New English Translation
2 Samuel 16:20
20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
2 Samuel 16:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
- New International Version (NIV)Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel. What shall we do?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.”
Context of 2 Samuel 16:20
18Hushai replied to Absalom, “No, I will be loyal to the one whom the Lord, these people, and all the men of Israel have chosen. 19Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.” Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?” 21Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Have sex with your father’s concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you.” 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom had sex with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
Read all of 2 Samuel 162 Samuel 16:20 word by word
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם אֶל־אֲחִיתֹ֑פֶל הָב֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם עֵצָ֖ה מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 16:20
- Exodus 1:10Come, let’s deal wisely with them. Otherwise they will continue to multiply, and if a war breaks out, they will ally themselves with our enemies and fight against us and leave the country.”
- Psalms 2:2The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the Lord and his anointed king.
- Psalms 37:12Evil men plot against the godly and viciously attack them.
- Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the Lord.
- Isaiah 8:10Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted! Issue your orders, but they will not be executed! For God is with us!
- Isaiah 29:15Those who try to hide their plans from the Lord are as good as dead, who do their work in secret and boast, “Who sees us? Who knows what we’re doing?”
- Matthew 27:1When it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him.
- Acts 4:23When they were released, Peter and John went to their fellow believers and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16:20
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 The wisest counsellors of that age were Ahithophel and Hushai: Absalom thinks himself sure of success, when he has both; on them he relies, and consults not the ark, though he had that with him. But miserable counsellors were they both. Hushai would never counsel him to do wisely. Ahithophel counselled him to do wickedly; and so did as effectually betray him, as he did, who was designedly false to him: for they that advise men to sin…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Give counsel among you what we shall do--This is the first cabinet council on record, although the deference paid to Ahithophel gave him the entire direction of the proceedings.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 16:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries