2 Samuel 17:1

2 Samuel 17:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
• New International Version (NIV)Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.

Context of 2 Samuel 17:1

Then, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose 12,000 men, and I will set out and pursue David tonight. 2I will strike while he is weary and exhausted, and terrify him; and all the people with him will flee [in terror]. Then I will attack the king alone, 3and I will bring all the people [who follow David] back to you. The return of everyone depends on the [death of the] man you are seeking; then all the people will be at peace [and accept you as king].”

2 Samuel 17:1 word by word

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל אֶל־אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם אֶבְחֲרָ֣ה נָּ֗א שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֙לֶף֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְאָק֛וּמָה וְאֶרְדְּפָ֥ה אַחֲרֵי־דָוִ֖ד הַלָּֽיְלָה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Moreover Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹ֫פֶל'ăchîythôphel · AhithophelH302
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
• Let me now choose outבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
• twelveעָשָׂר‛âώâr · tenH6240
• twelveשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• and I will ariseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• and pursueרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• this nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 17:1

• Proverbs 1:16For their feet run to evil, And they hurry to shed blood.
• Proverbs 4:16For the wicked cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are deprived of sleep unless they make someone stumble and fall.
• Isaiah 59:7Their feet run to evil, And they rush to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are thoughts of wickedness [of sin, of injustice, of wrongdoing]; Devastation and destruction are in their highways.
• Psalms 3:3But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory [and my honor], and the One who lifts my head.
• Psalms 4:8In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety and confident trust.
• Psalms 109:2For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 17:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Let me now choose out twelve thousand men - Had this counsel been followed, David and his little troop would soon have been destroyed; nothing but the miraculous interposition of God could have saved them. Twelve thousand chosen troops coming against him, in his totally unprepared state, would have soon settled the business of the kingdom. Ahithophel well saw that, this advice neglected, all was lost.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1This night - The night of the day on which David fled, and Absalom entered into Jerusalem. Ahithophel‘s idea was to fall upon David by surprise, and in the first confusion of the surprised army to seize and kill David only.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Ahithophel's counsel overthrown. (1-21) He hangs himself, Absalom pursues David. (22-29) Verses 1-21 Here was a wonderful effect of Divine Providence blinding Absalom's mind and influencing his heart, that he could not rest in Ahithophel's counsel, and that he should desire Hushai's advice. But there is no contending with that God who can arm a man against himself, and destroy him by his own mistakes and passions. Ahithophel's former counsel was followed…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-14Ahithophel advised a quick surprise attack against David with a small force of 12,000 men (2 Samuel 17:1). This plan would give David no time to prepare or organize a defense. David’s double agent, Hushai, gave different advice. He urged Absalom to wait and gather the entire army of Israel before attacking (2 Samuel 17:11). This plan promised a much larger force and would prevent David from using guerrilla tactics (small surprise attacks). Because the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-142Sa 17:1-14. Ahithophel's Counsel Overthrown by Hushai. 1-11. Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom--The recommendation to take prompt and decisive measures before the royalist forces could be collected and arranged, evinced the deep political sagacity of this councillor. The adoption of his advice would have extinguished the cause of David; and it affords a dreadful proof of the extremities to which the heartless prince was, to secure his ambitious…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 17:1

• Ahithophel
• Citizens
• Council
• Diplomacy
• Friendship
• Malice
• Spies
• War

In the dictionaries

• Absalom
• David
• Ahithophel
• Instead
• Absalom (1)
• Bible, the
• Choose; Chosen
• Hushai
• Israel, History of
• Joab

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings