Verses 1-6, “Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, 'Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. I will come upon him while he is weary and weak, and make him afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will strike only the king. Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.' And the saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel. Then Absalom said, 'Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he says too.' And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, 'Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.' ”
Ahithophel's advice seemed good, and pleased Absalom and the elders of Israel.
But there is no indication that he sought God on the matter, who should be his counselor above all men. Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Even though Ahithophel had given godly advice in the past doesn't mean that he always would. He suggested a direct attack on David as to avoid a war within Israel, which seemed like the smart thing to do, but God knows how to rescue His people, even from impossible situations. His foolishness came from not fearing God. Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Verses 7-13, “So Hushai said to Absalom: 'The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. For,' said Hushai, 'you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people. Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, “There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.” And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one. Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.' ”
Absalom likewise asked Hushai for his advice, which contradicted the advice of Ahithophel. This was unlikely due to how respected Ahithophel was for his godly counsel, but God had a plan. Hushai suggested raising up a massive army to wipe out David's men, and for Absalom to come along himself to take out his father personally. By bringing to their minds the David of the past, strong and valiant, Hushai was able to use fear (that the hearts of the fighting men would melt before David) to motivate Absalom in another direction. Hushai was brave to come against Ahithophel's well respected counsel, and it was only by God that his advice would be followed.
Verses 14-19, “So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, 'The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.' For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom. 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, saying, “Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.” ' Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David. Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it. Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known.”
Hushai warned David through the priests, not to delay in crossing over the plains to give himself a safe distance from Absalom. Imagine what David must have been going through being hunted by his own son. Not everyone had turned against David, however. The man in Bahurim was used by God to provide safe shelter. He did this at a risk to himself and his family, but chose to do what was right in God's eyes. This is the point when many Christians depart from the faith because they are not prepared to take risks and suffer. Matthew 13:20-21, “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
Verses 20-23, “And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, 'Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?' So the woman said to them, 'They have gone over the water brook.' And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, 'Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.' So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan. Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.”
When Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he knew that he was in trouble. Under Hushai's plan, Absalom was bound to fail, and David would punish Ahithophel when he returned to the throne for turning his back on him. Rather than allowing another man to take his life, he chose to take his own life. He probably thought he was a wise man for putting his house in order first, but ending your life without God is extreme foolishness. In his mind he had no way out, but God always makes a way out if we are willing to submit and follow Him. Stubbornness to repent and get right with God seems to be way too common. Jesus is our only hope, even when we think we are hopeless.
Verses 24-29, “Then David went to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. And Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra, an Israelite, who had gone in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, 'The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.' ”
Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai were men used to help David in his time of need. You see, not everyone is called into battle, and those who assist the soldiers were also doing a good work. Absalom, on the other hand, was probably feeling pretty good about himself, being out in the battle and promoting a new captain and all. Quite the contrast to David's side, being weak and weary. Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.” Absalom would soon be humbled.
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