2 Samuel 17:8

Translations

Modern

He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops.

Traditional

For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

Literal

And Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are bitter of spirit, like a bereaved bear in the field. And your father is a man of war, and he will not spend the night with the people.

Latin

Et rursum intulit Chusai: Tu nosti patrem tuum, et viros qui cum eo sunt, esse fortissimos et amaro animo, veluti si ursa raptis catulis in saltu sæviat: sed et pater tuus vir bellator est, nec morabitur cum populo.

Original

Hebrew

English

He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops.

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

Hosea 13:8
Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart.
1 Samuel 16:18
One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”
Hebrews 11:32–34
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
Daniel 7:5
Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’
Proverbs 17:12
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
1 Samuel 23:23
Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”
2 Kings 2:24
Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.
1 Chronicles 11:25–47
He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.
2 Samuel 23:18
Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.
1 Samuel 17:34–36
David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock,
2 Samuel 21:18–22
Some time later at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, a descendant of Rapha.
Proverbs 28:15
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

People

Hushai: David's friend and advisor who helped him during Absalom's rebellion

Glossary

Absalom Ahithophel Bear (Animal) 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 Armies: March in Ranks: Delay Bear: Ferocity of Beasts: Unclean: Bear Council of War Diplomacy: David, in Sending Hushai Absalom's Court Falsehood in his Deceitful Counsel to Absalom Friendship: David and Hushai Prudence: Abigail Spies used at the Court of Absalom Strategy in War The Bear: Particularly Fierce when Deprived of Its Young War: Counsels of

2 Samuel 17:8

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