Thursday, May 2, 2013

Hushai Warns David of Ahithophel’s Plan

II Samuel 17:15-29

“Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.  Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.” (II Samuel 17:15-16) 

Having successfully convinced Absalom to delay attacking David, Hushai contacted the priests, and informed them what he had done, asking them to send their sons with a message to David.  He warned them of Ahithophel’s plan, and tht they ought not stop in the wilderness for fear that Ahithophel might still find a way to attack and capture or kill him.

“Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David. 

Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.  And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. “(II Samuel 17:17-20)

Every effort was made top prevent their mission being discovered, with them staying in Enrogel and a serving girl carrying the message to them.  Despite their efforts, a boy saw them and reported ti to Absalom, but they fled to Bahurim to a sympathizer’s home,  The home had their own well in the courtyard, and Jonathan and Ahimaaz hid on the steps of the well, while the protective cover was put over it and it was disguised to look like a they were using ist as place for grinding grain, with sacks of grain and flour scattered around over the top.  The ruse was successful, and the boys were not discovered.

When questioned, the woman of the house told the pursuers that they had been seen crossing the brook earlier.  The pursuers searched the area but didn’t find them.

“And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.” (II Samuel 17:21)

Once the search was called off, Jonathan and Ahimaaz emerged from the well and completed their mission, warning David not to stay in the region but to cross on over Jordan because of Ahithophel’s plans.  David and his followers immediately decamped, crossing Jordan before daylight.

“And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.” (II Samuel 17:23) 

When Ahithophel realized they were not going to take his advice, he was so upset at being ignored that he went home and committed suicide, convinced there was nothing left for him.  He sounds like the teenagers who commit suicide today because somebody disagreed with them.

“Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.  And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.  So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.” (II Samuel 17:24-26) 

David proceeded to Mahanaim while Absalom and his forces moved into Gilead East of Jordan in the tribe of Manasseh.  Absalom replaced Joab, who he knew to be loyal to David with a man named Amasa.  Amasa was the son of one Joab’s niece’s lover.

“And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.” (II Samuel 17:27-29)

David had fought and captured the city of Rabbah.  The brother of the king who David defeated, and leaders of two other Ammonite communities brought some  conveniences  such as beds, cooking utensils and a variety of staple foods, including grains, flour, cooked cereals and beans , along with cheese, sheep and butter because they realized that the people were hungry and tired.  It says quite a lot about the respect David’s administration earned, that even former enemies and subject nations stood with him against  Absalom’s effort to usurp the kingdom.

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