2 Samuel 17 Bible Study - In 5 Minutes

2 Samuel 17 Short Summary:

In 2 Samuel 17, David fled Jerusalem to escape the coup started by his son, Absalom. Absalom asked his advisors, Ahithophel and Hushai, for advice on how to secure the kingdom and destroy his father. Absalom followed Hushai’s counsel, but he was unaware Hushai was a secret saboteur working for David. Hushai sent secret messengers to David informing him of Absalom’s plans.

2 Samuel 17 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Saul died in approximately 1055 B.C., after reigning over Israel for 40 years.

• David became king over Judah the same year. He reigned over Judah for 7 years and 6 months, before becoming king over all Israel. His reign over all Judah and Israel lasted 33 years.

CHARACTERS:

• David – The second king over all Israel and Judah.

• Absalom – David’s son by Maacah (2 Sam 3:3). He killed his brother Amnon and betrayed David to steal the throne.

• Ahithophel – One of David’s counselors. The Bible says, “Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom” (16:23).

• Hushai – A friend of David’s who remained in Jerusalem spy on Absalom and mislead him.

• Zadok and Abiathar – Priests of God who cared for the Ark of the Covenant.

• Ahimaaz – The son of Zadok.

• Jonathan – The son of Abiathar.

WHERE:

• David and his household fled Jerusalem and went east over the Mount of Olives. They stopped at the Jordan River to await direction from David’s informants in Jerusalem. After receiving updated information, they crossed the Jordan and went to Mahanaim.

• Jonathan and Ahimaaz waited in En-rogal to carry a secret message to David. En-rogal was very close to Jerusalem, no more than a mile south.

OUTLINE:

• HUSHAI COUNTERS AHITHOPHEL’S COUNSEL (17:1-14):

  • After David fled Jerusalem, Ahithophel counseled Absalom to send 12,000 men to pursue David and kill him.

  • The advice seemed wise to Absalom, but he also wanted to hear from Hushai.

  • Hushai argued against Ahithophel, reminding Absalom that David was a cunning warrior and capturing him would not be as easy as marching a large force of men into his camp.

  • Instead, Hushai advised Absalom to unite all Israel under his leadership, and then, when the whole of the nation was loyal to him, he could expose David’s hiding place, surround him, and the former king would have no place to run.

  • Absalom and his advisors agreed that Hushai’s counsel was better than Ahithophel’s, “For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom” (17:14).

• HUSHAI SECRETELY INFORMS DAVID OF ABSALOM’S PLANS (17:15-29):

  • Hushai sent secret messengers to Zadok and Abiathar the priests so they could send word to David about Absalom’s plans.

  • Hushai advised David to cross the Jordan River and move his camp east.

  • Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting in En-rogel to carry the message, which was brought to them by a female servant.

  • But the two couriers were spotted, and Absalom was informed.

  • To evade discovery, Ahimaaz and Jonathan went to the house of an ally, who hid them in his well and covered its top with grain.

  • When Absalom’s men were gone, the messengers made their way out of the well and went to David to relay the message.

  • David and his household immediately crossed the Jordan.

  • When Ahithophel learned that Absalom had rejected his counsel, he rode a donkey back to his house and hanged himself.

  • David made his way to Mahanaim. Absalom gathered the army of Israel, and after some time, they also crossed the Jordan River.

APPLICATION:

• This chapter gives us a great example of how God can shape the world to His will in a non-miraculous, unobservable way.

• “For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom” (17:14).

• The wisest man in Israel was advising Absalom, but God made sure his wise advice was not heeded.

• God’s hand was not immediately observable to Hushai, Ahithophel, or Absalom, but it was very much present.

• God answered David’s prayer in this way (15:31). Keep in mind, God may be answering our prayers by His invisible work that is not immediately observable to us.

• “Be it observed, to the comfort of all that fear God, he turns all men’s hearts as the rivers of water. He stands in the congregation of the mighty, has an over-ruling hand in all counsels, and a negative voice in all resolves, and laughs at men’s projects against his children.” – John Wesley