2 Samuel · WEB-C
2 Samuel
17
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Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David tonight. See also: Isaiah 59:7-8Proverbs 4:16Psalms 4:8I 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, See also: 1 Kings 22:312 Samuel 16:14Zechariah 13:7and I will bring back all the people to you. The man whom you seek is as if all returned. All the people shall be in peace.” See also: 1 Thessalonians 5:3Isaiah 57:21Isaiah 48:22The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. See also: Esther 5:141 Samuel 23:21Esther 1:21Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear likewise what he says.” See also: 2 Samuel 15:32-372 Samuel 16:16-19When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken like this. Shall we do what he says? If not, speak up.” Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good.” See also: Proverbs 31:8Hushai said moreover, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. See also: Hosea 13:81 Samuel 16:18Hebrews 11:32-34Behold, he is now hidden in some pit, or in some other place. It will happen, when some of them have fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’ See also: 1 Samuel 24:31 Samuel 22:1Judges 20:32-33Even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. See also: Joshua 2:9-111 Samuel 18:17Genesis 49:9But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person. See also: Genesis 22:17Psalms 9:16Judges 20:1So we will come on him in some place where he will be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground, then we will not leave so much as one of him and of all the men who are with him. See also: Isaiah 10:13-14Obadiah 1:32 Kings 19:24Moreover, if he has gone into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there isn’t one small stone found there.” See also: Matthew 24:2Micah 1:6Absalom 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, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil on Absalom. See also: 2 Samuel 15:341 Corinthians 1:19-20Proverbs 19:21Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel that way; and I have counseled this way. See also: 2 Samuel 15:35-36Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, ‘Don’t lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.’” See also: 2 Samuel 15:282 Corinthians 5:41 Corinthians 15:54Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a female servant used to go and report to them, and they went and told King David; for they couldn’t risk being seen coming into the city. See also: 2 Samuel 15:362 Samuel 15:27Joshua 15:7But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. Then they both went away quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there. See also: 2 Samuel 3:162 Samuel 16:52 Samuel 19:16The woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and spread out crushed grain on it; and nothing was known. See also: Exodus 1:19Joshua 2:4-24Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. See also: Exodus 1:191 Samuel 21:2Joshua 2:3-5After they had departed, they came up out of the well and went and told King David; and they said to David, “Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.” See also: 2 Samuel 17:15-16Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan. By the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan. See also: Matthew 10:16John 18:9Proverbs 27:12When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, arose, and went home to his city, set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father. See also: Matthew 27:52 Kings 20:12 Samuel 15:12Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. See also: 2 Samuel 2:8Genesis 32:2Joshua 13:26Absalom set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. See also: 1 Chronicles 2:132 Samuel 19:132 Samuel 20:9-12Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. See also: Numbers 32:1-42Joshua 17:1Deuteronomy 3:15When David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, See also: 1 Kings 2:72 Samuel 9:42 Samuel 10:1-2brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans, lentils, roasted grain, See also: 1 Samuel 25:182 Samuel 16:1-2Isaiah 32:8honey, butter, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him to eat; for they said, “The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.” See also: 2 Samuel 16:2Isaiah 21:142 Samuel 16:14
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)23 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
2 Samuel 17:1
Ver. 1. This night. Achitophel has a mind to shew that he is not only an able statesman, but a good general. H. --- On such occasions, expedition is of the utmost consequence, that the people may not have time to enter into themselves, or to concentrate about their lawful king. "Nothing is more delightful than haste in civil discord, where action is more requisite than consultation." By delays, "he would give the wicked an opportunity to repent, and the good would unite together.
Crimes are confirmed by rushing on; good counsels by deliberation." Scelera impetu; bona consilia mora valescere. Tacit. Hist. i.
↑ 12 Samuel 17:2
Ver. 2. Handed. He has not had time to collect forces. --- Alone. Heb. also, "the king also;" so that the people will be saved by flight. H.
↑ 22 Samuel 17:3
Ver. 3. One man. They will return with such unanimity, when their leader is cut off. M. ---
David was the one man whom his son desired to kill, as the latter was the only one whom David ordered to be spared. C. xviii. 5. H. --- Heb. seems rather transposed: "I will bring back all the people to thee, as all the people, whom thou seekest, are returned; and all the people shall be in peace:" or, ... "when all those, whom thou desirest, shall be returned, &c. C. --- Sept. "as a bride returns to her husband; only the soul of one thou seekest, and peace shall be to all the people." H.
↑ 32 Samuel 17:7
Ver. 7. This time, though he displays such prudence on all other occasions; or,
"at this time" the situation of affairs is such, that it may prove dangerous to push people, who are already desperate, to extremities. Here we behold, how different sentiments may appear equally plausible. H. ---
Mind, reduced to despair. The maxim is beautiful, as well as the comparison.
See Osee xiii. 7.
Prov. xvii. 12. Lam. iii. 10. --- People. Heb. adds, "in the night;" or, "he will not suffer the people to pass the night" in repose. C. --- He will not entrust his person to a faithless multitude, but will be surrounded with a chosen band, with whom he may escape, even though the rest should flee. H. --- Achitophel had represented David abandoned by his men. M.
↑ 72 Samuel 17:9
Ver. 9. First. Heb. "If they attack them at first." C. --- Report will easily represent the engagement as unfavourable to Absalom; and this will be readily believed, as all are convinced of David's valour. H. --- Nothing ought to be risked in such beginnings. C.
