In Sunday's study Ahithophel urged Absalom to let him select 12,000 men to go after David's party and attack the group while they are feeling weary and discouraged. He said they would only have to kill David and that, upon seeing that David is dead, the others will surrender. Absalom and his officials thought this was a good plan but Absalom wanted to see what Hushai thought. Hushai was formerly a close friend to David (he still is but has deceived Absalom into thinking he's on his side now) and Absalom believes Hushai understands how David thinks.
Hushai was aghast when he heard Atithophel's plan because he knew it was a good plan, so he set about declaring it a bad plan. He stated that David would not be camping with the group but would be hidden somewhere between Jerusalem and the camp with his fiercest fighting men. Then, when he spotted Absalom's men approaching, he and his fighters would catch them by surprise and slaughter many of them and send many others running in fear. How would that look to Absalom's supporters, he asked? He opined that Absalom would lose a number of his supporters when word got out that the men he sent after David were unable to capture him and that there were numerous casualties among them. Also he said that the people with David would not scatter, as Ahithophel suggested, but that they would fight back. After putting down Ahithophel's plan, he proposes his own plan to Absalom.
"So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba---as numerous as the sand on the seashore---be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not so much as a pebble is left." (2 Samuel 17:11-13) He says, "Twelve thousand men won't be enough to defeat David and his mighty men. We can't take a chance on defeat. We must go with so many men that even if we suffer great casualties we will not be in danger of losing. Call up all your supporters from the northernmost border to the southernmost border. Then, when you've amassed your army, ride out in front of it into battle. This will be the key element that pulls everything together---that the men are able to see you riding out fearlessly ahead of them. They will all throw their support behind you then!"
The officials who thought Ahithophel's advice was good think Hushai's advice is even better. It's not. It's not even close. But the Lord's hand is in this meeting at the palace. He is answering David's prayer that He would frustrate the advice of Ahithophel. David prayed this prayer because Ahithophel's advice to him had always been wise and trustworthy. With Ahithophel on Absalom's side, David knew Absalom would be receiving wise and trustworthy advice unless the Lord stepped in. The author of 2 Samuel makes it clear to us that the Lord is stepping in. "Absalom and all the men of Israel said, 'The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.' For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom." (2 Samuel 17:14)
Hushai's plan is for the safety of David and the people with David, not for the success of Absalom. In instructing Absalom to call up his troops from all over Israel, Hushai is buying time during which he will secretly speak with David's supporters in Jerusalem. He's buying time in which to send a message of warning to David. Thanks to Hushai's help, the entire group will be able to cross the Jordan River before Absalom can catch up with them. Thanks to Hushai's help, Absalom will be riding out at the head of his army, which is the spot that places him in the most danger. But in Absalom's mind this is the spot that earns him the most glory and praise as he rides out majestically while allowing his hair (about which he is very vain) to flow behind him instead of tying it up like a man going into battle. He thinks he cuts a dashing figure in front of his troops but the thing about which he is the most vain will be the thing that causes him to lose his life when we arrive at Chapter 18.
In tomorrow's text we'll find brave men risking their lives to warn David of the approaching army. We'll find a brave woman deceiving Absalom's troops in order to keep the messengers safe. The message will reach David in time to save his life and the lives of those with him.
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