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2 Samuel 17:15–23
Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. Now therefore, send quickly and tell David …” (vv. 15–16a).
As soon as he has finished making his recommendations to Absalom, Hushai makes a beeline for Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, in order to send a message to David. It does not appear that he is aware that Absalom prefers his plan, for he tells the priests to inform David of what he advised and of what Ahithophel recommended. The goal, of course, is to protect David against the speedier attack proposed by Ahithophel. To that end, he strongly urges David to get across the Jordan River as quickly as he possibly can.
Unfortunately, getting word to David does not prove to be a simple task. The priests have stationed their sons at En Rogel, a spring outside Jerusalem, so that they will not be seen entering and leaving the city. They send the message to them by a female servant going to the spring to get water, for such is not likely to attract attention. And yet, when the servant brings the message to the priests’ sons, they are seen by a boy. Something about the meeting catches his attention, and he reports it to Absalom. Somehow realizing they have been compromised, the two messengers hurry ahead. Coming to Bahurim (the place where Shimei rained down curses on David, 16:5), they stop at the home of a family that is friendly to David. The two men hide in a well and the family conceals them. Then the woman of the house, much like Rahab when the men of Jericho came to seek the Israelite spies, sends Absalom’s men away with a bit of false direction. As a result, the priests’ sons are able to complete their mission to David. They report Ahithophel’s counsel to David, and he responds in accordance with Hushai’s advice, crossing the Jordan with all his men, thus putting distance (and a river) between himself and Absalom.
As things turn out, Absalom follows Hushai’s counsel, giving David more time to get away and get ready to fight. But the rejection of his advice is devastating to Ahithophel. Perhaps it is simply a blow to his pride, but there may be more to it. Ahithophel is no fool. He may well believe that by following Hushai’s counsel and giving David time, Absalom has doomed his rebellion. In that case, David will return to the throne—and Ahithophel cannot abide that thought. Plus, he knows that he will be anathema to David now. So he goes to his home and executes justice on himself by taking his own life.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Ahithophel was not just a misguided civil servant; by joining Absalom’s rebellion against the divinely anointed king, he declared himself to be an enemy of God. Like him, all who stand against the Lord of heaven and earth will fall. Pray that God will defeat the enemies of His kingdom in the world today and trust Him to do so in His time.
For Further Study
- Pss. 66:3; 68:1
- Nahum 1:2
- Phil. 2:9–10; 3:18