↑ 92 Samuel 17:10
Ver. 10. Man. Heb. "the son of valour himself." Achitophel, or any other. M.
↑ 102 Samuel 17:11
Ver. 11. Of them, their general. Heb. "and thy face shall go to battle." Ex. xxiii.
14.
↑ 112 Samuel 17:12
Ver. 12. Dew, which there falleth every night, in summer, like rain. Deut. xxxiii.
28. Some of the light armed troops of the Romans were called Rorarii, because they fell upon the enemy, and began the battle.
↑ 122 Samuel 17:13
Ver. 13. Ropes, armed with hooks, to pull down the walls, and to move the battering engines. All the discourse of Chusai tends to fill the mind of the young prince with vanity; as if he could overcome all opposition when surrounded with the armies of Israel, (C.) at the head of which he would appear, instead of Achitophel, v. 1. M.
↑ 132 Samuel 17:14
Ver. 14. Profitable, to the cause of Absalom, more than that of Chusai, which was also very plausible. H. --- Lord. The Scripture always directs us to fix our thoughts on God, as the arbiter of all human affairs. C. --- Heb. "for the Lord had ordained to dissipate the good counsel," &c.
H. --- "Plerumque qui fortunam mutaturus est consilia corrumpit, efficitque, quod miserrimum est, ut quod accidit, etiam merito accidisse videatur, et casus in culpam transeat," Peterc. ii.
↑ 142 Samuel 17:15
Ver. 15. Thus. He discloses the secrets of the person who had consulted him, (C.) as his engagements to David and to his country were prior, and more to be observed, to prevent the effects of civil war. H.
↑ 152 Samuel 17:16
Ver. 16. Over the Jordan, that it might be some sort of barrier, in case Absalom changed his mind, to follow the advice of Achitophel.
↑ 162 Samuel 17:17
Ver. 17. Robel, near Jerusalem, on the east. M. --- Maid, under the pretence of washing linen. S.
Jer. Trad.
↑ 172 Samuel 17:18
Ver. 18. It, as it was level with the ground; so that a cloth being spread over it, prevented all suspicion. It had no water.
↑ 182 Samuel 17:19
Ver. 19. Barley, which was afterwards fried with oil, and eaten. Ptisanas may also denote wheat,
&c. Grana cantusa. Theodot. --- "Figs." C. --- Sept. have the original (hariphoth) untranslated.
H.
↑ 192 Samuel 17:20
Ver. 20. Water. Heb. "they have crossed the brook of water." C.
↑ 202 Samuel 17:22
Ver. 22. River. Heb. "Jordan." H. --- They had travelled twenty leagues in the day and night after their departure from Jerusalem. C.
↑ 222 Samuel 17:23
Ver. 23. Order, making his will. M. --- Hanged himself. Some Rabbins pretend that he died of quinsey, or suffocated with grief. But it is almost universally believed that he set a pattern to Judas, the traitor, in this mode of dying, as well as in perfidy. He was aware that Absalom was undone, and vexed that his counsel had been disregarded. The most prudent of this world are often blinded to their own welfare. The Jews had not yet begun to refuse the rites of sepulture to suicides. C.
↑ 232 Samuel 17:24
Ver. 24. To the camp. The city of Mahanaim, the name of which in Hebrew, signifies The Camp.
It was a city of note at that time; as appears from its having been chosen by Isoboseth for the place of his residence. Ch. --- The Vulgate often translates Mahanaim, or Manaim. See C. ii. 8.
12. H. --- Him. It is not known how soon. But he probably waited till he had collected his forces. David had done the like, and was joined by the king of Ammon, v. 27.
↑ 242 Samuel 17:25
Ver. 25. Jazrael, or Israel. D. --- Gortius would read Ismael, as 1 Par. ii. 17, Jether, the Ismaelite. H. --- Went in. This expressing makes Sanchez believe that Amasa was illegitimate.
M. --- Naas is either the name of Isai's wife, or rather the latter had both names.
1 Par. ii. 13. 16.
Sept. read Jesse, in the edition of Complut.; in others, Naas. C. --- Joab; so that these two were own cousins, and both nephews of David.
↑ 252 Samuel 17:27
Ver. 27. Camp, v. 24. H. --- Sobi, whom David had set upon the throne, instead of Hanon. C. x.
--- Machir, who had the care of Miphiboseth. C. ix. 4. --- Berzellai. See C. xix. 31.
↑ 272 Samuel 17:28
Ver. 28. Beds, will all the necessary furniture, coverlets, &c. Roman Sept. "ten beds, with fur on both sides." --- Tapestry. Some would translate, "bottles,"
(Chal.) or "cauldrons;" (Roma. Sept.) but other editions agree with the Vulg. ---
Vessels. These are necessary, as much as things of greater magnificence.
Precious metals were then rarely used in the kitchen. --- Pulse, ( cicer) or
"parched peas." Heb. kali, is thus twice translated, as it had been rendered parched corn. It signifies any thing "parched." The ancients made great use of such food in journeys, as the Ethiopians and Turks do still. Athen. ii. 13.
Busbec. iii. Bellon. ii. 53. C.
↑ 282 Samuel 17:29
Ver. 29. Calves. Many translate the Heb. "cheese of kine." Theodotion. ---
"Calves fed with milk." H. --- Wilderness, where they had been; unless this be placed out of its natural order. C.
--- The value of a present depends greatly on the time when it is made. H. ---
"How much dost thou esteem a hospitable reception in a wilderness?" &c.
Seneca, Ben. vi. 15.
↑ 29License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses