be seen to come into the city; and a wench, one of the high priest's servant girls, went and told them, delivered to them the advice of Hushai; and they went and told King David, they started out to deliver the message.
v. 18. Nevertheless, a lad saw them, and told Absalom, probably being a spy set to watch the priests; but they, finding themselves discovered, went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, between Jerusalem and Jericho, 2Sa_16:5, which had a well, evidently empty, in his court, whither they went down, to hide themselves from their pursuers.
v. 19. And the woman, the wife of this man, with quick presence of mind, took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, over the opening of the cistern, and spread ground corn thereon, as if she were drying barley-groats; and the thing was not known, for the opening was not visible and could therefore not arouse suspicions.
v. 20. And when Absalom's servants, in their pursuit of the two messengers, came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman, purposely dissembling to shield the messengers, said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water, some creek in the neighborhood to which she pointed. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
v. 21. And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told King David, and said unto David, according to the counsel of Hushai, Arise, and pass quickly over the water, the Jordan; for thus hath Ahithophel counseled against you, and there was still danger that his counsel might be reconsidered.
v. 22. And David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan; by the morning light, by the time the new day dawned, there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan, they had passed over to the very last man. Thus God had protected David, the situation of affairs now being in his favor.
v. 23. And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, his advice was not carried out, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, 2Sa_15:12, and put his household in order, regulated all his affairs, and hanged himself, and died, a suicide from baffled ambition and despair, since he foresaw the overthrow of the insurrection, and was buried in the sepulcher of his father. The prayer of David, 2Sa_15:31, was thus fulfilled.
v. 24. Then David came to Mahanaim, a fortified city of Gilead, near the ford of Jabbok. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him, all the warriors whom he had assembled according to the advice of Hushai.
v. 25. And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab, he occupied the same position in the rebel army which Joab held in that of David; which Amasa was a man's son whose name was Ithra, an Israelite, of Ishmaelite stock, 1Ch_2:16-17, that went into Abigail, the daughter of Nahash (or Jesse), sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother. Amasa and Joab were cousins (step-cousins).
v. 26. So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
v. 27. And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi, the son of Nahash, of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir, the son of Ammiel, of Lo-debar, who had formerly sheltered Mephibosheth, 2Sa_9:4, and Barzillai, the Gileadite of Rogelim,
v. 28. brought beds, quantities of bedding, and basins, vessels for preparing food, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, roasted grain, and beans, and lentils, and parched pulse, roasted pulse-beans,
v. 29. and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, a milk-food on the order of cottage cheese, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat; for they said, The people is hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness. So it was by no means all Israel that was on the side of Absalom, for here wealthy and influential men came to David's assistance. That was a noble deed, and similar works of love will be rewarded by the Lord according to His promise.