English Standard Version
2 Samuel 17:14
14And 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 ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.
2 Samuel 17:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
- New King James Version (NKJV)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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.” For the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!
Context of 2 Samuel 17:14
12So we shall come upon him in some place where he is to be found, and we shall light upon him as the dew falls on the ground, and of him and all the men with him not one will be left. 13If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the valley, until not even a pebble is to be found there." 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 ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom. 15Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, "Thus and so did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so have I counseled. 16Now therefore send quickly and tell David, 'Do not stay tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.'"
Read all of 2 Samuel 172 Samuel 17:14 word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ וְכָל־אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל טוֹבָ֗ה עֲצַת֙ חוּשַׁ֣י הָאַרְכִּ֔י מֵעֲצַ֖ת אֲחִיתֹ֑פֶל וַיהוָ֣ה צִוָּ֗ה לְהָפֵ֞ר אֶת־עֲצַ֤ת אֲחִיתֹ֙פֶל֙ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה לְבַעֲב֗וּר הָבִ֧יא יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם אֶת־הָרָעָֽה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
- and all the menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- The counselעֵצָה‛êtsâh · counselH6098
- of Hushaiחוּשַׁיchûshay · HushaiH2365
- the Architeאַרְכִּי'arkîy · ArchiteH757
- betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- of Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹ֫פֶל'ăchîythôphel · AhithophelH302
- For the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- had appointedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- to defeatפָּרַרpârar · to breakH6565
- to the intentעָבוּר‛âbûr ‛âbûr · for the sake ofH5668
- might bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 17:14
- 2 Samuel 15:31And it was told David, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."
- Genesis 32:28Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed."
- Exodus 9:16But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.
- Deuteronomy 2:30But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.
- 2 Chronicles 25:16But as he was speaking, the king said to him, "Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?" So the prophet stopped, but said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel."
- Psalms 33:9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
- Lamentations 3:37Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?
- Amos 9:3If they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will search them out and take them; and if they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them.
- 2 Samuel 15:34But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,' then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.
- 2 Samuel 16:23Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.
- Job 5:12He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
- Proverbs 19:21Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
- Proverbs 21:30No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.
- Isaiah 8:10Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.
- 1 Corinthians 1:19For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
- 1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 17:14
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14Ahithophel’s strategy was the stronger military plan. However, Hushai had a psychological and rhetorical advantage (he understood how to persuade Absalom). He also carried out the Lord’s purpose. Because of this, Hushai gained Absalom’s favor. the LORD had purposed to thwart: Although Absalom made early gains, his attempt to take the throne was doomed from the beginning.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel--The reasons specified being extremely plausible, and expressed in the strong hyperbolical language suited to dazzle an Oriental imagination, the council declared in favor of Hushai's advice; and their resolution was the immediate cause of the discomfiture of the rebellion, although the council itself was only a link in the chain of causation held by the controlling hand of the…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 17:14
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries