An Answer To Prayer

II Samuel 16:23 tells us, “And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.”   Because of his deep understanding of human nature and thinking, Ahithophel’s advice was almost never wrong.  He advised Absalom to allow him to take a small group and try to assignate David immediately, before his supporters could get organized to protect him, in II Samuel 17:1-4.  “Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.  And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.” If Ahithophel successfully killed David, there would be no choice but for everyone to accept Absalom as king.  There would be no reason for a civil war. 

Though Ahithophel’s advice sounded really good, Absalom decided to check with Hushai, who knew David far better than Ahithophel did.  Hushai recommended they wait and make sure they were ready because David and his men were experienced soldiers and were unlikely to be caught off guard, in II Samuel 17:5-13.  “Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.  And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.

And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.  For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.  Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.  And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.  So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.  Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.”  Even a minor delay could spoil the effect of Ahithophels plan, but if they waited until they were properly organized, Hushai said they could ensure victory, even to the point of completely destroying a city if they tried to protect David. 

Everybody was familiar with the stories about David fleeing from Saul and had seen the victories over other nations, led by Joab and Davids mighty men.   They thought the chances of catching David off guard would be very small and thought it would be better to wait as hushai said, as II Samuel 17:14 states.  “And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom. “

David had prayed that God would send someone to make Ahithophel’s advice seem poor, and God had sent Hushai to meet David,  David had asked hin to do what he could to offset Ahithophel’s advice.  Ahithophel had been right that if the attacked right then David’s forces would be unprepared and might easily be defeated.  Hushai realized this as well, and played on David’s reputation to persuade them to wait, giving David time to get organized.  It was the answer to David’s prayers.