2 Samuel 17:2

Translations

Modern

I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king

Traditional

And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

Literal

And I will come upon him, and he is weary and weak handed, and I will cause him to tremble, and all the people will flee who are with him. And I will strike the king by himself,

Latin

Et irruens super eum (quippe qui lassus est, et solutis manibus), percutiam eum: cumque fugerit omnis populus qui cum eo est, percutiam regem desolatum.

Original

Hebrew

English

I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king

Notes

2 Samuel 17:1–14

Ahithophel advised a quick surprise attack against David with a small force of 12,000 men (2 Samuel 17:1). This plan would give David no time to prepare or organize a defense.

David’s double agent, Hushai, gave different advice. He urged Absalom to wait and gather the entire army of Israel before attacking (2 Samuel 17:11). This plan promised a much larger force and would prevent David from using guerrilla tactics (small surprise attacks).

Because the Lord was working against Absalom, he rejected Ahithophel’s good advice and accepted Hushai’s poor advice (2 Samuel 17:14; compare 1 Kings 12:1–15).

Theme notes and profiles

Absalom David Counsel from Others

Events

Reign of David

Related verses

2 Samuel 16:14
Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
1 Kings 22:31
Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”
Matthew 26:31
Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Zechariah 13:7
Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.
John 11:50
You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
Deuteronomy 25:18
…how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God.
Matthew 21:38
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’
John 18:4–8
Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?”

Glossary

Absalom Ahithophel Benaiah David Gilead (Place) Hushai Kings, Books of First and Second Nathan Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Ahithophel: Joins Absalom Ahithophel: Suicide of Citizens: Wicked: Ahithophel Council of War Diplomacy: David, in Sending Hushai Absalom's Court Friendship: David and Hushai Malice: Ahithophel Toward David Spies used at the Court of Absalom War: Counsels of

2 Samuel 17:2

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