2 Samuel 15:33 kjv
Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
2 Samuel 15:33 nkjv
David said to him, "If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me.
2 Samuel 15:33 niv
David said to him, "If you go with me, you will be a burden to me.
2 Samuel 15:33 esv
David said to him, "If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.
2 Samuel 15:33 nlt
But David told him, "If you go with me, you will only be a burden.
2 Samuel 15 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 15:34 | "But if you return to the city and say to Absalom..." | David immediately clarifies Hushai's counter-intelligence mission. |
| 2 Sam 15:37 | "So Hushai, David's friend, went into the city..." | Hushai's immediate obedience to David's strategic command. |
| 2 Sam 16:16 | "When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said..." | Hushai infiltrates Absalom's court as planned by David. |
| 2 Sam 17:7-14 | "Hushai said to Absalom, 'The counsel of Ahithophel is not good at this...'" | Hushai effectively foils Ahithophel's sound but malicious counsel. |
| 2 Sam 15:31 | "Then David said, 'O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into...'" | David's prior prayer sets the stage for Hushai's crucial role in God's plan. |
| Prov 11:14 | "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of..." | Underscores the critical importance of wise counsel, exemplified by Hushai. |
| Prov 15:22 | "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed." | Reinforces the value of advisors and strategic planning in leadership. |
| Prov 20:18 | "Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war." | Highlights the role of shrewd counsel in military or conflict situations. |
| Isa 28:29 | "This also comes from the LORD of hosts; He is wonderful in counsel..." | God is the ultimate source of wisdom and effective counsel. |
| Exod 18:18 | "You will surely wear yourself out... for the thing is too heavy for you..." | Jethro advises Moses on burdens of leadership, echoing David's strategic thinking about capacity. |
| Num 11:14 | "I am not able to carry all this people alone, because it is too heavy..." | Moses feeling burdened by the weight of responsibility, similar to David's "burden" if Hushai were unstrategically placed. |
| Matt 11:28-30 | "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest..." | Contrasts earthly burdens with Christ's light burden and ease of His yoke. |
| Gal 6:2 | "Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." | Shows the principle of supporting each other in difficult situations. |
| Psa 55:22 | "Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you..." | Encourages trust in God to alleviate overwhelming concerns and responsibilities. |
| Psa 71:1-2 | "In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge... In Your righteousness deliver..." | David's constant reliance on God for deliverance during affliction. |
| Psa 73:24 | "With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory." | David's recognition that divine counsel leads to ultimate triumph. |
| 1 Cor 9:16 | "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under..." | Paul describes a divine necessity (a burden) to preach, analogous to Hushai's necessary role. |
| Acts 15:28 | "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no..." | Apostolic council making strategic decisions about what "burdens" to impose on believers. |
| Job 12:13 | "With Him are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding." | Reinforces God as the font of all wise counsel. |
| Jer 23:33-40 | "What is the burden (מַשָּׂא) of the LORD?..." | Direct use of the Hebrew "massa'" meaning a prophetic pronouncement, carrying weight or gravity. |
| Neh 4:8 | "And all of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem..." | Illustrates the constant need for strategic counter-intelligence and planning against enemies. |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good..." | Underlies the divine providence at play in David's strategic decision. |
2 Samuel 15 verses
2 Samuel 15 33 Meaning
In 2 Samuel 15:33, King David, fleeing from Absalom, instructs his loyal counselor Hushai the Archite to return to Jerusalem instead of accompanying him. David shrewdly states that Hushai's presence with him at this perilous moment would be a "burden." This does not imply Hushai himself was a burden in a negative personal sense, but rather that his potential and value would be strategically wasted by staying with David as a fugitive. David discerns that Hushai could serve a far more critical role as an agent within Absalom's court, undermining his counsel from the inside, a purpose more vital to David's survival and God's plan than merely providing physical company in flight.
