In our last study session we found Absalom accepting the advice of David's former counselor, Ahithophel, to sleep with David's ten concubines whom he left behind to take care of the palace. This act was intended to show all Israel that Absalom is willing to permanently sever his relationship with his father and that he will stop at nothing to take the kingdom out of his father's hands. Ahithophel told Absalom that anyone who wanted to support him, but who was holding back due to not being certain he's going to follow through with the coup, would take his violation of his father's concubines as a sign that he is going to do anything and everything necessary to become king in David's place.
Some scholars suggest that Ahithophel wants to be the power behind Absalom's throne, in the way that Saul's army general, Abner, was the power behind Ish-Bosheth's throne when Saul's son Ish-Bosheth was king over eleven tribes of Israel for a short time. The reason they think this is based on something Ahithophel says when he gives more advice to Absalom as we begin Chapter 17. "Ahithophel said to Absalom, 'I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.'" (2 Samuel 17:1) The NIV phrases Ahithophel's words as a suggestion but most versions of the Bible translate verse 1 like this: "Let me choose twelve thousand men," or like this: "I will choose twelve thousand men." Ahithophel appears to be saying that he, not Absalom, will hand pick these men. It may be that he intends to hand pick men who are more loyal to him than to Absalom.
If Ahithophel does want to be the power behind the young Absalom's throne, a reason for this other than political ambitions could be that this would put him in a position to protect his granddaughter Bathsheba's son Solomon, who is Absalom's half-brother. It was typical in ancient times for a new king to put to death any rivals to the throne. We are going to find Absalom quite willing to have David put to death, and we know he's already had his elder brother Amnon put to death for the rape of Tamar. There's no reason to believe he wouldn't have all his remaining half-brothers put to death so none of them can ever revolt against him. If Ahithophel can hold enough power over Absalom, he can persuade him to spare Solomon's life. Solomon is still a child at this time and too young to rule the nation; therefore, Ahithophel might be able to convince Absalom that Solomon presents no threat to him and that the people would not accept Solomon as king due to the sinful way Solomon's mother originally became the wife of David. Ahithophel's true intention may have been to orchestrate putting Solomon in Absalom's place a few years down the road. Being the power behind Absalom's throne would have put Ahithophel in a good position to secretly gain supporters for a future coup in which Absalom would be dethroned or assassinated and Solomon crowned king in his place.
Ahithophel's advice about Absalom sleeping with David's concubines was sinful but his military advice in today's text is actually pretty sound advice. He asks Absalom to allow him to select an elite force of fighting men to go after David and then, "I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed." (2 Samuel 17:2-3) There will be no need for the 12,000 men of Absalom's to wage war against David's supporters. If David is killed, the people will accept that David's son Absalom is now king. Without David for them to rally behind, they will not form an army to fight Absalom's army. They will have no candidate for king capable of rivaling Absalom and they will give up and serve Absalom. I believe Ahithophel's plan would have succeeded if Absalom had followed it. Absalom's top officials believe it will work. "This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel." (2 Samuel 17:4)
If Absalom had left it at that, things would have had a different outcome, but it wasn't the Lord's will for him to leave it at that. In a move that must have been inexplicable to everyone at the palace, Absalom calls for Hushai to ask his advice. "But Absalom said, 'Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.'" (2 Samuel 17:5) Hushai, as you'll recall, is a good friend of David's. Absalom knows this man was a good friend of David's prior to David's flight from Jerusalem. Upon David's request, Hushai recently returned to Jerusalem and pledged his loyalty to Absalom, pretending to have turned against David. Why would Absalom ask for Hushai's advice? Why would he trust Hushai's advice? A wise man would have waited and watched Hushai for some time to make certain he had truly transferred his loyalty to Absalom. The only conclusion I can come up with is this is part of the Lord's plan to protect David. The Lord causes or allows Absalom to trust a man he should not trust.
When Hushai is called into the throne room of the palace he is probably alarmed upon hearing the details of the plan Ahithophel suggested. He knows it's a good plan and is quick to say it's not a good plan so he can propose a plan that is unlikely to work. Absalom doesn't know it's unlikely to work because, since Hushai is a former close friend of David's, he believes Hushai knows how David's mind works. Ahithophel was a counselor to David but not a friend to David. A man will tell his friend things he won't tell his political advisor. A man will share his heart with a friend, so a friend is more likely to be able to guess what he will do. "When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, 'Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.' Hushai replied to Absalom, 'The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs.'" (2 Samuel 17:6-8a) He begins by saying, "Ahithophel is wrong. The men will not scatter when your soldiers go after David. They will stand with him and fight for him. The hundreds of men who make up David's bodyguards are fiercer fighters than any of your men. Your men may outnumber them but they won't be able to overcome them."
In case Absalom doesn't believe his larger numbers of soldiers can't overpower David's soldiers, Hushai adds other information to back up his statement. "Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops. Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place." (2 Samuel 17:8b-9a) He says, "You know how crafty David is. If you attack the group he's traveling with, he won't be among them. He'll be hidden in another location with some of his very best fighting men." What's the use of Absalom's troops attacking the group to kill David if David isn't among them? They'll end up fighting everyone in the group except the women and children. On top of that, David may pounce on Absalom's men before they even make it to where the group is camped, for if he and his top fighters are lying in wait somewhere between Jerusalem and the campsite, they can take Absalom's men by surprise and begin slaughtering them before they know what's hit them. "If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.' Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave." (2 Samuel 17:9b-10)
The last thing Absalom wants is for a report to go out that he might not be able to win his bid for the throne. He knows that if the people hear some of his troops were slaughtered by David's troops, a lot of his followers might lose faith in him. They might drop out of helping him altogether or, worse yet, go over and fight for David. Join us tomorrow as we find Absalom listening to more of Hushai's plan and agreeing with it.
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