2 Samuel 17:2
2 Samuel 17:2 in Multiple Translations
I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king
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 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 come up with him when he is tired and feeble, and make him full of fear: and all the people with him will go in flight; and I will make an attack on the king only:
I'll attack him while he is tired and weak. I'll catch him by surprise and all his men will run away. I'll only kill the king
And I will come vpon him: for he is wearie, and weake handed: so I will feare him, and all the people that are with him, shall flee, and I will smite the King onely,
and come upon him, and he weary and feeble-handed, and I have caused him to tremble, and all the people have fled who [are] with him, and I have smitten the king by himself,
I will come on him while he is weary and exhausted, and will make him afraid. All the people who are with him will flee. I will strike the king only,
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 coming upon him (for he is now weary, and weak handed) I will defeat him: and when all the people is put to flight that is with him, I will kill the king who will be left alone.
We will attack him while he is tired and discouraged, and cause him to be very frightened. All the soldiers who are with him will run away. We will kill only the king.
Right now he’s upset and tired. We will suddenly come and attack his mob, and they will get a shock. All his mob will run away. He’s the only one I will kill dead.
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Samuel 17:2
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2 Samuel 17:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Samuel 17:2
Study Notes — 2 Samuel 17:2
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Samuel 17:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 17:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 17:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:2
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:2
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:2
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 17:2
- Sermons on 2 Samuel 17:2
Context — Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice
2I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king
3and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.” 4This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Samuel 16:14 | Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself. |
| 2 | 1 Kings 22:31 | Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.” |
| 3 | Zechariah 13:7 | Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones. |
| 4 | John 11:50 | You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” |
| 5 | Matthew 26:31 | Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ |
| 6 | Matthew 21:38 | But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’ |
| 7 | Deuteronomy 25:18 | how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God. |
| 8 | John 18:4–8 | Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them. When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “I told you that I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.” |
2 Samuel 17:2 Summary
This verse, 2 Samuel 17:2, shows how Ahithophel is giving advice to Absalom on how to defeat his father, King David. Ahithophel thinks that if they can just get rid of David, then everyone will follow Absalom, as seen in 2 Samuel 17:3. But this plan is really about trusting in human wisdom and strength, rather than seeking God's guidance and direction, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6. We can learn from this example by remembering to trust in God's power and provision, even when we are weak and weary, and to seek His guidance and direction in all that we do, as encouraged in Psalm 119:105.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the context of Ahithophel's advice to Absalom?
Ahithophel's advice is given in the context of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David, as seen in 2 Samuel 15-18, and is an attempt to capture and kill David, as stated in 2 Samuel 17:2.
Why does Ahithophel suggest attacking David while he is weak and weary?
Ahithophel suggests this approach because he knows that David is already vulnerable and exhausted from fleeing, making it the perfect opportunity to strike, as seen in 2 Samuel 17:2, similar to how the enemy seeks to attack us when we are weak, as warned in 1 Peter 5:8.
What is the ultimate goal of Ahithophel's plan?
The ultimate goal of Ahithophel's plan is to strike down only King David, and then bring all the people back to Absalom, as stated in 2 Samuel 17:2-3, in an attempt to establish Absalom as the new king, similar to how Satan seeks to establish his own kingdom, as seen in Isaiah 14:13-14.
How does this verse relate to the overall story of David's life?
This verse is part of the larger narrative of David's life, which includes his sin with Bathsheba, the rebellion of his son Absalom, and ultimately, David's restoration and redemption, as seen in 2 Samuel 11-24, and is a reminder that our actions have consequences, as warned in Galatians 6:7-8.
Reflection Questions
- How do I respond when I am weak and weary, and how can I trust in God's strength and provision during those times, as seen in Psalm 28:7?
- What are some ways that I can be aware of the enemy's attempts to attack me when I am vulnerable, and how can I put on the armor of God to protect myself, as described in Ephesians 6:10-18?
- How can I apply the principle of seeking to strike down only the 'king' of my own sin and rebellion, rather than trying to defeat the entire army of my enemies, as seen in Romans 6:12-14?
- What are some ways that I can bring people back to God, rather than trying to establish my own kingdom or power, as seen in Matthew 28:18-20?
- How can I learn from Ahithophel's mistake of trusting in his own wisdom and counsel, rather than seeking God's guidance and direction, as warned in Proverbs 3:5-6?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 17:2
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 17:2
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:2
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:2
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:2
Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 17:2
Sermons on 2 Samuel 17:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The King and All the People Came Weary, by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer speaks about the profound weariness that often burdens our souls, stemming from our struggles, memories of past failures, and the harsh judgments of others. He emphasize |
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Sudden Conversations by Oswald J. Smith | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the prophecy of Zachariah and its fulfillment in the future reign of Jesus Christ. The sermon emphasizes the importance of holiness unto the |
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Gethsemane by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. He begins by emphasizing the love of Jesus, who willingly came down to earth to die on th |
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Glimpses of the Future - Part 4 by Derek Prince | This sermon delves into various prophetic glimpses of the future, focusing on events related to Israel, including unique tribulation, the sealing of 144,000 young Israelis, Israel' |
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Glimpses of the Future - Part 5 by Derek Prince | This sermon delves into the prophetic Scriptures concerning Jesus, emphasizing how every aspect of His life fulfilled the prophecies, showcasing His submission to the authority of |
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From Babylon to Jerusalem - (Zechariah) ch.13 & 14 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the presence of unclean spirits in the world and the need to be aware of their influence. He highlights three main aspects of these unclean s |
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The Baptism (Part 2) by Ron Bailey | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the significance of a pivotal moment in history when Jesus came into the world. This moment, symbolized by Jesus' crucifixion, brought about |