2 Samuel 15 33 Context
The events of 2 Samuel 15 revolve around Absalom's meticulously planned rebellion against his father, King David. Having alienated much of the kingdom's loyalty, Absalom makes his move by declaring himself king in Hebron. As the rebellion gains momentum and the conspiracy grows strong, David makes the agonizing decision to flee Jerusalem to avoid direct confrontation and bloodshed in the capital. He leaves a small contingent to guard his palace, orders the Ark of the Covenant to be returned to the city (demonstrating trust in God rather than reliance on a physical symbol), and commissions Zadok and Abiathar the priests, along with their sons, to act as his intelligence agents within the city. It is in this desperate context, just as David and his loyalists are ascending the Mount of Olives in distress, that Hushai the Archite approaches David, showing unwavering loyalty by intending to join David in his flight. Verse 33, then, captures David's moment of brilliant strategic thinking amid profound personal suffering.
2 Samuel 15 33 Word analysis
- Then David said to him: This establishes direct communication and authority. David is still the King, even in exile, giving commands.
- 'If you go back to the city: Hebrew shuv (שׁוּב), meaning "to turn back," "return." This is a directive for immediate action, requiring a reversal of Hushai's current intent to accompany David. It highlights the critical need for Hushai to be in Jerusalem, not with David.
- and remain there,: Hebrew yashav (יָשַׁב), meaning "to sit," "dwell," "remain." This emphasizes a settled, permanent, and continuous presence within Jerusalem, crucial for his undercover role. Hushai's position is to be steadfast and consistent.
- I have said to you,: This emphatic phrasing reinforces David's decree and authority. It signals that this is not a suggestion but a clear, well-considered instruction from the King, underscoring the seriousness of the command.
- you will be a burden to me.': The key phrase.
- "burden": Hebrew massa' (מַשָּׂא). While it can mean a physical load, an utterance, or a prophetic oracle, in this context it means an encumbrance, a hindrance, or strategically unhelpful. Hushai would not be a literal weight; rather, his presence would impose strategic limitations. David perceived that carrying Hushai (metaphorically) without utilizing his full capacity for counsel would be a misallocation of a valuable asset. It's a pragmatic statement of what would be inefficient or detrimental given David's objective to regain his throne, which necessitated intelligence from within Absalom's camp. His unique value lay not in physical protection for David, but in counter-intelligence.
Word-group Analysis:
- "If you go back to the city and remain there,": This is a conditional statement leading to a powerful strategic consequence. David outlines Hushai's immediate and continued duty. It frames Hushai's strategic assignment and its permanence.
- "you will be a burden to me.": This clause, the heart of the verse, signifies David's astute recognition of Hushai's true strategic worth. It reveals David's priorities are not about personal comfort or having friends nearby, but about the tactical deployment of loyal individuals to undermine the rebellion, reflecting a reliance on divine strategy.
2 Samuel 15 33 Bonus section
The account of David and Hushai illustrates a profound principle of divine providence working through human instrumentality. David’s wisdom to send Hushai back was not merely human ingenuity; it was, as subsequent verses confirm (2 Sam 17:14), the Lord turning Ahithophel’s counsel to foolishness. This demonstrates that even in desperate situations, God can provide a strategic "insider" to thwart evil plans. Hushai becomes an archetype of a loyal agent acting undercover for a greater, divinely-sanctioned purpose. The entire narrative shows how God can use an unexpected, subtle maneuver—a counselor's counter-advice—to secure the safety of His anointed and fulfill His promises. It also emphasizes the importance of wisdom and prayer when facing insurmountable odds.
2 Samuel 15 33 Commentary
2 Samuel 15:33 is a pivot point, demonstrating David's exceptional wisdom and trust in divine orchestration even in his lowest moment. Fleeing in despair, David, with profound clarity, sees beyond the immediate need for companionship. He understands that Hushai, a loyal and wise counselor, would be strategically redundant and possibly even an impediment if he remained with the fugitive King. The term "burden" here does not denote personal distaste or weakness on Hushai's part; rather, it's an assessment of tactical efficacy. Hushai's true strength lay in his intellect and influence within the court, not as a warrior or mere companion in flight. David's directive sets in motion the events of the following chapters, where Hushai's counter-counsel proves pivotal in thwarting Absalom's plan, precisely as David prayed. This verse highlights David's astute leadership, his ability to leverage individual strengths for a greater strategic purpose, and ultimately, God's providential hand guiding circumstances to fulfill His plan. It's a testament to leadership that prioritizes mission over sentimentality, understanding where best to deploy critical assets.