July 28, 2010
Absalom asks Ahithophel what he should do. Ahithophel says to take David's servant women as his own and then people will realize that David is the enemy and the people will give Absalom more support.
Ahithophel was a respected man. All the people (including David and Absalom) respected Ahithophel and thought his advice was as good as God's own word. They thought his advice was completely trustworthy and reliable.
Ahithophel advised Absalom to let him take twelve thousand men to chase and kill David yet that night while David was tired. This plan did not have Absalom taking part in the battle. It was good advice and a great plan if you were part of Absalom's side. It would have been disastrous for David. It at first seemed good to Absalom. Absalom used to have full faith in Ahithophel's advice, but now (because God created the uncertainty) he is unsure so Absalom asks Hushai what he thinks. Hushai (a supporter of David) says it is not good advice. He says David is a strong and skilled warrior and probably hiding; they should wait until morning. He explained his advice by appealing to Absalom's need to be in control, telling him that if the first attack fails, everyone will think you are losing and become frightened.
Hushai's advice (God's plan) worked. Hushai tells him to gather everyone, as many as the grains of sand by the sea, and that Absalom himself should go into battle. Absalom and all the people decided Hushai's advice was better than Ahithophel's. II Samuel 17:14 - "The LORD had planned to destroy the good advice of Ahithophel so the LORD could bring disaster on Absalom." Hushai told Absalom that he needed to be part of the battle himself.
Hushai quickly sends messengers to warn David of what was going to happen. God protected the messengers and David and his people crossed the Jordan.
From an outsider's perspective, it would have appeared as if David and his followers lives were going backwards. Here they are crossing the Jordan River again; going back into the desert and back into the wilderness. The same desert and wilderness that God had brought them through and delivered them from years before when they crossed the Jordan River to the Promised Land. What looked like a reversal was God's plan for protection.
Ahithophel saw that the Israelites did not accept his advice and he knew that he had lost all credibility. He could not stand the thought of that. He went back to his hometown, he put his affairs in order, and then he hung himself.
Next Entry: II Samuel 17:24 – 19:43
Absalom asks Ahithophel what he should do. Ahithophel says to take David's servant women as his own and then people will realize that David is the enemy and the people will give Absalom more support.
Ahithophel was a respected man. All the people (including David and Absalom) respected Ahithophel and thought his advice was as good as God's own word. They thought his advice was completely trustworthy and reliable.
Ahithophel advised Absalom to let him take twelve thousand men to chase and kill David yet that night while David was tired. This plan did not have Absalom taking part in the battle. It was good advice and a great plan if you were part of Absalom's side. It would have been disastrous for David. It at first seemed good to Absalom. Absalom used to have full faith in Ahithophel's advice, but now (because God created the uncertainty) he is unsure so Absalom asks Hushai what he thinks. Hushai (a supporter of David) says it is not good advice. He says David is a strong and skilled warrior and probably hiding; they should wait until morning. He explained his advice by appealing to Absalom's need to be in control, telling him that if the first attack fails, everyone will think you are losing and become frightened.
Hushai's advice (God's plan) worked. Hushai tells him to gather everyone, as many as the grains of sand by the sea, and that Absalom himself should go into battle. Absalom and all the people decided Hushai's advice was better than Ahithophel's. II Samuel 17:14 - "The LORD had planned to destroy the good advice of Ahithophel so the LORD could bring disaster on Absalom." Hushai told Absalom that he needed to be part of the battle himself.
Hushai quickly sends messengers to warn David of what was going to happen. God protected the messengers and David and his people crossed the Jordan.
From an outsider's perspective, it would have appeared as if David and his followers lives were going backwards. Here they are crossing the Jordan River again; going back into the desert and back into the wilderness. The same desert and wilderness that God had brought them through and delivered them from years before when they crossed the Jordan River to the Promised Land. What looked like a reversal was God's plan for protection.
Ahithophel saw that the Israelites did not accept his advice and he knew that he had lost all credibility. He could not stand the thought of that. He went back to his hometown, he put his affairs in order, and then he hung himself.
Next Entry: II Samuel 17:24 – 19:43
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