I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Samuel 16-17.

    As David was fleeing Jerusalem ahead of Absalom’s forces, several men came to join him. In yesterday’s passage, he sent Hushai, one of his advisers, back because he would have been a burden on the flight. Yet in today’s passage David questions Ziba, the man he had appointed to be Mephibosheth’s servant, why Mephibosheth had not come along as well. Remember, Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet. Ziba claimed that Mephibosheth stayed behind in Jerusalem because he thought this civil war would result in him gaining the throne his grandfather Saul had held. On that basis, David gave Ziba everything he had previously given to Mephibosheth. We will revisit this exchange when David returns to Jerusalem.

    I find the contrasting advice of Ahithophel and Hushai interesting. Ahithophel gave Absalom the advice which he believed would give Absalom the best chance at victory. Hushai gave Absalom advice which he believed would give Absalom the least chance at victory. Hushai was constrained by needing to give advice which would appeal to Absalom more than Ahithophel’s. I want to look at Hushai’s advice first.
    Hushai’s advice contained two elements which should set off warning bells. First, it played on Absalom’s fears and sense of inadequacy. Hushai emphasized the reputation of David and the men around him. Hushai cleverly used their reputation to offset the argument that David and his men were well past their prime (which they were). Then before anyone had time to make an argument against that, Hushai appealed to Absalom’s vanity. He recommended that Absalom gather the entire army of Israel and lead it out against his father himself. Here he was playing up the benefits to Absalom of being seen as a military leader. If Absalom defeated the mighty warrior David in battle, his reputation would be established. Basically, Hushai’s advice encouraged Absalom’s fears and his desire for personal glory.
    Ahithophel, on the other hand, knew that Absalom needed a quick victory. David had only a small force and had been caught off-guard. Absalom needed to finish him before he and his men could establish a base and make a plan of action. David had risen to power because of his, and Joab’s, strategic and tactical brilliance, not because of his great fighting ability. So, Ahithophel’s first advice was for Absalom to make it clear that he could not reconcile with his father by having sex with his father’s concubines. This advice Absalom was happy to take, but the more important advice, Absalom chose against. Hushai had phrased his advice to Absalom in a way which made it seem like sending Ahithophel after David was both dangerous and would give glory to Ahithophel that Absalom could have for himself.